Basketball may be king in Bloomington, but Indiana football has had its moments. From Big Ten title contention to surprise bowl runs, gritty underdog squads have occasionally punched above their weight and left a lasting impact. Here are the Top 5 Indiana teams of all time.
#5 – 1987 – 8–4 | Peach Bowl Appearance | Mallory’s Breakthrough
Bill Mallory led the Hoosiers to an 8–4 record and a trip to the Peach Bowl, where they fell to Tennessee. Along the way, Indiana beat Ohio State and Michigan for the first time in the same season since the 1940s. The team was led by RB Anthony Thompson and had a top-tier Big Ten defense. It was Indiana’s first bowl game win in a decade and led to momentum over the coming years.
#4 – 2020 – 6–2 | Pandemic Breakout | The Believer’s Team
In a COVID-shortened season, Tom Allen’s 2020 Hoosiers delivered one of the most surprising and inspiring runs in the country. Indiana went 6–1 in the regular season, beat Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, and finished #12 in the final AP Poll, their best ranking since 1967. QB Michael Penix Jr. and WR Ty Fryfogle led a gritty, opportunistic squad that nearly beat Ohio State. Though they fell to Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl, this team reignited belief in IU football.
#3 – 2024 – 11–2 | CFP Appearance | The Cignetti Foundation
In his first season, Kurt Cignetti delivered a miracle in Bloomington: an 11–2 record, a spot in the College Football Playoff, and the most wins in program history. Indiana opened the year 10–0, rode a balanced, explosive offense and a top-10 scoring defense, and finished second in the Big Ten standings. QB Kurtis Rourke threw for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns, while the Hoosiers averaged 41.3 points per game, second in the nation, and allowed just 15.6 points per game. Indiana earned a #10 seed in the expanded CFP, falling 27–17 to Notre Dame in a hard-fought first-round matchup. Cignetti’s no-nonsense leadership and cultural reset redefined what Indiana football could be.
#2 – 1945 – 9–0–1 | Big Ten Co-Champions | The Forgotten Perfect Year
Coached by Bo McMillin, the 1945 Hoosiers finished undefeated (9–0–1) and tied for the Big Ten title, which was their first conference crown. Led by All-American George Taliaferro, the first African-American drafted by the NFL, Indiana outscored opponents 279–56 and led the conference in both scoring and defense. Despite no bowl game (due to WWII travel restrictions), this team is still IU’s only undefeated squad and one of the best of the 1940s nationally.
#1 – 1967 – 9–2 | Big Ten Champions | The Cardiac Hoosiers
Led by head coach John Pont, the 1967 Hoosiers captured a share of the Big Ten title and earned the program’s first (and only) Rose Bowl berth, finishing the regular season 9–1. Powered by RB John Isenbarger and QB Harry Gonso, Indiana beat Purdue to close out the season and climbed to #4 in the AP Poll. Though they lost to O.J. Simpson’s USC in Pasadena, this team was nicknamed the “Cardiac Kids” for its close wins and arguably remains the greatest season in Indiana football history.
