Episode Details

Indiana Football enters the 2026 college football season as the DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION — but are people already doubting Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers again?

Jacob Goins of Locked On Hoosiers is joined by Spencer McLaughlin of Locked On College Football to break down why Indiana is still being underestimated nationally, whether the Hoosiers can handle becoming the hunted, and why Josh Hoover doesn't need to be Fernando Mendoza for IU to contend for another national championship.

They discuss Hoover taking over the Indiana offense, the importance of replacing stars like Aiden Fisher and D'Angelo Ponds, AJ Harris' potential in the secondary, Indiana's loaded wide receiver room, and the biggest questions facing the defending champs.

Plus, Spencer makes his official prediction for Indiana's 2026 record and explains why he believes the Hoosiers can go 11-1 — or even 12-0.

Can Curt Cignetti and Indiana Football do it all over again?

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• 00:00 Indiana Hoosiers Preview
• 01:14 Indiana as "Hunted"
• 01:32 National Perception Debate
• 02:05 Preseason Rankings Discussion
• 03:03 Indiana Logo Bias
• 04:08 Coaching Staff Continuity
• 04:43 Mendoza vs. Hoover
• 05:27 Mendoza's Heisman Season
• 06:13 Indiana's Execution Focus
• 07:09 Heisman Criteria Debate
• 08:05 Josh Hoover Upside
• 11:00 Other Impact Positions
• 12:01 Linebacker Concerns
• 13:40 Cornerback Replacement
• 14:23 Mendoza Passing Yards
• 16:16 Wide Receiver Depth
• 16:47 Indiana Win Total
• 17:00 Key Matchups Overview
• 18:19 Road Game Challenges
• 19:11 Official Record Prediction
• 19:25 Betting Confidence
• 19:45 Season Kickoff Hype

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