In recent years, Indiana football has been the doormat of the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have posted 2-10, 4-8 and 3-9 records in the last three seasons, which led former coach Tom Allen to part ways with the program.

Indiana plays a Big Ten game as a ranked team for the first time since 2021. Here's what Curt Cignetti had to say about it.

Northwestern is allowing 16 points per game defensively. One of the things that caught Cignetti's eye was Joseph Himon II for Northwestern.

There are 14 undefeated power conference teams left and Indiana is one of them, but that success isn't a surprise to the man patrolling the sidelines.