Indiana football ranks No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings for the fourth consecutive week. A position that once felt shocking is now becoming an expectation for the program in the 2025 season.
So far, Indiana has defeated a notable list of opponents to climb and maintain its spot at No. 2. Things started with an early season win over a then top-10 Illinois team.
The Hoosiers then went on the road to defeat Iowa, Oregon and Penn State. Each game carries its own level of dramatics and adversity, and each ending with a game-winning drive.
These drives have helped catapult quarterback Fernadno Mendoza to the top of Heisman trophy boards and conversations around the country.
Indiana’s most recent win over Wisconsin before the bye week helped solidify its ranking and keep the Hoosiers undefeated at 11–0, the longest unbeaten record in program history.
The Hoosiers sit in the top three alongside Ohio State at No. 1 and Texas A&M at No. 3. The Hoosiers continue to push forward, appearing well on their way to a second straight College Football Playoff berth.
The program now turns its attention to a rivalry matchup against Purdue in West Lafayette on Friday, Nov. 28. A win in the 100th Old Oaken Bucket game would give Indiana its first perfect regular season in school history, all in just year two under head coach Curt Cignetti.
That victory would also send Indiana to the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, with its opponent possibly determined by the winner of Michigan vs. No.1 Ohio State on Nov. 29.
The Big Ten released an article Sunday explaining every possible scenario for which teams could reach the conference championship game.
Many Hoosier fans are hoping that matchup sets up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, with two Heisman contending quarterbacks (Mendoza and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin) sharing the same stage.
While the path to the playoff is straight forward this program doesn't tend to look ahead. For Indiana it's about one week at a time.
