Where Indiana Football Ranks in Preseason AP Poll

Indiana football secured a top 20 spot in the initial Associated Press Top 25 rankings.
Head Coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana University football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.
Head Coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana University football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Aiming to build on the most successful season in program history, Indiana football starts the 2025 season ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press preseason poll, the AP announced Monday.

The Hoosiers are sixth in the Big Ten, trailing No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Illinois, and No. 14 Michigan.

Indiana ranked No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and the Hoosiers are projected to finish sixth in the preseason Big Ten poll posted annually by Cleveland.com.

2025 AP Preseason Top 25

1. Texas Longhorns
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
4. Clemson Tigers
5. Georgia Bulldogs
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7. Oregon Ducks
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
9. LSU Tigers
10. Miami Hurricanes
11. Arizona State Sun Devils
12. Illinois Fighting Illini
13. South Carolina Gamecocks
14. Michigan Wolverines
15. Florida Gators
16. SMU Mustangs
17. Kansas State Wildcats
18. Oklahoma Sooners
19. Texas A&M Aggies
20. Indiana Hoosiers
21. Ole Miss Rebels
22. Iowa State Cyclones
23. Texas Tech Red Raiders
24. Tennessee Volunteers
25. Boise State Broncos

Others receiving votes: BYU, Utah, Baylor, Louisville, USC, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Tulane, Nebraska, UNLV, Toledo, Auburn, James Madison, Memphis, Florida State, Duke, Liberty, Navy, Iowa, TCU, Pitt, Army, Colorado, Louisiana-Lafayette.

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BALDWIN BREAKING OUT: Indiana freshman safety Byron Baldwin Jr., the team's highest-ranked recruit in 2025, has carried momentum from a strong spring into fall camp. CLICK HERE.

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Daniel Flick
DANIEL FLICK

Daniel Flick is a senior in the Indiana University Media School and previously covered IU football and men's basketball for the Indiana Daily Student. Daniel also contributes NFL Draft articles for Sports Illustrated, and before joining Indiana Hoosiers On SI, he spent three years writing about the Atlanta Falcons and traveling around the NFL landscape for On SI. Daniel is the winner of the Joan Brew Scholarship, and he will cover Indiana sports once more for the 2025-26 season.