The Indiana Hoosiers are on top of the college football world, and the view from the summit is sweet-but staying there is a whole different challenge. For Curt Cignetti, fresh off delivering Indiana its first-ever National Championship, the grind doesn’t stop.
The underdog label is gone. The Hoosiers are no longer the hunters-they're the hunted.
Now begins the next phase of the Cignetti era: building a sustainable powerhouse. That’s no easy task, especially as key contributors-many of whom followed Cignetti from James Madison or arrived via the transfer portal-start to move on. Indiana shattered expectations without a single 5-star recruit on the roster, but if Cignetti wants to keep this program in the national spotlight, adding top-tier talent will be critical.
Enter Monshun Sales.
The 5-star wide receiver out of Indianapolis is the kind of player who can redefine a program’s trajectory. Ranked No. 8 nationally, the No. 2 wide receiver in the 2027 class, and the top player in the state, Sales isn’t just a local star-he’s a national name. And he’s got the attention of college football’s biggest brands: Alabama, Ohio State, and yes, Indiana.
This weekend, Sales was on campus in Bloomington, soaking in the Hoosiers’ championship celebration. It was more than just a visit-it was a statement opportunity for Cignetti and his staff.
After beating college football’s blue bloods on the field, Indiana is now trying to beat them on the recruiting trail. And timing couldn’t be better.
Historically, elite in-state prospects like Sales would’ve been ticketed for Tuscaloosa or Columbus before Indiana could even get in the room. But this isn’t the Indiana of old.
Cignetti has proven he can develop players, build culture, and win big-without the recruiting pedigree. Imagine what he could do with it.
Landing Monshun Sales would be more than just a recruiting win-it would be a message to the rest of the country: Indiana isn’t going anywhere. Cignetti has already climbed the mountain the hard way.
If he starts pulling in 5-star talent, the rest of college football better be ready. The Hoosiers are building something real in Bloomington, and the foundation just might include one of the best wideouts in the country.