No. 6 Indiana takes one last championship victory lap before opening season against North Texas

Indiana's basketball team, the Hoosiers, enjoyed one final victory lap before their opening season game against North Texas on Saturday. Head coach Curt Cignetti kept his team in the locker room for the unveiling of a football championship banner just before kickoff. The fans inside Memorial Stadium were thrilled to see the words "2025 National Champions" displayed, and the atmosphere was electric.

Many attendees dressed in championship gear, with some sporting T-shirts that read "16-0" and an outline of Indiana. The party began well before the stadium doors opened, creating an unprecedented atmosphere for a football game in Bloomington. Fans of the Hoosiers, who grew up in Indiana and are active in the U.S. Army, were eager to enjoy the experience.

The team had a remarkable year, securing their first Big Ten title since 1967, winning the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history, and beating Miami in the Rose Bowl, becoming the first major college football team to finish a perfect season since the 1890s. The stadium was nearly full of enthusiastic fans 30 minutes before kickoff, despite the nearly 120-degree field temperature.

Cignetti and his players were focused on preparing for their first opponent, while the passionate fans reveled in the moment.