The defending national champions are officially back, and Indiana wasted little time reminding college football that last season was no fluke.
No. 6 Indiana dominated North Texas 52-16 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, opening the 2026 season with a convincing victory and extending head coach Curt Cignetti’s winning streak to 17 games.
After going a perfect 16-0 and winning the first national championship in program history last season, the Hoosiers entered 2026 facing enormous expectations. Saturday’s performance showed that Indiana still has plenty of firepower.
Josh Hoover Shines in His Indiana Debut
One of the biggest questions entering the season was how Indiana would replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
TCU transfer Josh Hoover provided an impressive early answer.
Hoover completed 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns, making several big throws while avoiding a turnover.
Hoover also showed plenty of toughness. After taking a brutal hit that left him bleeding from the nose, he returned to the field and threw a touchdown just three plays later.
For a quarterback making his first start for the defending national champions, it was an excellent debut.
The Hoosiers Control the Game
Indiana established control early and never allowed North Texas to seriously threaten the outcome.
The Hoosiers took advantage of strong field position and explosive plays, building a 24-6 halftime lead before continuing to pull away in the second half.
Nick Marsh was also involved early, including a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch that helped set the tone for Indiana’s offense.
North Texas managed to move the football at times, but Indiana consistently came up with important stops and eventually turned the game into a rout.
A Strong Start to the Title Defense
Indiana’s defense wasn’t perfect, allowing North Texas to put together a long touchdown drive early in the second half, but the Hoosiers responded and continued to build their lead.
The biggest takeaway is that Indiana looked like a team capable of handling the pressure that comes with being the defending national champion.
Cignetti’s team is now 1-0 and will return to Memorial Stadium next Saturday to face Howard.
The road to another championship will obviously become much more difficult once Big Ten play arrives, but Indiana couldn’t have asked for a better opening statement.
The Hoosiers are back, and after a 52-16 demolition of North Texas, the defending national champions have officially put the rest of college football on notice.
