Indiana football’s unprecedented two-year rise from the depths of irrelevance to the best team in the sport spurred a wave of optimism across college football. If the Hoosiers can do it, why not us?
In 2025, that was Illinois fans. In fairness to the Fighting Illini, the “next Indiana,” label was applied by external national media rather than fans or local coverage. In 2026? Who knows, but Kentucky has thrown its hat into the ring only, unlike Illinois, it’s coming right from the head coach.
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Will Stein, who was hired as Kentucky’s head coach this offseason after spending the past few years as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, invoked Indiana’s rise as one of the reasons he made the move during an appearance on 680 The Fan.
Stein got to see Indiana firsthand twice this past season when the Ducks fell to the Hoosiers at home during the regular season and in the Peach Bowl during the College Football Playoff.
It’s a tremendous compliment for several coaches, including Stein here, to compliment Indiana’s rise and cite the program as the foremost example of a successful rebuild. Can Stein pull it off at Kentucky? No idea. There’s precedent with Kenny Dillingham taking Arizona State to the playoff in 2024, but he was working under significantly different circumstances with the Sun Devils than Stein will be with the Wildcats.
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That in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the Hoosiers today:
