Where Indiana football stands in way-too-early rankings after spring practices

It's not easy winning consecutive national championships. In the College Football Playoff era, only Georgia has gone back to back, in the 2021 and '22 seasons.

Indiana football has that opportunity in the coming season after its 16-0 run led by coach Curt Cignetti and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was picked No. 1 overall last week in the NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Josh Hoover, who came from TCU, is the presumed starting quarterback for 2026, and the Hoosiers are looking to replace eight players selected in the draft — and more. Here's where the experts place IU a few months from its Sept. 5 opener against North Texas.

Indiana football rankings in way-too-early top 25

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN: 6th
• "After stunning the sport and collecting their first national title in 2025, the Hoosiers will have to replace Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, and several key players that coach Curt Cignetti brought with him from James Madison. The Hoosiers once again relied on the transfer portal to rebuild their roster. (Josh) Hoover started 31 games at TCU and might be elite if he cuts down on his turnovers. (Turbo) Richard was an important addition with (Roman) Hemby and Kaelon Black moving on. Getting star left tackle Carter Smith to return was significant. Yes, the Hoosiers are losing a lot, but it seems foolish to doubt Cignetti and his staff at this point."

• Alicia de Artola, FadSided: Considers ESPN's ranking too hopeful
• "Indiana will still be a contender in the Big Ten and a formidable team to play. However, they're more likely to stumble this time around after losing so many key players. Cignetti brought in a bunch of high-profile recruits to fill those gaps and I'm sure many of them will do well. But transfer trends across the country suggest he's bound to miss on more than a couple. There are many things that can make a key transfer unsuccessful, from fit to chemistry to just needing more time to find footing. Dealing with one too many of those issues can move a team out of the top 10."

• Derek Peterson, Saturday Down South: 1st
• "My rule is a simple one: The defending champs stay No. 1. Indiana went 16-0 last season, bludgeoning everyone in its path. The Hoosiers have to fill a ton of holes, but Curt Cignetti hasn’t missed yet on a transfer evaluation. I love his new quarterback (Josh Hoover from TCU) and I trust Cignetti will have a retooled group playing with more of an edge rather than any sort of complacency."

• USA TODAY: 5th
• "The defending national champs shouldn’t miss a beat on offense. While he didn’t have a great spring game, TCU quarterback transfer Josh Hoover has acclimated to the scheme. Likewise with Michigan State receiver transfer Nick Marsh. Defensively, the Indiana front looks the part of another bulldozing unit after showcasing a ton of depth during spring drills. One asset in the Hoosiers’ corner is the fact that Curt Cignetti lost just one assistant from last year’s staff and was able to keep both coordinators."

• Brad Crawford, CBS Sports: 8th
• Best case scenario: 12-0 overall, 9-0 in the Big Ten. Worst-case scenario: 9-3, 6-3. Unless you're liquidating all of Curt Cignetti's stock at its highest value, don't expect the Hoosiers to fall outside of the top 15 coming off the program's first national championship. 

Indiana football 2026 schedule

• (time, TV TBA)
• Sept. 5: vs. North Texas
• Sept. 12: vs. Howard
• Sept. 19: vs. Western Kentucky
• Sept. 26: vs. Northwestern
• Oct. 3: at Rutgers
• Oct. 10: at Nebraska
• Oct. 17: vs. Ohio State
• Oct. 24: at Michigan
• Oct. 31: vs. Minnesota
• Nov. 7: bye week
• Nov. 14: vs. USC
• Nov. 21: at Washington
• Nov. 28: vs. Purdue

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football way too early college football rankings 2026