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IU football climbs to No. 2 in polls for first time in program history

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Photos of IU football vs. Kennesaw State at Memorial Stadium.

After making program history last week with a No. 3 national ranking in both national polls, IU football moved up another spot this week.

The Hoosiers beat Michigan State 38-13 on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium and, following No. 2 Miami’s loss to Louisville, replaced the Hurricanes at No. 2 in the Associated Press and US LBM coaches top 25 polls.

The Hoosiers received six first-place votes in the AP poll. Ohio State remained No. 1 after dominating Wisconsin 34-0 at Camp Randall Stadium.

IU football began the season at No. 19 in the coaches poll and No. 20 in the AP poll. After falling in both polls after beating Old Dominion 27-14 in week one, the Hoosiers have been on the rise.

IU is now 7-0 and tied for first in the Big Ten with the Buckeyes. The Hoosiers are 4-0 in conference play with home wins against Illinois and Michigan State and road wins at Iowa and Oregon.

The first College Football Playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday, November 4, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Behind a defense that is allowing 11.6 points per game, fourth nationally, and an offense that is scoring 43.9 points per game, also fourth nationally, Indiana has been dominant through the first eight weeks of the 2025 season.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has emerged as a frontrunner for the 2025 Heisman Trophy Award. The transfer from Cal has thrown for 1,755 yards and 21 touchdowns with only two interceptions.

Curt Cignetti, now 18-2 as IU’s head coach, agreed to a new contract on Thursday worth an average of $11.6 million annually over eight years.

Indiana will host UCLA next week at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET. FOX will have the national broadcast and will also bring its “Big Noon Kickoff” show to Bloomington. Coverage will begin at 10 a.m. ET.

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IU football in the polls this season:

AP top 25 poll

Week 1: No. 20
Week 2: No. 23
Week 3: No. 22
Week 4: No. 19
Week 5: No. 11
Week 6: No. 8
Week 7: No. 7
Week 8: No. 3
Week 9: No. 2

US LBM coaches top 25 poll

Week 1: No. 19
Week 2: No. 21
Week 3: No. 19
Week 4: No. 17
Week 5: No. 12
Week 6: No. 9
Week 7: No. 7
Week 8: No. 3
Week 9: No. 2

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