I say lets just work on that 32nd overall pick for now and figure out what we should do (trade down or even up) from there.
Tech DT Lee Hunter (2/3rd round projection) is having himself a hell of a game so far (5 solo tackles, 2 TFL), 9 minutes left in 2Q
I’m taking note of EVERY starting Olineman on that Indiana team. Absolutely laying the wood on the SEC darling Alabama.
Carter Smith is undervalued on many mocks and would be a good add in the second (great in the 3rd) as a swing OT.
I’d be taking note of their coaching and player development/selection process instead. They’re not dominating by simply stacking elite talent. If anything it indicates you can build good teams without what are perceived as the best players by draft prognosticators.
IU's best DB/RB/WR/ILB/DT(maybe) all followed Cignetti from James Madison. This year they've had huge contributions from football powerhouse transfers like Cal (Mendoza), Kent State, Maryland, Colorado, NCState, etc...
Also, along those lines, and it remains to be seen what kind of staying power IU has, but Cignetti may be the best "turnaround a horrible program in a couple of years" coaching hire since Bobby Bowden at FSU back in the late 70's and Bill Snyder at Kansas State in the late 80's
What he’s doing definitely needs to be studied. Every running play seems to feature wide open holes (TWSS). The weird thing is JMU remained good after he left.
He talked Mark Cuban (IU alum) into supporting the athletic programs (not just football) during last season. They're not throwing around football money like other schools, but it sure has helped. Here's a good read if anyone wants to or can: Spoiler Mark Cuban, a 1981 Indiana University (IU) alumnus and billionaire entrepreneur, has become a major figure in the resurgence of the Indiana Hoosiers football program. After years of primarily supporting academic and technology initiatives at IU, Cuban made his first significant donation to the athletic department in late 2024, following a pivotal conversation with head coach Curt Cignetti, a fellow Pittsburgh native. This connection, rooted in shared heritage and a mutual belief in hard work and merit-based success, played a key role in Cuban’s decision to support the football program. Cuban’s financial backing has been substantial and strategic. He donated $5 million in 2015 to establish the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, a student-focused innovation hub inside Assembly Hall. More recently, he contributed $6 million to support IU’s rugby club, demonstrating his broad commitment to student-athletes beyond football. In October 2025, Cuban confirmed he had made a “significant” donation to the football program, describing Cignetti as a “true blue collar guy who worked his way up” and praising his consistent history of winning across multiple levels of college football. This support has coincided with a dramatic rise in the Hoosiers’ football success. Under Cignetti’s leadership, the team achieved an 11-2 record in its first season and maintained strong performance in subsequent years despite roster turnover. The program’s momentum culminated in a dominant 63-10 victory over No. 9-ranked Illinois on September 21, 2025, improving Indiana to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. Cuban celebrated the win publicly on social media, posting, “Hoo Hoo Hoosiers !!! @IUHoosiers!!! Let’s Gooooo!!!”. Cuban’s involvement extends beyond financial contributions. He has narrated official team hype videos and actively promotes the program, reinforcing a cultural shift at IU from a basketball-first institution to one with a growing football identity. His investment reflects a long-term vision focused on infrastructure, performance analytics, and technology to sustain success, aligning with his business philosophy of driving impact through innovation. As Indiana continues to build its football program, Cuban’s support is seen as a transformative force, helping to elevate the university’s athletic profile and reshape its future in college football.
