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Indiana football's rise to national title contender rewards fans who endured decades of losing
Indiana finished 13-0 as Big Ten champions led by Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, ending decades of losing and selling out all home conference games this season, officials said.
- Indiana finished the regular season as Big Ten champion with a perfect 13-0 record behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the school's first Heisman Trophy winner, and now faces Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Thursday.
- Curt Cignetti's two-year run transformed the program, earning back-to-back AP Coach of the Year honors and ending the Indiana football program's 55 losing seasons and long bowl drought.
- Memorial Stadium sold out home conference games as Heis-Mendoza chants became common, while Delta, American and Southwest Airlines added nonstop flights from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.
- Supporters say Indiana fans' expectations shifted from expecting losses to expecting wins, with Bill Murphy, a 66-year season-ticket holder, finally attending the Rose Bowl.
- When the Big Ten conference expanded in 2024, Indiana football program gained West Coast matchups at iconic stadiums like UCLA, boosting national exposure as football eclipsed basketball in fan excitement.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Associated Press News+10 Reposted by 10 other sources
Indiana football's rise to national title contender rewards fans who endured decades of losing
Indiana football is rewriting its reputation and giving Bloomington something to be excited about. A team that was once an afterthought in its community has unleashed a new brand of Hoosiers fans, who are travelling in masses from Bloomington to Pasadena to witness the program’s biggest game since 1
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 40%
C 50%
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