gg2
IU football news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
IU football opens season Saturday against North Texas as defending national champs.
All 12 ESPN analysts doubt a repeat, but most see a playoff return.
Background
Indiana University's football team had a historic 2025 season, going 16-0 and winning the national championship. As they prepare for the 2026 season opener against North Texas, they face skepticism about repeating, with many analysts picking other Big Ten teams ahead of them.
How it unfolded
- Jan 19, 2026IU defeated Miami 27-21 to win the national championship, completing a 16-0 season.
- Aug 31, 2026IU announced new fan experiences and stadium enhancements for the 2026 season, including a 15-foot CFP trophy photo opportunity.
- Sep 2, 2026ESPN's panel of 12 analysts all projected IU to make the CFP but none picked them to repeat as national champions.
- Sep 5, 2026IU is scheduled to play North Texas at noon ET at Memorial Stadium, with IU favored by 41.5 points.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- ESPN's 12 analysts all have IU returning to the CFP but none pick them to repeat as national champions, with several Big Ten teams ranked ahead.