ESPN Lists 2025 Season Defining Games for the Hoosiers

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

ESPN released a list of "Games that will define each top college football team's 2025 season” using their “way too early top 25” rankings. The Hoosiers were ranked 17th nationally on that list. The Hoosiers appeared twice in their article, once for themselves and a second as a season defining opponent for another Big Ten team.

For the Hoosiers, ESPN listed the October 11th game as the game that will define IU’s 2025 season. Adam Rittenberg wrote:

Coach Curt Cignetti's encore from a record-setting Indiana debut will include more first-half tests, including a Sept. 20 visit from an Illinois team that could become the 2025 version of the Hoosiers, followed by a trip to Iowa. But if Indiana is to show it can compete with nationally elite programs, it must perform well Oct. 11 when it visits defending Big Ten champion Oregon. The trip comes following an open week and continues a road schedule that will be much tougher this season with the Iowa game and a Nov. 8 visit to Penn State. How Indiana plays in Eugene likely will determine whether the team is viewed as a true Big Ten/CFP contender. The Hoosiers' only two losses in 2024 came against the teams that played for the national title, but they weren't very competitive in either game. -- Rittenberg

The Hoosiers also appeared as the season defining opponent for Illinois, who is ranked 13th. The Hoosiers face the Illini in Bloomington on September 20th in an early season conference showdown. Max Olson wrote:

The Illini have big expectations for 2025 following a breakthrough 10-win season, and their schedule features a bunch of challenging early tests, including Duke, Indiana, USC and Ohio State. We're going to find out a lot about Bret Bielema's squad Sept. 20 when it opens Big Ten play on the road against Indiana. This is a veteran team that needs to replace only six starters this offseason and is built to win nail-biters after going 5-1 in games decided by one score last season. The Hoosiers have reloaded their roster via the transfer portal yet again entering Year 2 under Curt Cignetti and should be 3-0 heading into this showdown. For the Illini to take that next big step and get into the CFP the way Indiana did in 2024, winning this one sure would send a message. -- Olson

The Hoosiers are coming off an 11-2 season and a College Football Playoff berth that was criticized due to their strength of schedule. IU will have plenty of opportunities to prove the doubters wrong (again) and make a run toward another Playoff berth.