So first, congratulations on Indiana for winning the National Championship and becoming the first new champion since 1996 Florida!
Now let’s take it from the top! Indiana accolades since Curt Cignetti took over.
First 10-win season in program history (2024)
First 11-win season in program history (2024)
First 12-win season in program history (2025)
First 13-win season in program history (2025)
First 14-win season in program history (2025)
First 15-win season in program history (2025)
First 16-win season in program history (2025)
First 16-win FBS season (2025)
First perfect* undefeated season in program history (2025) (went 9-0-1 in 1945)*
First top-five matchup in program history (2024)
First “Game of the Century” in program history (2025)
First win over the #1 team in program history (2025)
First time being the #1 team in program history (2025)
First Heisman winner in program history (2025)
First time beating Ohio State in 37 years (2025)
First time winning the conference outright in 80 years (2025)
First playoff appearance in program history (2024)
First playoff win in program history (2025)
First bowl win in 35 years (2025)
First Rose Bowl win in program history (2025)
First time beating Alabama in program history (2025)
First Peach Bowl win in program history (2025)
A 27-2 record in that timespan, best in the country (2024-2025)
Those two losses were the two teams that played for last year’s national championship
And, of course, first national championship in program history, the first “first-ever” champion since 1996 Florida (2025)
Indiana came into this season as still the losingest program in the FBS. They didn’t shed that until midseason. Curt Cignetti has quite literally achieved the sports Holy Grail achievement of “worst to first”. And he did it without a single five-star player on his roster and very few four-stars. Just a bunch of uncut gems and a dream. I think we need to officially petition for 125 years of Hoosier history to be burned and start over fresh. The man is rewriting entire books in real time.
Party hard, Hoosiers. Your 2025 season is an all-time great sports story.
Thirty five years without a bowl win is the most insane streak to end. It, more than anything else, tells you how terrible IU has been in modern football.
First round games at teams' stadiums are officially not recognized as bowl games.
I learned that last year when IU lost to Notre Dame in South Bend. I thought it might give IU the undesirable record of most active consecutive bowl losses (with 7, which would have tied UTEP), but because it didn't, IU sadly stayed at 6.
Well, at least I got to enjoy a national championship this year as a consolation prize, I guess.
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u/prismatic_lights Ohio State • Pittsburgh Jan 20 '26 edited Jan 20 '26
So first, congratulations on Indiana for winning the National Championship and becoming the first new champion since 1996 Florida!
Now let’s take it from the top! Indiana accolades since Curt Cignetti took over.
Indiana came into this season as still the losingest program in the FBS. They didn’t shed that until midseason. Curt Cignetti has quite literally achieved the sports Holy Grail achievement of “worst to first”. And he did it without a single five-star player on his roster and very few four-stars. Just a bunch of uncut gems and a dream. I think we need to officially petition for 125 years of Hoosier history to be burned and start over fresh. The man is rewriting entire books in real time.
Party hard, Hoosiers. Your 2025 season is an all-time great sports story.