The Indiana Hoosiers capped off arguably the greatest season in college football history, going 16-0 and winning the National Championship 27-21 at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the opposing Miami Hurricanes.
Led by Heisman winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers won their third Big Ten title — and their first since 1967 — in December against the Ohio State Buckeyes and earned the number one seed in the College Football Playoff. Indiana’s win in the 2025 Rose Bowl was their first bowl-game victory since the 1991 Copper Bowl.
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Indiana hired Curt Cignetti, then-coach of James Madison University (JMU). At JMU, Cignetti led the Dukes to a 52-9 record in five years.
Since Cignetti’s hire, Indiana has won 27 out of 29 total games. Tom Allen, Indiana’s head coach from 2017-2023, won 33 games during his seven seasons as head coach.
Known for winning and building team culture, Cignetti was able to bring new players to the program via the transfer portal, helping Indiana reach the College Football Playoff in 2024 and 2025.
Three notable transfer portal additions for the Hoosiers are Mendoza, who transferred from the University of California, Pat Coogan (offensive line) transferred from the University of Notre Dame and Charlie Becker (wide receiver) transferred from Old Dominion University. These stars powered the offense to be the number-two scoring offense in the NCAA in 2025.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has also played a big factor in athletic success in colleges. NIL allows NCAA athletes, at all levels, to make money off of their name.
With relaxed NCAA transfer rules, although perverse and often baffling, NIL has allowed player movement through all divisions of athletics.
Overlooked players now have the opportunity to make life-changing money and make a name for themselves at bigger programs. Indiana, not known for its football history, transformed their program almost overnight.
Mendoza is estimated to be worth $2.5 million. His biggest deal came last month when Fernando posted on LinkedIn, “Excited to share that I’ve accepted an opportunity to join [A]didas.”
Running back Roman Hemby, supposedly, “received a six-figure NIL deal with Indiana,” the Baltimore Banner reported after he transferred from Maryland. Hemby also has a contract with The GLD Shop, a popular jewelry store.
The Hoosiers also have a large following from their alumni, bringing in lots of donations that allow them to grow their NIL Collectives.
Indiana alumnus and former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been one of the program’s largest donors. His donations help the Hoosiers pay more than other schools, drawing in the top transfer portal athletes.
Front Office Sports posted on X that Cuban was “already committed for this portal,” after making another donation to the Hoosiers during their immaculate run this fall.
NIL is very impactful at the Division I level, but it is also seeing Division II and Division III athletes gain compensation for their name.
Opendorse is an NIL company used at all levels to endorse student-athletes. Fans can pay for athletes to mention them on social media or make an appearance at an event.
In addition to the college level, NIL is starting to affect high school athletes. Many incoming first-years are signing with schools and companies before playing a collegiate game.
Darryn Peterson, a first-year basketball player at Kansas, signed a deal with Adidas as a senior in high school.
The Ohio High School Athletics Association announced late in 2025 that all high school athletes can profit from their personal image.
