The past half-century of IU freshmen have walked through the Sample Gates expecting two things: Greatness from the men’s basketball team and futility from the football team.
But for the past two years, those two sports have been on opposite trajectories. A 2025-26 sports season full of surprises made for a rollercoaster for IU sports fans, and with massive turnover on nearly every roster, the upcoming season is just as unpredictable. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Indiana’s biggest sports this season.
Football
As you likely know, Indiana took home the national championship under the stewardship of burgeoning legend Curt Cignetti and the NFL’s first overall pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The all-time losingest program in the country two years ago, Indiana football now struts into next season with back-to-back ambitions.
Redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover will serve as a spiritual successor to Mendoza. The Texas Christian University transfer is a high-pedigree prospect who finished top three in the Big 12 in nearly all major passing categories in his two years as a starter. Like Mendoza, he doesn’t possess any freakish athletic attributes, but he’s an expert processor and decision-maker.
The biggest worry for Hoover will be his turnovers, as he led the Big 12 with 13 interceptions. But Cignetti has a history of instilling discipline and eliminating careless mistakes in his players. After developing Mendoza into the NFL’s premier rookie talent, the sky is the limit for Hoover.
Indiana's transfer class is filled with three and four-star recruits, per 247sports, including former Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh and former Kansas State University edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.
Look out for returning fan-favorite Charlie Becker, a deep threat receiver who made big catches during the latter half of last season as Mendoza’s favorite bail-out target.
Memorial Stadium serves as the home site for Indiana football, where the Hoosiers will open their 2026 season Sept. 5 against North Texas University.
Men’s basketball
Indiana missed the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row and the eighth time in 10 seasons. Darian DeVries’ inaugural season marked IU’s fourth head coach in that time period. Twelve players either exhausted their eligibility or entered the transfer portal, leaving the roster nearly empty.
But a strong transfer portal class will look to end a decade of futility. Southern Methodist University transfer Samet Yiğitoğlu, who stands 7-foot-2, and 6-foot former Notre Dame point guard Markus Burton lead the way on 247sports’ fourth-ranked transfer class. DeVries also secured letters of intent from four-star high school prospects Prince-Alexander Moody and Vaughn Karvala.
Women’s basketball
The women’s team missed the tournament for the first time since 2018 after several key players graduated or transferred, leaving superstar Shay Ciezki and head coach Teri Moren with an untested young squad last season. Indiana lost 8 players total, including Ciezki, to eligibility restrictions or the transfer portal at the end of the season.
But only a fool would distrust Moren, who boasts a 68% win rate in her time with the Hoosiers and made the NCAA tournament in seven of her 11 tournament-eligible seasons. She will coach the eighth-ranked recruiting class, highlighted by nationally ranked No. 25 wing Addison Nyemchek and No. 29 guard Gigi Battle.
Indiana will also bring in a modest but experienced transfer class highlighted by Nebraska transfer junior forward Jessica Petrie.
Both basketball teams play at Assembly Hall, and their schedules are yet to be finalized.
Baseball and softball
The baseball team struck out big in their latest season, finishing near the bottom of the Big 10 standings despite a preseason No. 5 projection.
The softball team, on the other hand, made the NCAA Division I Softball tournament, and lost in heartbreaking fashion to the University of Virginia in the regional round.
The baseball team is led on offense by the sophomore trio of Caleb Koskie, Hogan Denny and Jake Hanley. Freshman Owen ten Oever came on strong in the second half of the season and will look to build on an all-around excellent campaign in his sophomore season. They play home games at Bart Kaufman Field, and will open their season next winter.
The softball team featured one of the most consistent and powerful offenses in the country, with all nine consistent starters batting over .300. Junior utility player Aly VanBrandt scorched opposing pitching to the tune of a .399 average and 15 home runs in the regular season. Andy Mohr Field hosts the Hoosiers during the regular season.
Soccer, volleyball and more
For more information on free-to-attend and lesser-known sports, see our free fall sports guide. Team sports are the beating heart of campus, so make sure you catch a few games while you’re here!
