Indiana did everything right on Saturday and still woke up Sunday a spot lower in the AP poll.
The Hoosiers turned in another clean, punishing defensive performance in a 38-0 win over Western Kentucky at Memorial Stadium, but the latest Associated Press Top 25 still pushed them from No. 4 to No. 5. Indiana has now stacked back-to-back shutouts for the first time in over thirty years, and Curt Cignetti’s team moved to 3-0 on the 2026 season by keeping the Hilltoppers in complete check from the opening whistle.
Josh Hoover handled the passing game with 273 yards and two touchdowns, while Lee Beebe Jr. finished the job on the ground with two scores of his own. It was the kind of all-around control that usually holds steady in the rankings. This time, it wasn’t enough.
Ole Miss was the big mover. After its emotional marquee win over LSU on Saturday night, the Rebels surged ahead of Indiana in the eyes of AP voters and landed at No.
- Texas stayed at No. 1, with Georgia at No. 2 and Notre Dame at No. 3, leaving the Hoosiers one step behind at No.
Even with the drop, Indiana still picked up four first-place votes in the AP poll, a clear sign that plenty of voters remain sold on what Cignetti has built in Bloomington. The respect showed up in the US LBM Coaches Poll as well, where Indiana stayed at No. 4.
The number next to Indiana’s name changed. The belief around the program didn’t.
In Other News...
Curt Cignetti Sends A Clear Message As Indianas Winning Streak Grows
After Indianas 38-0 win over Western Kentucky, Curt Cignetti spent much of his media session pointing back to the details that keep a streak like this alive. He highlighted a goal-line stand, the defenses steady improvement over the course of the season, and an offense that kept the pressure on by throwing effectively on first down. He also made clear that player health remains part of the equation as the Hoosiers move deeper into the schedule.
Cignettis broader message was about continuity, not celebration. Indiana is now riding a 19-game winning streak, but the coach framed it as the product of weekly preparation and attention to the little things rather than anything symbolic. With more games ahead, the challenge becomes keeping that edge while carrying the confidence that has built around a team that continues to stack wins without looking satisfied. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Sent Nick Marsh A Message Indiana Fans Noticed
Nick Marshs return to the starting lineup came with a season-best showing, and Indiana had every reason to like what it saw in the 38-0 win over Western Kentucky. The Michigan State transfer finished with seven catches for 81 yards, a productive response after being benched for the first series the previous week. He has been working with Curt Cignetti on his practice standards and his on-field discipline, two areas the staff clearly wanted to clean up as the Hoosiers settle into the season.
Cignettis handling of Marsh was noticeable to Indiana fans because it suggested a message had been delivered and received, even if the full story around the receivers role is still unfolding. For a team looking to get more consistency from its passing game, Marshs performance offered a useful sign that the correction may be taking hold, but the bigger question is whether this turns into the kind of steady, week-to-week trust the Hoosiers need from him. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Just Got Two Big Reasons To Eye Purdue
Indiana football kept rolling with a 38-0 win over Western Kentucky, finishing back-to-back shutouts and giving the Hoosiers another reminder that the program is carrying real momentum. Even as that result settled in, the attention around Bloomington kept drifting toward the sport that drives so much of the local conversation, especially with the Big Ten now laying out the 2026-27 mens and womens conference schedules and setting the stage for some of the league matchups fans will circle early.
The basketball side has had its own steady stream of news, too, with Indiana landing a commitment from 2027 recruit Felix Kiehlneker while two publications pegged the Hoosiers seventh in the Big Ten for the coming season. Put together, it is the kind of week that gives Indiana fans plenty to track, and plenty of reason to keep one eye on Purdue, whether it is about futures, projections or the next set of games that shape the rivalry picture. [Read more 🡒]