The Hoosiers are heating up-and the rest of the country is starting to take notice.
Indiana jumped three spots to No. 22 in the latest AP Top 25 poll released Monday, riding the momentum of a 7-0 start and two more convincing wins this past week. It’s the second straight week Indiana has cracked the rankings and the second time in five weeks they’ve earned a spot in the national conversation. That’s a significant shift for a program that hadn’t seen its name in the Top 25 since late November 2024, when it briefly climbed to No. 14 under former head coach Mike Woodson before stumbling in the Bahamas against Louisville and Gonzaga.
This time, the Hoosiers look more locked in. Indiana handled its business at home, rolling past Kansas State 86-69 on Tuesday and absolutely dismantling Bethune-Cookman 100-56 on Saturday.
Those wins, paired with losses by Arkansas (to Duke) and St. John’s (to Iowa State and Auburn), helped clear a path for Indiana to climb in the rankings.
The Hoosiers are getting it done on both ends of the floor, showing a level of balance and control that’s been missing in recent years. Offensively, they’re playing with pace and purpose, and defensively, they’re starting to develop an identity-something that will be crucial as the schedule toughens up.
Speaking of which, the road ahead is no cakewalk. Indiana opens Big Ten play Wednesday at Minnesota, but the real tests are looming.
A showdown with No. 6 Louisville awaits this Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, followed by a marquee matchup against No.
18 Kentucky on Dec. 16 at Rupp Arena. Those two games will tell us a lot more about just how real this Indiana team is.
Around the Big Ten, the conference is flexing its muscle. Purdue continues to hold down the top spot at No. 1, while Michigan made a major leap to No. 3 after a dominant stretch that included 30-point wins over San Diego State, Auburn, and Gonzaga.
Michigan State is holding strong at No. 7, Illinois checks in at No. 14, and USC rounds out the ranked Big Ten teams at No.
Several others are knocking on the door. Iowa led all teams receiving votes with 99, followed by UCLA (59), Nebraska (52), and Wisconsin (6). All four programs are hovering just outside the Top 25 and could break through with strong performances in the coming weeks.
But right now, it’s Indiana that’s making the most noise. After years of inconsistency, the Hoosiers are starting to look like a team that belongs in the national spotlight-and if they can keep stacking wins, especially against top-tier opponents, they might not be done climbing just yet.