印第安纳大学橄榄球队主教练柯特·西格内蒂正在为球队的全国冠军卫冕之旅做准备。[1]西格内蒂表示他在"追踪自满"，以防止冠军球队陷入懈怠。[1]在他执教的两年内，印第安纳大学完成了一次引人瞩目的转身——从传统弱旅（之前战绩为9-27）变成了季后赛常客，并在2025年赢得全国冠军。[1]
不过球队面临人员调整的挑战。[1]四分卫费尔南多·门多萨因获得选秀首轮身份被拉斯维加斯突袭者队选中而离队，这也使印第安纳大学创造了单赛季8名球员被选中的纪录。[1]为了维持竞争力，球队通过转移门户签下了18名新生。[1]其中包括前TCU四分卫乔什·胡佛（职业生涯三年投出9,627码和71次达阵，被拦截33次）和前密歇根州立宽接手尼克·马什（过去两赛季100场接球，累计1,311码和9次达阵）。[1]
尽管进行了补强，但在Cleveland.com的Big Ten非官方季前民调中，卫冕全国冠军的印第安纳大学排在俄亥俄州立大学和俄勒冈大学之后，位列第三。[1]此外，球队在过去两周获得了2027年五星外接手蒙顺·塞尔斯和2028年四分卫卢卡斯·普罗克的口头承诺，为未来储备人才。[1]
Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti is preparing his defending national champion Hoosiers for the upcoming season while remaining vigilant about the pitfalls of success.[1] Cignetti stated that he is "stalking complacency" to prevent the team from succumbing to a championship hangover.[1] The transformation has been remarkable: in just two years under Cignetti's leadership, the program has reversed a 9-27 record to reach the College Football Playoff in consecutive seasons and capture the 2025 national title.[1]
The Hoosiers face significant roster changes as they enter their title defense.[1] Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy, was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the draft, marking one of a program-record eight players chosen in that draft class.[1] To maintain competitiveness, Indiana has signed 18 transfer portal recruits, including former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who threw for 9,627 yards and 71 touchdowns with 33 interceptions over three seasons, and former Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh, who had 100 receptions for 1,311 yards and 9 touchdowns over the past two seasons.[1] Additionally, the program has secured verbal commitments from five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales for the 2027 class and quarterback Lukas Prock for the 2028 class in recent weeks.[1]
Despite holding the national championship, Indiana faces skepticism heading into the new season.[1] In an unofficial Big Ten preseason poll conducted by Cleveland.com, the defending national champions ranked third, behind Ohio State and Oregon.[1]