Defending champion Indiana starts 2026 season ranked sixth in AP poll

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti enters the 2026 college football season with his team ranked sixth in the AP Poll despite securing a 15-0 record and a National Championship last year. Critics point to the loss of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders as a factor for the preseason ranking. Indiana returns 56% of its production from the previous campaign and added the eighth-ranked transfer portal class this offseason. Historical data shows that since 2010, only two defending champions received a rank of sixth or worse, with both teams undergoing significant roster turnover. Advanced metrics like SP+ and Sagarin rankings currently place the Hoosiers in the top five, aligning more closely with their status as defending champions. Cignetti now looks to guide the program through a new season while addressing roster changes.

• 11:33 AMYahoo Sports — Indiana’s Curt Cignetti should feel disrespected