Overview
- Indiana remains undefeated after winning the Big Ten title over Ohio State and will play its College Football Playoff semifinal on New Year’s Day as the No. 1 seed.
- Quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy, capping a swift rise that has also elevated his NFL draft outlook for 2026, which observers note could prompt an early departure.
- CBS’s 60 Minutes profiled the program’s rise, featuring Cignetti, Mendoza, athletic director Scott Dolson, broadcaster Don Fischer and donor John Mellencamp.
- Indiana disclosed major investment in football, with more than $60 million spent in 2024 and reported NIL/team-revenue earnings of about $2 million for Mendoza, alongside Cignetti’s eight-year, $90 million extension.
- With Mendoza’s future undecided, reports link Indiana to transfer quarterbacks, including North Texas passer Drew Mestemaker, while Newsweek notes Florida’s DJ Lagway as a possible portal target without any formal ties yet.