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Indiana Football: Can They Repeat Championship Magic?
5 Sep
Summary
- Indiana aims to defend its national championship title.
- Star quarterback Fernando Mendoza has graduated to the NFL.
- North Texas begins a rebuilding phase with a new head coach.
The 2026 college football season kicks off with a highly anticipated matchup as the Indiana Hoosiers, fresh off their undefeated championship run, host the North Texas Mean Green on Saturday, September 5th. Indiana, led by coach Curt Cignetti, achieved historic success last season, going 16-0 and securing the national title. However, they now face the daunting task of repeating their performance without their star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has transitioned to the NFL.
North Texas also experienced a notable 2025-26 season, finishing ranked in the AP and College Football Playoff polls. This season, however, presents a significant challenge as they are one of two teams nationally to return no primary starters. New head coach Neal Brown has assembled a completely revamped coaching staff, signaling a complete overhaul for the Mean Green program.
The game will be broadcast nationally on Fox at Noon ET, with Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft providing commentary. Fans can also stream the action live via fubo or DIRECTV, both offering free trial periods for new subscribers. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon ET from Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
