The Indiana Hoosiers just got the kind of news every title contender hopes for heading into the College Football Playoff - their top wideout, Omar Cooper Jr., is back to full speed and ready to roll. After missing time with a lower-body injury suffered in the Big Ten Championship win over then-No. 1 Ohio State, Cooper is expected to be a full go for the Rose Bowl showdown against ninth-seeded Alabama on New Year’s Day.
That’s a big deal. Because if there’s one thing Alabama doesn’t want to deal with right now, it’s a fully loaded Indiana offense that already ranks among the nation’s elite.
Let’s break it down.
Cooper’s Return Adds Firepower to an Already Dangerous Offense
Omar Cooper Jr. has been a steady force for the Hoosiers all season. He leads the team with 58 catches for 804 yards, and his 11 touchdown grabs trail only one teammate.
His career numbers - 104 receptions, 1,665 yards, and 20 touchdowns - speak to his consistency and reliability, but what really stands out is his knack for big moments. Just ask Penn State fans about that toe-tapping game-winner in the back of the end zone on November 8.
That catch didn’t just win a game - it cemented Indiana’s place as a serious contender.
His return gives quarterback Fernando Mendoza his full arsenal at just the right time. Mendoza, the Heisman winner, has been sensational all year, and now he gets his top target back for the most important game of the season. That’s a scary thought for any defense - even one coached by Nick Saban.
A Program Redefined
Indiana’s rise under head coach Curt Cignetti has been nothing short of remarkable. This is a team that, just three years ago, became the first FBS program to lose 700 games.
They had never won more than nine games in a single season. Now?
They’re 13-0, Big Ten champions for the first time since 1967, and ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time in school history.
Cignetti, a two-time AP Coach of the Year - and the first ever to win it back-to-back - has completely flipped the script in Bloomington. His team doesn’t just play with confidence; it plays with dominance. Indiana boasts the third-stingiest defense in the country, giving up just 11.8 points per game, and the fourth-most explosive offense, averaging 39.3 points per contest.
The balance is striking. This isn’t a team that leans solely on its quarterback or defense. With 29 rushing touchdowns on the year, a deep receiving corps, and Mendoza’s steady hand at quarterback, Indiana has become one of the most complete teams in the country.
The Road Ahead: Alabama Awaits
Alabama comes in at 11-3, fresh off a gritty comeback win over Oklahoma in the CFP’s opening round. The Tide dug themselves out of a 17-point hole, capitalizing on Oklahoma’s mistakes to secure a 34-24 victory.
But Indiana isn’t Oklahoma. The Hoosiers don’t beat themselves, and they’re not likely to give Alabama the same margin for error.
With Cooper back in the fold, Indiana’s offense is at full strength. Combine that with a defense that’s been lights-out all season, and the Hoosiers are positioned to do something no one would’ve predicted just a few years ago - beat Alabama on the biggest stage and move one step closer to a national title.
This isn’t just a feel-good story anymore. It’s a legitimate championship run. And with their top receiver healthy and the full playbook open, Indiana looks ready to finish the job.