As the sun shines down on the rows and rows of cornfields that cover the Hoosier state, the calm landscape is being interrupted. In Indiana, the fall is usually a peaceful time full of pumpkin patches and apple orchards which provide these Hoosiers with some entertainment as the days get colder. This year is the start of something different, however, as the boys in Bloomington are booming, and Indiana’s newest fall entertainment can be seen on the football field, for a change. With Coach Cignetti conducting, the Hoosiers went train robbing, and they are heading full-steam ahead into the postseason.
Coach Cignetti’s hire was far awaited, as the Hoosiers had been a bottom-tier program for decades under multiple coaching tenures. Their three-win season in 2023 was the final straw, however, with the firing of then-head coach Tom Allen immediately after the final snap. After four days of search, Indiana University landed with Cignetti after he led the JMU (James Madison University) Dukes to the program’s first bowl-game berth in their first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season, history in itself. Cignetti had been known for rebuilding programs like IU-Pennsylvania and Elon University, which only added to his impressive resume. With nothing to lose, the cream and crimson went all in on Coach Cig, and the headlines grew and grew. In his first press conference in Bloomington, the doubters made themselves known, but Coach Cig only had one statement to say, “I win, Google me.” Cignetti backed up this statement with his use of the transfer portal, bringing in a multitude of his former Dukes and many others who wanted to hop on the Hoosier hype train. The squeaky-clean Indiana roster had a lot of learning to do and needed to maximize their off-season for on-the-field success.
As August rolled around, the talk around B-Town dwindled with a group of five opponents Florida International University (FIU) heading to Memorial Stadium. In a 31-7 victory, IU failed to cover the spread against their first “cupcake” game and IU looked like they could be another carbon copy of recent years. With a subpar first start, the Hoosiers followed up next week with Western Illinois University, where the Hoosiers would break through the struggles and dominate their Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent 77-3. These seventy-seven points broke the 123-year-old scoring record and put them as one of the highest-scoring teams through week two.
With the warm-up over for the Hoosiers, the boys would make the trip to Hollywood to play new conference opponent, UCLA, at the famous Rose Bowl Stadium. Cignetti did not let the historical importance of this game get to him and his players, saying, “We’re just going to an old stadium to kick somebody’s (butt).” As the dusk settled on the Pacific coast, Coach Cig and his Hoosiers curb-stomped the Bruins and left LA being the true stars. The 42-13 victory sent many fans and analysts shocked and the Hoosier hype train had reached a national level. Thanks to their strong start, ESPN ranked IU nineteenth on their “Power Index Top 25”.
With all of this success came struggles along the way, with the noticeably low attendance at these Hoosier games. This was heavily shown at their next game, against the University of Charlotte. Here the Hoosiers dominated the 49ers 52-14 in front of 43,000 people, 10,000 less than full capacity. Knowing he needed to take matters into his own hands, Coach Cig drafted up a letter to send to all IU students. Within the statement, Cig emphasized the importance of a packed-out crowd, showing how the program was setting record upon record. “The tailgates can wait. The parties can wait. If you need to study, that can wait too.”
On the cold, rainy Saturday afternoon, the only thing waiting was the long lines to pack Memorial, and IU would go on to dominate Maryland 42-28 and take home their second Big Ten Conference victory. Indiana University football was 5-0 for the first time in fifty-seven years. This was not a fluke, this was not a joke, this was real. After the game, Coach would send a follow-up letter to the students thanking the IU community for showing up and showing out. “We are going to have a lot of afternoons like this moving forward, and I want you to be a part of it.” Celebrations ensued as the Hoosiers were ranked 23rd in the AP Poll, which was their first appearance since week one of the 2021 Season.
After this dominant home victory, the boys headed up to the windy city of Chicago to play Northwestern in their temporary “stadium”. The fans still listened to Cig, as many also took the trip to Evanston, where the stands bled cream and crimson. With the stadium being right on the water, the wind made it hard to sling the rock, but IU Quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. This QB masterclass only furthered the case for the Bloomington boys in the postseason. IU has become the first school to become bowl-eligible, and their playoff chances are growing more and more each week.
With the insanity of college football showing prominence this same week, many top-ten programs fell under the pressure. IU’s solidity is showing strong, however, with their eighteenth rank in the AP Poll. Over the next few weeks, the Big Ten’s usual powerhouses have tough stretches to overcome, and IU has the perfect chance to slip through the cracks. These matchups will be keen on Indiana’s path to the Big Ten Championship, but their path will not be easy. Even with tough games like Nebraska and Ohio State on their route, the Hoosier Hype Train is growing week to week. Coach Cignetti is building a bond within his Bloomington boys and creating a football powerhouse within the southern Indiana hillscape.
