The Indiana Hoosiers celebrated their first football national championship on Saturday, braving a brutal winter storm in Bloomington. Temperatures hovered near 10 degrees with wind chills below zero, but the celebration drew a dedicated crowd to Memorial Stadium. This capped a perfect 16-0 season, the program's first title in its history.

The championship capped a meteoric rise under coach Curt Cignetti, who arrived in 2023 to turn around college football's losingest program. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers defeated powers like Ohio State and Alabama, culminating in a 27-21 title win over Miami. The victory marks the school's first 16-0 season since the 1890s.

The celebration featured the team's first Heisman Trophy, with Mendoza thanking fans and the foundation. University President Pam Whitten promised more championships, while Cignetti declared the start of 'Chapter 3.' Mendoza, who will enter the NFL draft, was joined by teammates like All-American linebacker Aiden Fisher, who followed Cignetti from James Madison.