2025 In Review

 

The storybook season for Indiana's 2025 season had several firsts in program history. These include: 

First top 10 road win at Oregon in week seven

First ever No, 1 ranking (AP, Coaches, and CFP polls)

First Big Ten title in 58 years

First undefeated season in 80 years

First 16-0 college football team in FBS since Yale in 1894 - most wins in program history

First Hoosier QB to win the Heisman

First team in the 12-team playoff era to win a quarterfinal game after getting a bye through the first round. Such teams were 0-7 

The Rose Bowl win was IU's first bowl victory in seven tries since winning the 1991 Copper Bowl

First blocked punt touchdown in CFP history

First national championship

In two playoff games Mendoza threw eight touchdown passes against only five incompletions. He had more TDs than incompletions in five games for the season. The first player this century to do it more than twice in a campaign.  

Hoosier Coach Curt Cignetti became the first coach since the turn of the 20th century to win 27 games in his first two seasons at a school

In three playoff games, the Hoosiers did not trail for a single second

Statistical Highlights:

Overall Record: 16-0

Points Per Game: 41.6 (3rd nationally)

Their plus 479-point differential, only second best since 1936

Points Allowed Per Game: 11.7 (2nd nationally)

Individual Honors & Records:

Fernando Mendoza (QB): Became the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy. He threw 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, adding the decisive rushing touchdown in the National Championship game.

Curt Cignetti: Named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and won the Dodd Trophy and the Bear Bryant College Football Coach of the Year. 

Nico Radicic (K): Set Big Ten records for extra points (76/76) and total points scored by a kicker (124) while winning Kicker of the Year.

All-Conference Honors: A program-record 17 players earned All-Big Ten honors (1st, 2nd, or 3rd team), led by Mendoza and unanimous All-American offensive lineman Carter Smith.

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