The Indiana Hoosiers’ dream season just got the official stamp of approval from Capitol Hill.
Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks introduced-and saw the unanimous passage of-a U.S. Senate resolution honoring Indiana University's football team for its perfect 16-0 national championship run. It’s a rare moment when college football glory and federal recognition intersect, but the Hoosiers earned every bit of it.
This wasn’t just about wins-it was about rewriting the script. Under Coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana didn’t just go undefeated; they did it with a mix of grit, belief, and a little bit of swagger.
The Senate resolution even nods to one of the defining moments of the season: center Pat Coogan’s now-legendary pregame speech before the Purdue game, where he called the team a bunch of “misfits.” That label stuck-and became a rallying cry.
“Whereas this self-described team of ‘misfits’ inspired Hoosiers throughout their incredible season…” the resolution reads, capturing the spirit of a squad that wasn’t supposed to be here-but showed up anyway and took over the college football landscape.
Senator Young celebrated the moment on social media, writing, “Tonight, the Senate passed a resolution I introduced with Senator Banks celebrating the national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Congressional recognition will give IU fans one more way to Google the wins from this historic season.”
Senator Banks echoed that pride: “They made our whole state proud. Go Hoosiers!”
For a program that’s long been in the shadows of the Big Ten football elite, this isn’t just a trophy-it’s a turning point. A team that started the year with questions ended it with a perfect record, a national title, and now, a place in the Congressional Record.
The Hoosiers didn’t just win games-they changed the narrative. And now, thanks to this resolution, their story is etched into the history books in more ways than one.