🔥 GOOD NEWS: The Indiana Hoosiers football team, national champions, were honored with a resolution from the Senate. Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks introduced the resolution honoring the Indiana football team, along with those who supported them on their path to the national championship.

In a moment that has Hoosiers across the country beaming with pride, the Indiana University football team—fresh off their historic first-ever national championship—was formally recognized on Capitol Hill. U.S. Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks, both proud representatives of the Hoosier State, introduced a bipartisan resolution celebrating the team’s remarkable 16-0 season and their dramatic 27-21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 19, 2026. The Senate passed the resolution unanimously, sending a clear message: this Cinderella story has captured the hearts of America.

For decades, Indiana football was known more for its struggles than its successes. The Hoosiers held the unfortunate record as the losingest program in major college football history, with over 700 defeats before this magical run. Yet under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the team transformed into something extraordinary. What began as a preseason afterthought exploded into one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history. The players, many of whom Coach Cignetti affectionately called “misfits” in a now-famous pregame speech by center Pat Coogan, banded together with unmatched grit, teamwork, and belief.

The journey was nothing short of epic. Indiana opened the season with a perfect 12-0 regular season record, outscoring opponents by an average margin that left fans speechless. They claimed their first Big Ten title in nearly 60 years with a thrilling 13-10 upset over top-ranked Ohio State in the conference championship. Then came the playoff magic: a dominant Rose Bowl win, a Peach Bowl rout, and finally the national title game in Miami’s own backyard. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and consensus All-American, delivered in the clutch with a game-clinching touchdown run.

Defensive lineman Mikail Kamara earned MVP honors with a blocked punt returned for a score. The defense allowed just 56 points across four postseason games—an astonishing feat.

This wasn’t just a win for Bloomington; it was a triumph for the entire state. Fans packed Memorial Stadium every Saturday, the Marching Hundred blared fight songs, and alumni from coast to coast tuned in. The resolution highlights the contributions of everyone involved: the players who sacrificed, the coaches who strategized, the staff who supported, and the loyal supporters—students, faculty, alumni, and fans worldwide—who cheered them on through every nail-biting moment.

Senators Young and Banks, both Republicans, stood together to sponsor the measure. Senator Young, a longtime IU fan dating back to the Bill Mallory era, called the season “one that will be cherished in our state for generations.” He emphasized how the resolution gives Hoosiers “one more way to Google the wins from this historic season.” Senator Banks, an IU alumnus, beamed with pride, noting that “the whole country was cheering” for the team’s display of class, teamwork, and determination. “They made our whole state proud. Go Hoosiers!” he declared.

The resolution itself is a beautiful tribute. It congratulates the team for completing the first perfect 16-0 season in modern college football history—the first since Yale in 1894. It praises Mendoza’s Heisman win, the offense’s national-leading scoring, the defense’s dominance, and victories over four top-10 opponents. Most touchingly, it echoes Coogan’s “misfits” line, celebrating how this group of underdogs inspired Hoosiers everywhere and made the state deeply proud. An official copy will be presented to IU President Pamela Whitten, Athletic Director Scott Dolson, and Coach Cignetti.

This honor comes at a perfect time. In an era when college football often feels dominated by the usual powerhouses, Indiana’s story reminds us why we love the sport. It’s proof that hard work, belief, and a little bit of Hoosier hospitality can overcome any odds. The team didn’t just win games; they rewrote a narrative, erased decades of disappointment, and gave every underdog in America something to cheer for.

As the confetti settled in Hard Rock Stadium and the trophy was hoisted, millions watched a program once dismissed as hopeless become champions. Now, with the Senate’s unanimous applause, that achievement is etched into the official record of the United States. From Bloomington to Washington, D.C., the message is clear: the Indiana Hoosiers are national champions, and their story will inspire generations.

So here’s to the Hoosiers—to Coach Cignetti’s vision, to Mendoza’s magic, to the “misfits” who proved anything is possible. In a divided world, this victory united a state and reminded us all that sometimes, the best stories come from the most unexpected places. Congratulations, Indiana. You’ve earned every bit of this glory—and the Senate’s heartfelt recognition. a a a a a