Indiana stars reveal why Hoosiers can repeat as national champions under Curt Cignetti

The effect of the College Football Playoff nationalist title crippled connected Monday marked a historical nighttime for the sport, but nary 1 expected it to beryllium the Indiana Hoosiers making it happen. 

The Hoosiers became the first-ever 16-0 assemblage shot team, arsenic Curt Cignetti's squad defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 27-21, astatine Hard Rock Stadium. When Jamari Sharpe work Carson Beck's heavy walk with 44 seconds near connected the timepiece and picked it off, that kneel down to the crushed cemented 1 of the large stories successful assemblage sports. 

But contempt however large this play has been for the Hoosiers, immoderate question whether this is sustainable. Can Indiana proceed its dominance similar it did successful 2025, securing the No. 1 wide effect successful the CFP and winning a nationalist title? 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts with the trophy aft the College Football Playoff National Championship crippled astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected Jan. 19, 2026 successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

One of its players has nary doubt. 

"I was conscionable talking to 1 of the guys, and I was conscionable saying, ‘I wouldn’t beryllium amazed if Indiana makes it backmost adjacent year,'" Hoosiers cornerback D'Angelo Ponds told Fox News Digital earlier his celebratory "shift" alongside Sharpe and receiver Elijah Sarrat astatine Raising Cane's successful Bloomington connected Thursday. 

Ponds told reporters his program is to participate the 2026 NFL Draft, ending his assemblage vocation connected the highest enactment imaginable arsenic a nationalist champion, but the main crushed down his thought astir a imaginable assemblage dynasty falls connected his content successful his caput coach. 

INDIANA'S D'ANGELO PONDS REACTS TO MIAMI'S MARK FLETCHER JR THROWING PUNCH AFTER CHAMPIONSHIP LOSS: ‘SHOCKED’

Ponds was with Cignetti during his freshman twelvemonth astatine James Madison University, and erstwhile "Coach Cig" made the determination to the Hoosiers' program, the 5-foot-9, 173-pound cornerback went to Bloomington with him.

Cignetti went viral during his introductory property league astatine Indiana for his reply aft a newsman said what his transportation would beryllium to enlistee players to a programme that had gone a combined 9-27 implicit its past 3 seasons earlier his arrival. 

Cignetti, coming disconnected a 19-4 vocation astatine JMU, including an 11-1 run successful 2023, was blunt with his response. 

"It's beauteous simple. I win. Google me," helium said. 

Elijah Sarratt, Jamari Sharpe and D'Angelo Ponds are seen arsenic College Football National Champions D'Angelo Ponds, Elijah Sarratt And Jamari Sharpe Work Celebratory "Shift" At Raising Cane's astatine Raising Cane's connected Jan. 22, 2026, successful Bloomington, Illinois. (Jeff Schear/Getty Images)

The impervious is successful the hardware now.

"I felt similar cipher expected america to bash this, particularly america coming from JMU," Ponds added. "But I trusted successful Coach Cig and his process, and knew that we were going to beryllium successful. Him conscionable believing successful himself and the guys helium brought with him, we brought the modular to Indiana and made history."

Sharpe was already astatine Indiana erstwhile Cignetti took over, and helium learned rapidly what his caller manager was each about. After a 3-9 play successful 2023, Cignetti led the Hoosiers to the CFP with an 11-2 record, followed by a cleanable play this year. 

"This twelvemonth has taught maine a batch — brotherhood," helium said. "It was a agelong year, and sticking unneurotic with my teammates to beryllium capable to spell 16-0 and beryllium capable to triumph the nationalist championship. It was a bully play for us, and I’m conscionable gladsome we were capable to get it done."

Indiana Hoosiers caput manager Curt Cignetti hoists the George P. Crumbley Trophy aft defeating the Oregon Ducks successful the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal astatine the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected Jan. 9, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

So wherefore tin Indiana bash it again successful 2026 and beyond? 

"Just from Coach Cig and his process — he’s a process-oriented guy. He doesn’t dwell on the past. He’s going to get close backmost to enactment and I wouldn’t beryllium amazed we spell backmost to back," Ponds responded.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.