Indiana Football: Hype vs. Reality

By Ovi Muniz, CCO/EP

Dan Wetzel's recent column painted Curt Cignetti as a no-nonsense disruptor changing Indiana football's national profile. And to be fair, the Hoosiers have undeniably improved under his leadership. A blowout win over Illinois, a 15–2 run to open his tenure, and newfound swagger have people talking about Bloomington in ways we haven't seen in decades.

But let's pump the brakes. The hype is good — the reality is less convincing.

The CFP Debacle

Indiana already had their chance to make a national statement. Last season they reached the College Football Playoff — only to lose in the first round to Notre Dame. That alone doesn't disqualify them, but it showed that when the lights were brightest, Indiana didn't deliver.

If you want to be taken seriously as a contender, you can't flame out on the biggest stage. And that's exactly what Indiana did.

The Ohio State Reality Check

Indiana's schedule has also been less than daunting. Last season, they faced Ohio State, the only ranked opponent on their slate, and were dominated 38–15. That game exposed the gap between Indiana and true national powers. You can win all the mid-tier matchups you want, but until you knock off the heavyweights, it doesn't matter.

The Illinois Mirage

Yes, the Illinois game was a blowout. Yes, it looked great on the stat sheet. But here's the issue: Illinois was wildly overrated. That win says more about the flaws in preseason rankings than it does about Indiana's championship potential. Beating up on an inflated Top-10 opponent doesn't suddenly put the Hoosiers in elite company.

The Proving Ground

For Indiana to prove it's more than hype, the path is clear: beat Oregon and Penn State. Those are the matchups that will define whether Indiana is a legitimate contender or just another good-story program punching above its weight.

Cignetti has brought fire and belief to Indiana, no doubt. But college football isn't about feel-good narratives — it's about results. Until the Hoosiers beat teams that matter, they'll remain a team with buzz, not a team with banners.

✅ Bottom Line: Indiana has improved, but contenders aren't crowned by hype or blowouts of overrated teams. If the Hoosiers want to shed the "pretender" label, they must win when it matters — and that means taking down Oregon and Penn State. Anything less, and the story ends the same way it always has: short of true relevance.