Indiana’s Title Windfall Meets Its Biggest Home Game in History
A new jersey patch extends Indiana’s run of sponsorship deals
Indiana's football team experienced a historic season in 2025, culminating in a national championship victory. This season, the Hoosiers will face their biggest home game in school history, hosting No. 4 Ohio State at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. This marks the first time two top-five teams will meet at the venue. The matchup is a rematch of last year's Big Ten championship game, where Indiana emerged victorious in a 13-10 win en route to a 16-0 season.
Indiana enters the game with an impressive 22-game win streak and a 19-game home win streak, both of which are currently the longest in college football. Coach Curt Cignetti has emphasized the importance of a strong crowd support, stating, "I'm glad we're playing at home. We really need our crowd to be loud and very involved." The Hoosiers will be wearing new jerseys featuring Merchants Bank's logo as part of a recent expanded partnership.
This comes after a $50 million deal in 2024 to rename Memorial Stadium and a $150 million capital project petition. Recent additions to the partnership include a collaboration with JLab, which will bring new signage and an endorsement deal for starting quarterback Josh Hoover. The financial success of the program has been reflected in talent acquisition, with the 2025 class ranking 8th nationally, an impressive jump from 25th the previous year.
Despite the team's age, with 17 starters in their fourth year or more, 20 of the 22 starters have been with the team for at least three years. Ohio State's coach, Ryan Day, acknowledges Indiana's strong roster, noting, "They have a very veteran team. These guys have played a lot of football." A third consecutive meeting between the two rivals, this matchup is seen as a crucial test for Ohio State, as a second defeat would mark their first since 2004.
For Indiana, securing another win over Ohio State would cement their status as an elite program and create a significant rivalry series with both conference and national implications.
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