Indiana football is riding high after a historic national championship win, and that momentum is already starting to shift the recruiting landscape in Bloomington.
Under head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers have gone from a program on the rise to a certified powerhouse in just two seasons. An 11-2 debut campaign set the tone, but it was the perfect 12-0 regular season in 2025, capped with a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff run that ended with a win over Miami, that truly changed the narrative.
Indiana isn’t just competing anymore-they’re winning at the highest level. And that kind of success tends to open doors that were previously locked shut.
Enter Jalen Brewster, a 5-star defensive lineman from Cedar Hill High School in Texas. Brewster is as elite as they come.
He’s the top-ranked defensive lineman in the 2027 class according to both On3/Rivals and 247Sports. He committed to Texas Tech back in October-a move that made a lot of sense at the time.
The Red Raiders have been trending upward, especially on defense, and they earned a top-4 seed in this past season’s playoff. For a Texas kid, staying in-state with a surging program was a logical decision.
But the story isn’t that simple.
Brewster has deep Indiana ties. He’s originally from Indianapolis, and his father, Robert Brewster, played college ball alongside current Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines at Ball State.
That connection could matter more now than ever, especially with some recent changes in Lubbock. Texas Tech defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch-one of the key figures in Brewster’s recruitment-didn’t have his contract renewed this offseason.
When asked if he was still solid with Texas Tech after Fitch’s departure, Brewster gave a telling response: “No,” according to On3/Rivals.
That’s where Indiana comes back into play. The Hoosiers never really stopped recruiting Brewster, and now they’re pushing even harder.
Defensive tackles coach Pat Kuntz paid Brewster a visit shortly after the national title win-and he didn’t come empty-handed. Kuntz showed up repping some fresh championship gear, a not-so-subtle reminder of what Indiana is building.
Now, to be clear, Brewster hasn’t decommitted. Nothing is official.
But the door is cracked open, and Indiana is right there, knocking. With plenty of time left before either signing period, this recruitment is far from over.
For Indiana, this is exactly the kind of battle you want to be in if you’re serious about sustaining success. Winning a national title is one thing-building a roster that can do it again is another. Brewster would be a massive addition to a defense that’s already proven it can hang with the best in the country.
So keep an eye on this one. Indiana’s not just celebrating a championship-they’re using it as fuel to chase the next one.