Indiana football’s unprecedented two-year rise from the depths of irrelevance to the best team in the sport spurred a wave of optimism across college football. If the Hoosiers can do it, why not us?
In 2025, that was Illinois fans. In fairness to the Fighting Illini, the “next Indiana,” label was applied by external national media rather than fans or local coverage. In 2026? Who knows, but Kentucky has thrown its hat into the ring only, unlike Illinois, it’s coming right from the head coach.
Will Stein,
who was hired as Kentucky’s head coach this offseason after spending the past few years as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, invoked Indiana’s rise as one of the reasons he made the move during an appearance on 680 The Fan.
Stein got to see Indiana firsthand twice this past season when the Ducks fell to the Hoosiers at home during the regular season and in the Peach Bowl during the College Football Playoff.
It’s a tremendous compliment for several coaches, including Stein here, to compliment Indiana’s rise and cite the program as the foremost example of a successful rebuild. Can Stein pull it off at Kentucky? No idea. There’s precedent with Kenny Dillingham taking Arizona State to the playoff in 2024, but he was working under significantly different circumstances with the Sun Devils than Stein will be with the Wildcats.
That in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the Hoosiers today:
ICYMI on The Crimson Quarry
- Indiana football in top-5 for 4-star 2027 safety Davion Jones, visit set
- Indiana men’s basketball’s home and away opponents announced for 2026-27
- Indiana football set to host 4-star 2027 edge rusher this weekend
- Indiana men’s basketball lands transfer guard Justin Monden
What they’re saying about the Hoosiers
- Inside The Hall: By the numbers: The transfer portal’s impact on Big Ten men’s basketball in 2026
- The Indianapolis Star: Why Darian DeVries’ lone returning Hoosier is poised for a ‘great summer’ with Indiana basketball
- On3: Markus Burton ‘feeling better than ever’ and now ready to help lift Indiana to new heights
- Fox Sports: 2026 College Football Rankings: Indiana Headlines Trio of Big Ten Teams in Top 5
Around SB Nation
- Maize n Brew: Why Michigan F Morez Johnson Jr. should stay in the 2026 NBA Draft
- NBA Draft Combine’s 7 winners and 4 losers after 2026 testing, scrimmages, and measurements
- Land Grant Holy Land: Buckeyes get the gray shoulder stripes back full-time
- The NFL’s Thanksgiving scheduling is so dumb
- A Sea of Blue: Kentucky Basketball in the final 247 Sports transfer portal rankings
