The main question facing Indiana football is whether the Hoosiers can replicate their success from 2024, when they achieved an 11-2 record and made the College Football Playoff.
Given Indiana’s history, it’s a valid concern, but considering the backgrounds of several players on the roster, it seems the answer to repeating that success may already be clear.
A significant factor in Indiana’s success was the group of players coach Curt Cignetti brought over from James Madison, who possessed valuable insight into his coaching style and could share that knowledge with their teammates. These players not only excelled at James Madison but also played a key role in maintaining the program’s success during their transition from FCS to FBS.
If those players contributed to James Madison’s winning culture, it follows that they will approach their goal at Indiana with a similarly confident mindset.
“Having the core group back is great. But even with the College Football Playoff berth and a strong season, that doesn’t guarantee success this year,” said Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher during a fundraiser at Huber’s on Wednesday. “We know what we’re capable of and what we can achieve; we just need to make it happen.”
Fisher spent two seasons at James Madison, while wide receiver Elijah Sarratt was there for one, arriving at a program that had already established a winning culture. He learned what it takes to maintain that success.
“We need to start the same way we did last year and improve on our shortcomings—that’s the key,” Sarratt commented.
Fisher emphasized that a critical component of ongoing success is avoiding complacency. “Complacency kills success. If you become too comfortable, you risk sliding back to where you started,” he cautioned. “We came from a 3-9 team when we arrived, and we have to ensure we never go back to that.”
Maintaining that winning atmosphere also involves keeping the excitement surrounding Indiana football alive. Following the CFP season, fan enthusiasm for off-season events, like the fundraiser, has grown, but that excitement depends on continued success on the field.
“There’s a buzz right now. Indiana is an exciting place to be, and the town is really energized,” Fisher remarked. “The question isn’t whether we’ll be good; being good is now the standard. Everyone knows that, and there’s a lot of excitement within the team. We’re confident in our abilities, and it’s an exciting time to be part of this program.
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