Indiana football is making some serious noise on the recruiting trail - and it’s not just about stacking stars. The Hoosiers wrapped up a pivotal recruiting cycle by signing 22 high school prospects and adding 17 transfers, signaling a clear message: they’re retooling fast and aiming high under Curt Cignetti.
Let’s start with the high school class. Indiana’s 2026 haul ranks 30th nationally according to On3 and Rivals, and even higher - 20th - in 247Sports' rankings.
That’s no small feat for a program that’s spent much of its time outside the national spotlight. It shows Cignetti and his staff aren’t just recruiting bodies - they’re targeting players who can elevate the program’s ceiling.
But where Indiana really turned heads was in the transfer portal. The Hoosiers landed the No. 1 overall transfer class in the On3/Rivals composite rankings, which take into account both incoming talent and outgoing losses.
247Sports slots them at No. 8, still firmly in elite company. That’s a major statement in today’s college football landscape, where the portal has become a fast track to roster transformation.
Cignetti joined Big Ten Network to talk through the new additions and offered some early insight into what this group brings to the table. While he touched on spring football and even the program’s national title aspirations, the focus was clear: Indiana’s roster is getting deeper, more athletic, and more competitive across the board.
This kind of recruiting success isn’t just about numbers - it’s about momentum. Indiana is building something, and Cignetti’s vision is starting to take shape. Whether it’s through high school development or plug-and-play transfers, the Hoosiers are working to close the gap in a loaded Big Ten.
The pieces are coming together. Now, it’s about turning that talent into wins.