Indiana caps remarkable turnaround
Monday night was a sweet one for college football fans.
Led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, Indiana capped off a perfect 16-0 season – the first since Yale in 1984 – with its first-ever national championship.
Before this season, Indiana owned just three postseason wins in 14 tries, accumulated 715 losses – the most of any NCAA Division I program – and opened the year with 100/1 odds to win the national championships. And, of course, they did it with zero five stars.
None of that mattered.
Head coach Curt Cignetti took his squad to unimaginable heights, leading a relentless, physical team built on discipline. A group that played hard-nosed, smash-mouth football that dismantled Alabama and Oregon with ease.
Mendoza, a Miami native and former 2-star recruit, took down the Hurricanes in their home stadium, highlighted by a remarkable fourth-down touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
It was all so fun to watch. And just like that, another college football season is in the books
Only 226 days until the next one.
Auburn’s turn?
Again, Indiana was not the most talented team in the country. The Hoosiers shattered the “blue-chip ratio” narrative – the idea that national titles require rosters full of top-notch talent, based on high school recruiting rankings.
Auburn’s roster, now taking shape through the transfer portal, will not be as talented on paper as last year’s. But Indiana proved that doesn’t matter.
Cignetti, in just his second season in Bloomington, became the first head coach since Auburn’s Gene Gizik in 2010 to win a national championship in Year 2 at a program.
No one should expect Alex Golesh to immediately compete for national championships, but Auburn fans are tired, hurt, and desperate for success on the Plains.
Indiana’s rise is proof: It can be done.
Now, the question is: Can Auburn replicate such success under new leadership?
Big week for hoops
Steven Pearl’s Tigers are still winless in true road games this season. And they’ll play three of their next four away from home, beginning with Ole Miss on Tuesday.
The Rebels – like every team in the SEC – are capable of beating anyone on their home court. They have won their last three in conference play and are hungry for a win over Auburn, considering their last win over the Tigers came in the 2020-21 season.
Auburn then travels to face the defending national champion, Florida, which has won four straight since dropping its SEC opener – including a road win at No. 10 Vanderbilt.
The Tigers have not won in Gainesville since 1996.
Simply put, the time is now for Auburn to boost its resume. An 0-2 week would be damaging as SEC play reaches its midpoint.
Auburn baseball earns preseason respect
With practices ramping up on the diamond for Butch Thompson’s Tigers as the 2026 season nears, Auburn baseball is garnering lots of attention in the preseason rankings.
Baseball America ranked the Tigers No. 5 in its preseason Top 25 rankings, while D1Baseball and Perfect Game ranked Auburn at Nos. 9 and 10, respectively.
Auburn will aim to prove those rankings true in the season opener on February 13 against Youngstown State.
Given the colder temperatures and extreme winter weather expected this weekend, spring baseball sounds pretty good right now. Auburn fans will be hoping the basketball team can warm up, too. TG
