What Does Success Look Like for IU Football in 2025?

It is officially game week for Indiana Football. The Hoosiers are coming into the season with sky-high expectations after an 11-2 season and a CFP berth in 2024. Head coach Curt Cignetti has said he wants to improve on last year’s success. Which begs the question, what does success for IU Football look like in 2025. Here is my check list for what I consider a successful season.

1. Make the Postseason

It’s a pretty simple goal, but it has some layers. The ultimate goal is to qualify for the College Football Playoff and have a shot at the national championship. However, everyone knows just how political that process is and while IU could win 10 or more games again, unless they win the Big Ten that decision is in the hands of a committee run by ESPN.

So, whether IU makes the Playoff, hosts a Playoff game or makes a high end bowl game, one of the big boxes to check is making the postseason again.

2. Win Your Trophy Games

One of the drawbacks of this era of college football is that traditional rivalries kind of fly under the radar. They still matter to me and to a lot of Hoosier fans. The Hoosiers are in possession of both the Old Brass Spittoon (Michigan State) and the Old Oaken Bucket (Purdue) for the first time since 2016 (technically IU had the Bucket in 2020). Being able to possess these trophies and parade them around campus and other alumni events is easy marketing for the program.

IU gets Michigan State at home this season (Oct. 18) and has to travel to Purdue (Nov. 28).

3. Continue the Home Winning Streak

The Hoosiers enter 2025 riding an 8-game win streak at Merchant Bank Field at Memorial Stadium (ok, that was weird). IU hosts seven games this year and should enter the Illinois game on an 11-game home winning streak. The four consecutive sell outs really helped make Memorial Stadium a tough place to play.

IU plays seven home games in 2025 after hosting eight in 2024. The Hoosiers went undefeated at home last season and have a chance to build on that again.

4. Finish in the Top 25

Creating staying power is an important next step for the Hoosiers football program. Curt Cignetti has gotten all sorts of folks mad about Indiana and talking about the Hoosiers in July. However, for IU to gain the respect they deserve, they need to start finishing seasons in the Top 25. While it is a big deal to start ranked, the last time it happened IU cratered. The Hoosiers have a good shot at accomplishing this, but it is also on the lower rung of accomplishments.

5. Continue to Build the Fan Base

Indiana sold out the final four home games of the 2024 season and have already sold out the Big Ten opener against Illinois. However, a team coming off a College Football Playoff appearance with a top-10 finish should not have to have its players and coach beg people to come to early season games.

IU has done a really nice job of getting the students to buy in as they have sold out the entire season of the student section. The issue is what are they doing to get people off the lake and into the stands. There are still 8,000+ seats unsold for the opener. It will take time to get people to believe, but at the same time more emphasis could be made on getting to games.