What to know about the Indiana Hoosiers in 2025
Here's a look at Indiana as the 2025 season draws closer.
2024 in review
In his first year at the helm, Cignetti led the Hoosiers to their first 10-win season in program history and added an 11th win for good measure. His unprecedented success led to Indiana's first College Football Playoff appearance, which ended with a loss to Notre Dame. Though he benefited from a soft schedule, the success can't be overlooked.
Head coach profile
Cignetti famously told a reporter "It's pretty simple - I win. Google me" after being hired at Indiana before the 2024 season. He did just that, taking the Hoosiers to historic sights. Prior to that, Cignetti was the head coach at James Madison for five seasons. In his first season, he led the Dukes to an FCS title game appearance followed by a semifinal appearance the year after. When James Madison transitioned to the Sun Belt to join the FBS ranks, it went 8-3 and won a share of the division championship before improving to 11-2 the following year despite being ineligible for the Sun Belt title game.
Top offensive player
After finding success with transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke last season, the Hoosiers brought in Fernando Mendoza from Cal, who figures to be one of their top offensive players in 2025. Mendoza was ranked as the No. 4 quarterback transfer by 247Sports and threw for over 3,000 yards at a 68.7% clip with 16 touchdowns to six interceptions.
Top defensive players
Edge rusher Mikail Kamara likely would've been drafted this offseason had he declared, but he opted to return for a second season at Indiana and fourth with Curt Cignetti after following the head coach from James Madison. Kamara recorded 10 sacks last season, fourth most in the Big Ten and most among returning players. Additionally, cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, another former Duke, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last year and is a first-round hopeful after recording 55 tackles and three picks last season.
2025 schedule
The Hoosiers will visit Happy Valley in early November for their first trip to Beaver Stadium since a 33-24 loss in 2023. Penn State has won the last three matchups and 25 of 27 total matchups, but Indiana's most recent win came on Michael Penix's infamous walk-off two-point conversion at the pylon in 2020. Both teams will serve as a major benchmark for the other, and the loser of this game may be knocked out of the playoff picture as a result.
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Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
These players with Indiana ties could hear their names called during 2025 MLB draft
Two years ago, Franklin grad Max Clark was selected No. 3 overall by the Detroit Tigers. Clark was viewed as a can't-miss prospect and while his progression through the minors has been gradual — he was promoted to Double-A Erie on Monday — he's done nothing to dim his superstar status. There are no local legends heading into Sunday's 2025 MLB draft, but there are several prospects with Indiana ties who could hear their names called during the two-day draft. The draft begins Sunday with rounds 1-3 and concludes Monday with rounds 4-20. Here's a list of prospects with Indiana ties who could be drafted during the 2025 MLB Draft. The IU commit is a 6-2, 210-pound lefty with a fastball reaching 95 mph. As a senior, Barr went 3-2 with a 0.57 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 36⅔ innings. The New Albany native is a hard-throwing reliever with a sinking fastball touching 97 mph. As a junior, Biven went 5-0 with a 3.71 ERA, four saves and 36 strikeouts over 43⅔ innings. The LSU commit is an athletic left-handed outfielder. As a senior, Braun batted .500 with 48 runs scored, 42 RBIs, 11 doubles, five home runs, three triples and 12 stolen bases. The IU commit has some of the best pure stuff in the prep ranks. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, touching 97 mph. But he has to improve his command if he wants to stay a starting pitcher. Cerny, a former IU shortstop, transferred to Kentucky this offseason. As a junior, Cerny slashed .281/.386/.517 with 14 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and six stolen bases. He's currently playing for the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLB Draft League. He's fourth overall in batting average (.337) and sixth overall with an .897 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). The Notre Dame commit is the son of former major league lefthander Jim Crowell. The 6-3, 191-pound lefty had a perfect 6-0 record with a miniscule 0.25 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 55 innings. At the plate, Crowell batted .375 with 32 runs scored, 24 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples, three home runs and four stolen bases. The Brownsburg grad won Big 12 Player of the Year as a senior, slashing .396/.438/.545 with 12 home runs, 50 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. More: Despite working 3 a.m. shifts, Brownsburg grad hopes to hear name in MLB draft The Louisville transfer and Jeffersonville native had a career year at IU. Dickerson and IU teammate Devin Taylor are projected to be drafted on Day 1 of the MLB draft. Dickerson slashed .314/.381/.632 with 19 home runs, 14 doubles, three triples and five stolen bases over 56 games — career highs across the board — earning Third-Team All-America honors. The Kentucky commit is a 6-1, 200-pound frame with a fastball touching 96 mph and a solid 12-6 curveball. Flores had a 7-0 record with a 2.76 ERA and 70 strikeouts over 38 innings. The IU commit won Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year after a dominant senior season, earning six wins with a 0.76 ERA and 61 strikeouts. Fisher is an athletic 6-3, 185-pound righty who also played quarterback for the football team. His fastball sits 92 to 94 and touches 95 mph. The Columbus East grad transferred to IU from Indiana State and had a breakout redshirt senior season. Gilley went 10-3 with one save over 18 appearances. He finished with a 3.54 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 68⅔ innings. Grable transferred to IU from Northwestern in 2024 but missed the entire season due to injury. Grable showed strong stuff during his return to the mound this season going 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA over 17 appearances. He finished with 65 strikeouts and just 17 walks over 56⅓ innings. Hartlaub showed steady improvement over his career, earning Second-Team All-MAC honors as a senior, going 6-2 with a 5.09 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 81⅓ innings. Logan is a plus athlete who is committed to play baseball and football at Notre Dame. He batted .389 with 57 runs scored, 31 RBIs, six doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 44 stolen bases. The Carmel native and Brebeuf Jesuit grad had a breakout redshirt junior season for Butler. Moroknek had a .372/.443/.702 slash line with 18 home runs, 16 doubles, one triple, 57 RBIs and two stolen bases. Moroknek earned All-Big East second team honors, and his 153 total bases set a new Butler program record. He transferred to Texas this offseason. Novak started 57 of 57 games as a senior, slashing .300/.392/.527 with 13 home runs, 11 doubles, 57 RBIs and 53 runs scored. The backstop committed just five errors, finishing with a .989 fielding percentage last season. Pentecost has taken a unique path to become an MLB draft prospect as a homeschooled player to NAIA Taylor. The 6-3, 200-pound right has fastball that touches 96 mph. As a senior, Pentecost went 12-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 80 innings. Richmond has massive power potential in his 6-3, 240-pound frame. Richmond had a breakout junior season at Western Michigan before transferring to Purdue for the 2024-25 season. The sweet-swinging lefty missed time with injury, but in 35 games, Richmond batted .221 with five home runs, seven doubles, two triples, 30 RBIs and 24 runs scored. The Mississippi State commit's improved velocity has caught the eyes of MLB scouts. The 6-1, 180-pound touched 97 mph on his fastball with two quality off-speed pitches in his repertoire. Rhodes finished 4-2 with a 1.24 ERA and 88 strikeouts over 45 innings. The Wake Forest commit is one of the best pure high school hitters on this list. He's not the biggest player at 5-10, 170 pounds, but he's extremely skilled. As a senior, Stein batted .333 with 36 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, 12 RBIs, two doubles, one triple and one home run. Taylor will likely be the highest drafted player on this list. Ranked 34th on Baseball America's Top 500, Taylor has been a plus hitter for the past three seasons. As a junior, Taylor slashed .374/.494/.706 with 18 home runs, 13 doubles, two triples and 12 stolen bases.
Yahoo
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- Yahoo
Iowa legend Caitlin Clark gives update on how Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton is coping during achilles recovery
The love for basketball in Indiana runs deep—especially when it comes to the state's two franchises, the Pacers and the Fever. The Fever now boast one of the most electrifying players in the WNBA, while the Pacers are coming off a crushing Game 7 loss in the NBA Finals. In that decisive game, Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles—a risk that lingered after he had strained his calf earlier in the series. However, Pacers team president Kevin Pritchard revealed that doctors had assured the team the risk of such an injury was low. Advertisement 'While speaking for the first time since the season ended, Kevin Pritchard told reporters that the doctors thought there was a 'low chance' of Haliburton suffering an Achilles injury. Pritchard acknowledged that he and the doctors had about 20 hours' worth of calls to determine if there was any enhanced risk of something like this happening,' Sports Illustrated's Ryan Stano wrote. The Pacers received devastating news when Pritchard also confirmed that Haliburton will miss the entire 2025–26 season. 'Not only will the Pacers be without their star guard next season, but they also did not complete their magical playoff run and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to his injury, Haliburton recorded nine points on 3-for-5 shooting in just seven minutes. It is fair to wonder how differently things would have changed had the Wisconsin native not suffered his injury,' Elie Deglaoui wrote. Fever star Caitlin Clark recently spoke to the media about Haliburton's injury, describing what it's been like for him during the recovery process—and just how bored he must be. Advertisement Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp 'I'm at the hyperbaric chamber and I'm in one tube and Tyrese is in the tube next to me…I mean he loves basketball... I was on a plane flying back and he's like, 'Yeah I'm already re-watching it, I'll text you what I think.' And I'm like, bro, that's how you know how bored he is. He's probably one of our biggest fans,' Clark said. Clark was a constant presence throughout the Pacers' playoff run, and now Haliburton is returning the support by showing up for the Fever. Though the recovery process will be long and grueling, watching the Fever play seems to be keeping Haliburton connected to the game.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Indiana hosts Dallas after Mitchell's 25-point performance
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