When a team like Indiana crashes the College Football Playoff party with an undefeated record and a shot at the national title, it’s natural to ask the big question: How good are they, really? And more importantly, how do they stack up against some of the all-time greats?
The 2025 Hoosiers have been one of the sport’s most surprising and compelling stories. A program known more for hoops than helmets is now on the doorstep of a football national championship. But as we try to place this Indiana team in the pantheon of recent powerhouses, one comparison keeps coming up - the 2019 LSU Tigers.
Let’s be clear: LSU’s 2019 squad set a bar that’s almost unfair. Joe Burrow’s Heisman campaign, a historic receiving duo, and a team that bulldozed its way through a loaded schedule - it was a season for the ages.
That said, Indiana’s 2025 team deserves more credit than it’s getting. While they may not dethrone LSU, the Hoosiers are closer to that level than most would expect.
Team vs. Team: Closer Than You’d Think
Start with the team-level numbers, and Indiana holds its own surprisingly well. The Hoosiers put up 639 total points this season - a hefty number, even if it trails LSU’s 724. Indiana scored 84 total touchdowns to LSU’s 95, but they actually had more players with at least five rushing touchdowns (four compared to LSU’s three), and matched the Tigers in players with five or more receiving scores (three each).
Special teams? Dead even.
Both squads returned two punts for touchdowns and had no kickoff return scores. Field goals and extra points slightly favor LSU, but Indiana’s average margin of victory - +28.6 points per game - actually tops LSU’s +24.8.
That’s not a small detail. Blowing out opponents consistently is a mark of dominance, and Indiana has done that all year.
Where LSU starts to pull away is in strength of schedule and NFL talent. LSU’s 2019 team had the third-toughest schedule in the country, according to the FPI, while Indiana ranks 15th.
And when it comes to future pros, LSU had 14 players drafted from that team. Indiana is projected to send nine to the NFL - solid, but not quite the same level of top-to-bottom talent.
The Individual Gap: LSU’s Stars Shine Brighter
Here’s where the comparison starts to tilt more clearly in LSU’s favor - individual production.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been excellent for Indiana, completing 73% of his passes for 3,349 yards and 41 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. That’s a season any coach would take in a heartbeat.
But when you stack it next to Joe Burrow’s 2019 masterpiece - 76% completions, 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns, and the same number of picks - it’s a different galaxy. Burrow’s 10.8 yards per attempt and 202 passer rating are simply elite, and Mendoza, while efficient, doesn’t quite match that level of explosiveness.
In the backfield, Roman Hemby has been a steady force for Indiana, rushing for 1,060 yards and 13 touchdowns. But again, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire had more yards (1,414), more touchdowns (16), and a higher per-game average.
At receiver, Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt have had strong campaigns, combining for 1,668 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. But LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson combined for a staggering 3,320 yards and 38 touchdowns. That’s not just better - that’s historic.
Defensively, Indiana has some playmakers. Rolijah Hardy’s 98 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks stand out, especially compared to LSU’s Jacob Phillips, who had 113 tackles but fewer splash plays. And Louis Moore’s 81 tackles and six interceptions match Derek Stingley Jr.’s takeaway total, though Stingley’s impact went beyond the stat sheet with his shutdown coverage.
Where Indiana Stands in the Big Picture
If Indiana wins the national title, they’ll be remembered as one of the most remarkable stories in recent college football history. A team that flipped the script, rewrote expectations, and delivered a perfect season.
But will they be considered the best team of the modern era? Probably not.
A more fitting comp might be the 2018 Clemson Tigers - also undefeated, also dominant, but not quite as loaded with individual superstars as LSU 2019. Indiana’s FPI ranking (No. 15) is even higher than Clemson’s was that year (No. 22), and their average margin of victory is right in the same ballpark.
So no, Indiana probably won’t go down as the greatest team ever. But if they finish the job, they’ll be in elite company - and they’ll have earned every bit of that recognition.
The 2019 LSU Tigers were a lightning-in-a-bottle team. A perfect storm of talent, coaching, and execution.
Indiana’s 2025 run is built differently - more of a collective grind than a fireworks show. But that doesn’t make it any less impressive.
If the Hoosiers lift the trophy Monday night, they’ll have completed one of the most improbable title runs in college football history. And while they may not surpass LSU in the rankings of greatness, they’ll carve out a legacy that’s entirely their own.