Before the 2024 season, the Indiana Hoosiers must have forgotten how victory tasted. They had a combined record of 9-27 for the past three seasons. Enter Curt Cignetti in 2024. The man became the messiah for the Hoosiers squad. Cignetti’s boys came up with a 10-game winning streak that was snapped in Week 13 after a 38–15 road loss to No. 2 Ohio State. And when Cignetti said, “Look, Google me. OK. I win.” The words came true as the Hoosiers made it to the Playoffs. Even though they fell prey to Notre Dame, it was the end of one of their most historic seasons. Now, the only question is whether Indiana is going to be better in the upcoming season. A blunt one-liner from a national analyst was enough to rain on their high hopes. 

The team has won the Big Ten Championship twice, once in 1945 and again in 1967. However, the Hoosiers have never been crowned National Champions. Over the recent years, there seemed to be no chances of bringing the Natty home. Under Tom Allen, they fell prey to the staff’s inability to make the proper in-game adjustments. He went 14-5 in 2019 and 2020 and had a winning percentage of .737 in those two seasons spent the last three seasons going 9-27 and winning only three Big Ten games. So, Indiana was in dire need of someone who would flip their luck overnight. That’s when Cignetti showed up. However, he couldn’t get rid of all the shortcomings. But he did his level best to catapult the Hoosiers to an 11-2 overall record. 

However, there must be some unfinished business that Cignetti would take up walking into the 2025 season. So, it’s obvious that fans are now wondering about their College Football Playoff hopes. That’s because many think that the success that Cignetti and Co. achieved last season is not sustainable. Time to swallow the bitter pill. Indiana didn’t dominate the Big Ten with an overwhelming talent advantage; they did it with precision, discipline, and development. Now, what about replaying the 2024 in 2025? National analyst Marc Kulkin did not sound very confident. On the Locked On BIG 10 podcast, he dropped a one-liner. “Indiana is going to be a one hit wonder mark it down.” To the ones figuring out what it means, Kulkin had his answer ready.

“How in 10 games they’ll be press eight this year and they should consider that a success.” So the moral of the story? Forget Natty, they won’t even make it to the playoffs, as per the analyst. Well, does the schedule have a big role to play in Cignetti’s boys’ impending doom? Indiana’s 2025 schedule starts soft with three straight home games, and post which things get rough. Road trips to Oregon, Penn State, and a rivalry week clash with Purdue are not going to be easy. To tackle such a tough schedule, is Cignetti equipped with a good enough roster?

Curt Cignetti left with an empty room

Unfortunately, Cignetti’s roster doesn’t look very promising. The transfer portal has been too tough. The Hoosiers lost 20 players to the transfer portal. On top of that, they lost a slew of seniors heading to the NFL. For instance, top defensive back Shawn Asbury II is off to the NFL after putting up 69 tackles. Losing a lockdown guy like that, especially when he’s the only returning starting corner, has indeed been a big blow. Cignetti’s quarterback room does not look good either. 

Both starter Kurtis Rourke (eligibility) and backup Tayven Jackson (transfer) are gone. Last season, Paul Finebaum had to take back his words. Maybe this season his wish would come true. When the ESPN analyst asked whether the Hoosiers would make it to the playoffs, Finebaum confidently replied, “No way that I would put Indiana in over Alabama.” But Indiana did make it to the playoffs.

But this season, there are going to be roadblocks. On April 1, Cignetti faced the media and was vocal about the major concern that is plaguing the Hoosiers’ squad. “We’re thin number-wise that’s for sure right now.” To add to his woes, here comes injuries.

Curt Cignetti lost one of their most promising new weapons in 2025. That’s none other than wide receiver Tyler Morris, to a season-ending non-contact knee injury. But Cignetti still had some hopes remaining as they could still count on the Appalachian State transfer, Makai Jackson. But there, too, the universe chose to pester the Hoosiers a little more. Cignetti dropped a concerning update. “Makai Jackson has sort of been limited to a hamstring a little bit the last two practices. We’re thin.” Instead of dropping bold claims, the head coach might want to hit pause until the dust settles.