sports
How the Indiana Hoosiers transformed into a college football powerhouse after years of losing
Updated on: August 9, 2026 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Indiana University football, historically plagued by over 700 defeats, has achieved an undefeated regular season and won the national championship.
- Coach Curt Cignetti, a longtime winner at smaller schools, took over the program at age 62, facing skepticism but determined to change the team's culture.
- The Hoosiers' success is fueled by players recruited from the transfer portal, including quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and enabled by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
- The dramatic turnaround has led to significant investment in the football program, with the school spending over $60 million in 2024, impacting academic programs.
- Cignetti received an eight-year, $90 million contract, reflecting the high stakes and rapid changes in modern college sports.