No. 1 Indiana spent several December weeks reveling in the luster of the best season in school history.
They sung the school’s fight song in the confetti celebration following their first Big Ten championship since 1967 and first outright title since 1945. They were featured on 鈥�60 Minutes.鈥� They signed their offensive and defensive coordinators to contract extensions. They even flew to New Yorck City and in Times Square.
And now that they know their Rose Bowl opponent , Indiana has spent the past 10 days prepping to prove they’re worthy of holding both the No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.
鈥淲e understand that just like the Big Ten Championship game, just like any other big games we played this season, this page is now folded, although I will be in the (Heisman) fraternity for the rest of my life,鈥� Mendoza said after returning to campus with the Heisman. “Our focus right now is winning the College Football Playoff. That鈥檚 what would make this trophy so much sweeter.”
Last year was the first for the expanded 12-team playoff, and the top four seeds with first-round byes 鈥� Oregon, Georgia, Bosie State and Arizona State 鈥� all lost in the quarterfinals. This year’s top seeds 鈥� Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas Tech 鈥� want to prove last year was a fluke.
face conference foe Ole Miss (12-1) in a New Year鈥檚 Day rematch at the Sugar Bowl; the Bulldogs dealt the Rebels their only loss. The defending champion Buckeyes (12-1) have spent the past couple weeks getting healthy and making one key change. when Ohio State faces Miami (11-2) in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not a game that鈥檚 gone by where I鈥檓 not involved or listening to every call and making sure it鈥檚 what we鈥檝e agreed upon going in (to the game),鈥� Day said, explaining why he鈥檚 taking over the playcalling from new South Florida coach Brian Hartline. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 similar to the way it was before.鈥�
The other quarterfinal matchup pits Texas Tech (12-1), the Big 12 champion, against Oregon (11-1).
The Hoosiers (13-0) never lost their focus in 2025, thanks partly to second-year coach Curt Cignetti but mostly because the Hoosiers’ returning contingent 鈥� players such as linebacker Aiden Fisher, defensive end Mikail Kamara and receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. 鈥� wouldn’t allow it.
and starting center Pat Coogan, who immediately embraced Indiana’s mission to avenge the two losses that tainted Cignetti’s otherwise flawless first season: At eventual national champion Ohio State and at eventual national runner-up Notre Dame.
Outsiders entered this season wondering whether the remarkable turnaround of the losingest football program in Football Bowl Subdivision history was merely a one-hit wonder. Yet with each passing week, the Hoosiers answered the challenge, turning some doubters into believers.
“For us, it鈥檚 not really three weeks of being off, it鈥檚 more so about getting better at what you do right now,鈥� Fisher said. 鈥淎nd when the time comes to scout another opponent, you鈥檒l be an even better player and in a better situation to do that. I think that鈥檚 a big thing.鈥�
Now comes the toughest test so far: A game at the Rose Bowl against the Crimson Tide, which has won six national championships since 2009. Cignetti is a former Alabama assistant while Crimson Tide coach is a former Indiana assistant.
鈥淲e understand we鈥檝e got a great football team with Indiana,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淐oach Cignetti, just what he鈥檚 done is amazing here these last two years, just building the program as quickly as he鈥檚 done to the level it鈥檚 at. Really looking forward to us diving back into our process here, getting back to work.鈥�
So far, Indiana has met every challenge with late scores to win at Iowa, at Oregon and at Penn State before upsetting the then top-ranked Buckeyes on Dec. 6. Cignetti has relied on those lessons to help his team through his long layoff.
鈥淯ntil we knew the opponent, we treated it like two bye weeks. Now we have almost two weeks to prepare for the opponent,鈥� he said last week. 鈥淲ould I prefer to play earlier? Yeah, I probably would, to be quite honest with you. But that鈥檚 not the case. We鈥檙e excited about playing. We鈥檙e off to a good start, and it will be a tremendous challenge.鈥�
The Hoosiers don’t expect anything less from themselves. They intend to be rested and ready 鈥� not rusty.
“I believe we鈥檝e earned these bye weeks,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a great honor to have a bye week, and we still have great momentum going into the playoff. I think it鈥檚 a great opportunity to rest our bodies and stay sharp on our fundamentals.鈥�
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AP Sports Writers Charles Odum in Atlanta and Joe Reedy in Columbus, Ohio, also contributed to this report.
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