PASADENA, Calif. — Indiana football’s season was already magical before the Hoosiers stepped onto Spieker Field at The Rose Bowl.
But New Year’s Day 2026 has removed any doubt over where this season stands in IU history. Curt Cignetti has authored the greatest football season Bloomington has ever seen, accentuated by a dominant 38-3 win over SEC powerhouse Alabama in the Rose Bowl Game.
No. 1 Indiana (14-0) will advance to the CFP Semifinals at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Friday, Jan. 9 for a rematch with No. 5 Oregon.
The Hoosiers earned their first bowl win since 1991, when Bill Mallory’s squad shut out Baylor 24-0 in the Copper Bowl. That team finished 7-4-1. This Indiana group not only ended that six-game bowl losing streak (seven if last season’s CFP First Round game counts), but won the program’s most significant bowl game in program history.
Indiana has now won four bowl games, ever. Along with that Copper Bowl victory, IU won the 1979 Holiday Bowl under Lee Corso, and the 1988 Liberty Bowl under Mallory.
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- Find us on Instagram, X, and Facebook
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
