IU football postseason projections for the 2026 season

Photos from IU football's 56-3 win against Purdue.

IU football kicks off the 2026 season on Saturday, September 5, against North Texas at Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast at 12 p.m. ET on FOX.

The Hoosiers are the defending national champions after finishing the 2025 season with a perfect 16-0 record. Indiana is ranked No. 6 in the preseason in the Associated Press and coaches’ top 25 polls.

Here’s a look at postseason projections for the Hoosiers with the start of the season just over one week away:

ESPN.com projection

Kyle Bonagura: Projected as the No. 4 seed in the CFP; Vrbo Fiesta Bowl vs. No. 5 seed Georgia on Wednesday, December 30. Bonagura projects Indiana to advance to the CFP semifinals before falling to top-seeded Ohio State.

Mark Schlabach: Projected as the No. 8 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 9 seed Texas Tech on either Friday, December 18 or Saturday, December 19. Schlabach projects Indiana to beat Texas Tech before falling to No. 1 seed Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinals on Friday, January 1.

CBSSports.com projection

Brad Crawford – Projected as the No. 7 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 10 seed BYU on Saturday, December 19. Crawford projects Indiana to beat BYU before falling to No. 2 seed Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday, December 30.

Athlon Sports projection

Steven Lassan – Projected as the No. 5 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 12 seed Boise State on either Friday, December 18 or Saturday, December 19. Lassan projects Indiana to beat Boise State before falling to No. 4 seed Notre Dame in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday, December 30.

On3.com projection

Brett McMurphy – Projected as the No. 7 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 10 seed BYU on either Friday, December 18 or Saturday, December 19. McMurphy projects Indiana to beat BYU before falling to No. 2 seed Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday, December 30.

College Football News projection

Pete Fiutak – Projected as the No. 6 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 11 seed LSU on Saturday, December 19. Fiutak projects Indiana to beat LSU before falling to No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday, January 1.

USA Today

Erick Smith – Projected as the No. 7 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 10 seed Alabama on either Friday, December 18 or Saturday, December 19. Smith projects Indiana to beat Alabama before falling to No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday, January 1.

Joel Klatt

The Joel Klatt Show – Projected as the No. 6 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 11 seed Alabama on either Friday, December 18 or Saturday, December 19. Klatt projects Indiana to beat Alabama before falling to No. 3 seed Miami (FL) in the CFP quarterfinals.

Josh Pate

Josh Pate’s College Football Show – Projected as the No. 5 seed in the CFP and hosting No. 12 seed Boise State on either Friday, December 18 or Saturday, December 19. Pate projects Indiana to beat Boise State before falling to No. 4 seed Miami (FL) in the CFP quarterfinals.

See More: Football