Inside the Hall logo

The Sporting News tabs IU football preseason No. 1, picks Hoosiers to repeat as national champions

 

IU football fall camp 2026.

The Sporting News college football 2026 preview magazine, back in print for the first time since 2012, picked IU football to repeat as national champions.

Most national previews, as well as the preseason coaches poll, have Ohio State or Oregon ranked as the top team in the Big Ten.

The Sporting News disagrees.

The Hoosiers have been tabbed as the publication’s top team entering the 2026 season.

“Head coach Curt Cignetti has shifted the landscape of the Big Ten with his mastery of the transfer portal and talent evaluation,” The Sporting News wrote. “New quarterback Josh Hoover will have to pick up where Fernando Mendoza left off, and that is no easy task. But the Hoosiers should be good enough to get back to the CFP for a third straight season under Cignetti.”

The preseason top 10, according to The Sporting News, is Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miami (FL), Ole Miss, Oklahoma and USC.

The preview projects IU to beat Notre Dame in the CFP national championship game.

The projected order of finish in the Big Ten: Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, Illinois, Washington, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, Northwestern, Michigan State, Purdue, Maryland and Rutgers.

The Sporting News also released its preseason All-American team on Thursday and IU was well represented.

The Hoosiers had Carter Smith and Rolijah Hardy on the first team and Charlie Becker on the second team.

Here’s what The Sporting News wrote on Smith and Becker:

Smith (6-5, 313) – a second-team SN All-America pick last season – started all 16 games for the Hoosiers last season and returns as a leader on the offensive line. He allowed just two sacks – both in the CFP championship game – and was a consistent performer through last year’s Big Ten schedule. Smith also is a force as a run blocker for the Hoosiers – who averaged 212.9 rushing yards per game.

Hardy (5-11, 227) – a Navy transfer – emerged as a disruptive force as linebacker for Indiana’s national championship team last season. Hardy totaled 102 tackles, eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He also had five pass breakups in coverage. He is one of the key returning pieces for the Hoosiers in 2026 along with Isaiah Jones and Tyrique Tucker.

The Sporting News college football 2026 preview is available to order here.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

See More: Football