BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana Hoosiers were primed for a celebration on Tuesday night, and hundreds of devoted fans welcomed them back to campus in Bloomington.
Facing frigid temperatures and biting wind chills, fans, players, and coaches rejoiced in college football’s unlikely national champions. The touching scene evoked memories of Indiana’s journey, reminiscent of the classic film “Hoosiers.”
“Hoo, hoo, hoo, Hoo-siers,” the crowd cheered as six team buses rolled in on the south side of the team’s practice facility.
For traditional football powerhouses like Alabama, Michigan, or Ohio State, evenings like this in mid-January are commonplace. But Bloomington is unique.
Success here is often marked by banners instead of trophies, with athletes taking pride in representing the name emblazoned on their jerseys. The community celebrates the hard work of players from the small communities across Indiana, believing that while basketball might be just a game in 49 other states, in Indiana, it is a way of life.
Coach Curt Cignetti and his football Hoosiers are redefining these norms.
In just two seasons, they’ve crafted an inspiring narrative—a classic rags-to-riches saga of college football’s historically struggling program finally seizing its first national title. They triumphed over Miami, 27-21, on the Hurricanes’ home turf—where the passionate Hoosiers crowd turned the atmosphere into that of a home game—and clinched the title with a vital interception by a former player’s nephew.
How motivational was this season?
“I graduated from Purdue, but I’ve worked at IU for nearly 20 years, and I told my colleagues today that this is the first time I’ve ever rooted for IU,” Leah Mullins expressed, referencing Indiana’s biggest rival. “I had to distance myself from the Boilermakers because this season has been just so uplifting and thrilling, and there’s such a sense of community.”
This shared spirit was palpable Tuesday night.
Whether through fans sporting Indiana’s signature crimson-and-cream candy-striped pants, flags waving in the brisk air, or the Hoosiers victory flag held high above the stadium against a sunset backdrop, the enthusiasm was unmistakable.
On the main street leading to the stadium, someone added “national champ” to a display of wooden cutouts that has expanded with each victory this season. The Hoosiers made history by becoming the first team since the 1890s to finish with a perfect 16-0 record.
Long lines formed at a local sporting goods store on Tuesday for national championship merchandise, and news of the team’s arrival at Indianapolis International Airport, about an hour northwest of Bloomington, filled the parking lots.
Yet, this was uncharted territory for Indiana—many fans found themselves at the wrong location to see Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, defensive anchor Aiden Fisher, Cignetti, or the trophy. They rushed to their cars, following the sound of sirens from the police escort as they drove behind the buses.
“I haven’t seen Bloomington so united and so thrilled over anything in quite some time,” remarked Anika Drichel, a local resident. “It’s incredibly exciting.”
Some became fans when Cignetti recorded a school-record 11 wins in 2024, with the only defeats against eventual champion Ohio State and runner-up Notre Dame. Others joined the excitement after Cignetti’s squad knocked off then-No. 3 Oregon on the road in October or when they secured their first outright Big Ten title since 1945 by defeating the Buckeyes. For some, the moment of realization didn’t come until the final whistle blew on Monday night.
For those who missed out on Tuesday’s celebration, there will be more chances. Mendoza will hold an autograph session at a local sporting goods store on Wednesday morning, and the trophy will be on display at a grocery store that day and at a Wal-Mart on Thursday.
The festivities will continue on Saturday, with the school announcing a championship celebration at Memorial Stadium, allowing fans to honor the CFP-winning Hoosiers at the culmination of an extraordinary season.
“When things started to get really exciting, I thought, ‘Maybe I should jump on the bandwagon; this is amazing,'” said Mullins. “And Fernando is such a fantastic kid; they all are. It’s hard not to root for these guys.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
