It didn’t take long for Indiana football to sneak into the national spotlight last season.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti’s storybook first season lured FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN’s College Gameday pregame shows to Bloomington in back-to-back weeks.
For a coach who made his entrance to the Power 4 level with the quote “Google me,” a contrasting narrative later arose.
Cignetti no longer needed to be Googled.
The Hoosiers went on to finish with an 11-2 record and a College Football Playoff berth just one year after finishing 3-9. But with success comes expectations. Indiana will open its 2025 season at 2:30 p.m. Saturday against Old Dominion at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium with sights set on making winning football a pattern in Bloomington.
Despite Cignetti’s “SEC-style scheduling,” the Hoosiers will have plenty to prove against the Monarchs, expecting nine starters to make their debuts in the Cream and Crimson.
Here’s what Indiana football needs to show in its season opener against Old Dominion.
Keeping composure
Indiana opens as a 23.5-point favorite, according to ESPN Bet Sportsbook. However, being a heavy underdog hasn’t stopped Old Dominion in its program’s recent history. In 2022, the Monarchs forced five total turnovers to steal a 20-17 road win over Virginia Tech.
Just last season, Old Dominion found itself level with another Power 4 opponent — the University of South Carolina — entering the fourth quarter.
“South Carolina beat them by four,” Cignetti said during his media availability Monday. “I mean, they were extremely fortunate to beat Old Dominion.”
Messy football is expected as teams make their return to live game action. Look no further than the four fumbles in this year’s kickoff game between Iowa State University and Kansas State University in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 23.
Looking into this weekend’s matchup, messy football is also the Monarchs’ biggest chance at pulling an upset.
Indiana can’t let that happen.
As Saturday’s long-awaited kickoff nears, Cignetti will need his Hoosiers ready to showcase the same tenacity displayed during their nonconference slate last season. Indiana outscored a trio of opponents a combined 160-24. The task of producing similarly eye-catching numbers largely falls on the shoulders of an offense led by University of California, Berkeley transfer Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza’s chance to impress
Mendoza isn’t an unproven talent. The former Golden Bear started 19 games over the first three seasons of his college career. Still, the third-highest-rated quarterback in the 2024 transfer portal, according to 247 Sports, has yet to showcase his talents in the Cream and Crimson. Saturday will be a golden opportunity to change that.
Old Dominion ranked 102nd among FBS teams last season in total defense, allowing 410.4 yards per game. The Monarchs’ defensive struggles, paired with senior receiver Elijah Sarratt’s and redshirt junior receiver Omar Cooper Jr.'s return, gives Mendoza plenty of explosive play potential. Explosive plays generate cheers. Cheers generate confidence.
Mendoza needs to find a rhythm with his receivers and grow comfortable in offensive coordinator Mike Shannan’s offense leading up to Big Ten play. If not, the Hoosiers’ Sept. 20 conference opener against No. 12 Illinois could be a stark wake-up call for their new signal caller.
Building a rushing attack
Staying in the backfield, the running back position serves as another major personnel change for Cignetti. Last season’s leading rushers Ty Son Lawton and Justice Ellison will need to be replaced after exhausting their eligibility. Redshirt senior Kaelon Black — the third-string option last season — returns as Maryland transfer redshirt senior Roman Hemby and University of Alabama at Birmingham transfer redshirt junior Lee Beebe Jr. round out the featured backs.
Last season Indiana scored a Big Ten-best 37 rushing touchdowns and averaged 165.1 yards per game on the ground — quality numbers largely produced by committee. A similar game plan looks to be in store for the Hoosiers this season, but the makeup of the committee is still unclear.
Despite just 46 touches in 2024, Black averaged an efficient 5.5 yards per carry, more than both Lawton and Ellison. Hemby brings the Hoosiers an experienced option with 38 starts throughout his Terrapin tenure. Finally, Beebe offers high upside after a career-best season. The former walk-on totaled a team-high 1,103 all-purpose yards during his first season as a starter at UAB.
“We've always split the carries,” Cignetti said. “I expect them all to carry the ball Saturday.”
Regardless of who lines up alongside Mendoza, one thing is certain — a successful rushing attack is necessary if Indiana wants to recreate the dynamic offense it displayed in 2024. That process starts against Old Dominion. Figuring out which backs work best for each personnel, down and play call early in the season should be a major focus during the non-conference slate.
Defensive star power
There are undoubtedly question marks surrounding the Hoosiers’ defense this season with four transfers expected to fill starting roles such as Maryland transfer defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt. Oftentimes turnover breeds growing pains — that shouldn't be evident against the Old Dominion.
The returns of redshirt senior defensive lineman Mikail Kamara, senior linebacker Aiden Fisher and junior cornerback D’Angelo Ponds provide Indiana all the star power needed to alleviate the concerns incoming additions may potentially bring. With the clear talent disparity between the Hoosiers’ defense and Monarchs’ offense — which allowed 35 sacks one year ago — Kamara and company should be able to shine in a triumphant return to Memorial Stadium. The alternative is less pretty.
If Indiana’s defensive stars fail to dictate the game like they are capable of doing, there is potential for Old Dominion to exploit weaknesses in an untested lineup. At the very least, the Monarchs are able to showcase various shortcomings on tape ahead of Big Ten play. Worst-case scenario — the possibility of a devastating upset.
“The game is going to be hard,” Cignetti said. “I expect a very tough challenge from Old Dominion, and we're going to have to play really well from the first play to the last play. We'll learn a lot about our team in game one.”
Follow reporters Conor Banks and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) throughout the Indiana football season.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correctly identify the defensive lineman, Kellan Wyatt, who transferred from Maryland.
