Michigan Football 2026 Opponent Preview: Indiana
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The reigning, defending, undisputed (I can’t believe what I’m typing), undefeated national champion Indiana Hoosiers are in a great spot to once again contend for the college football crown. Head coach Curt Cignetti has reloaded via the transfer portal, retained several key pieces from last season’s team — including both coordinators — and has the Hoosiers ready to defend their title.
Let’s examine and marvel at what Cignetti has assembled in Bloomington for the sequel.
Coaching Staff
- Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (Third season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Mike Shanahan (Third season) and Tino Sunseri (Second season)
- Defensive Coordinator: Bryant Haines (Third season)
2025 Record
- 16-0 (9-0) First in the Big Ten
2025 Production Ranks
- Scoring Offense: Third (First in the Big Ten)
- Total Offense: 17th (Third in the Big Ten)
- Scoring Defense: Second (Second in the Big Ten)
- Total Defense: Fourth (Second in the Big Ten)
2025 TL;DR Recap
In just his second season in Bloomington, Cignetti did the impossible. Backed by one of the best defenses in the country and a Heisman Trophy quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers ran through Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon (for the second time) and Miami to stand alone as the national champions of college football. Formerly the laughing stock and biggest loser in the sport’s history, Indiana is now its ultimate winner.
Key Departures
- QB Fernando Mendoza (Heisman Trophy winner; 3,535 passing yards (72 completion percentage), 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions; 276 rushing yards and seven touchdowns)
- CB D’Angelo Ponds (61 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two interceptions)
- LB Aiden Fisher (97 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two interceptions)
- WR Omar Cooper Jr. (69 catches for 937 yards and 14 total touchdowns)
- WR Elijah Sarratt (65 catches for 830 yards and 15 touchdowns)
- C Pat Coogan (Second-team All-Big Ten)
- RB Roman Hemby (1,120 rushing yards and seven touchdowns)
- RB Kaelon Black (1,040 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns)
- DE Stephen Daley (38 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks)
- S Louis Moore (88 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and six interceptions)
Key Returners
- OT Carter Smith (Consensus first-team All-American)
- DT Tyrique Tucker (40 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and six sacks)
- LB Rolijah Hardy (102 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and eight sacks)
- WR Charlie Becker (34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns)
- S Amare Ferrell (48 tackles, two tackles for loss, and four interceptions)
- LB Isaiah Jones (78 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and one interception)
- K Nico Radicic (87-of-87 XP; 18-of-19 FG)
Key Transfer Additions
- QB Josh Hoover (TCU)
- WR Nick Marsh (Michigan State)
- CB A.J. Harris (Penn State)
- DE Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State)
- DE Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State)
- RB Turbo Richard (Boston College)
- G Joe Brunner (Wisconsin)
Preseason Preview & Record Predictions
Per Athlon:
“The Hoosiers lost some key cogs from last year’s squad that won the national title, but coach Curt Cignetti deserves the benefit of the doubt to reload and keep Indiana in the mix to win it all again. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza left big shoes to fill in Bloomington, but TCU transfer Josh Hoover should be an excellent fit in Cignetti’s offense. He’s throwing to one of the nation’s top receiving corps that includes Charlie Becker and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh, while the offensive line is potentially the best returning group in college football. Boston College transfer Turbo Richard and Khobie Martin should be a standout one-two punch in the backfield. Six starters return from a defense that limited teams to 11.7 points a contest last year. Senior Tyrique Tucker is among the top interior linemen returning in the nation, with Kansas State transfers Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi poised to fill a couple of voids off the edge. Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones form one of the top linebacker duos in the nation, and the secondary returns a strong foundation with Amare Ferrell, Byron Baldwin, and Jamari Sharpe returning. With Ohio State and USC coming to Bloomington next fall, Indiana has another favorable path to a perfect 12-0 record in the regular season.”
CBS: 10-2
CFN: 10-2
ESPN FPI: 10.1-2.3
Sports Illustrated: 10-2
Maize n Brew Thoughts
Cignetti has defied what everyone thought was possible in this sport, and it would be foolish to bet against him now. The Hoosiers are likely to regress this season, but regress to what? Nine wins? Ten wins? When the fringe of the College Football Playoff is considered regression, you know you have built a sustainable powerhouse.
On offense, the loss of Mendoza and several skill positions will inevitably be felt, and the loss of center Pat Coogan might be the second-biggest loss for the entire team. However, this unit is built to run like a machine regardless of who is in the lineup. Will it take a step back? Yes, but like we asked above: to what degree? Cignetti and Shanahan had this unit scoring 41 points a game in 2024 with Kurtis Rourke at quarterback. They will find a way to put points on the board.
Defensively, this will once again be one of the best units in football. Broyles Award-winner Bryant Haines is one of the sharpest minds in the sport and has game-changers at all three levels. As scary as it seems, this unit could be just as good as it was last season, despite the departures.
When the Hoosiers roll through Ann Arbor, they will be coming off a potential game of the year candidate when they host Ohio State. There is potential for a letdown or a supernova, angry Cig-fueled performance. Undoubtedly, this will be one of the biggest games of the year for the Wolverines and Kyle Whittingham’s second of four key opportunities to make a case for the CFP.
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