Indiana Football Opens 2025 Season vs. Old Dominion

IU QB Fernando Mendoza throws to E.J. Williams Jr. during the 2025 Spring Game

Indiana Hoosiers football opens 2025 season under Curt Cignetti

The wait is over. Indiana Football kicks off the 2025 season this Saturday at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, and the excitement around Bloomington is unlike anything in program history. In just his second year, Head Coach Curt Cignetti has already become a fan favorite after leading the Hoosiers to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance last fall. Now, the Hoosiers return to the field as a top-20 team with expectations higher than ever.

“Alright, game week, it’s exciting,” Cignetti said this week. “But it’s a total gear shift in terms of mental intensity, the preparation required, the urgency, staff and players… to put ourselves in the best position to play as well as we can on Saturday against a team that I really respect, Old Dominion.”

IU Hoosiers Head Coach Curt Cignetti looks to start his second season strong with Indiana.

Key returning players for Indiana football in 2025

Indiana fans won’t have to look far to see familiar faces. The Hoosiers bring back a strong core from their 11–2 season:

Elijah Sarratt (WR, 957 yards) is one of the Big Ten’s top playmakers and enters Saturday riding a nation-leading 38-game streak with a reception.
Aiden Fisher (LB, 118 tackles) anchors the defense.
Mikail Kamara (DE, 10 sacks) is a proven pass-rusher.
D’Angelo Ponds (CB) returns as a lockdown All-Big Ten corner.

Fernando Mendoza set to debut as Indiana quarterback

Add to that transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who arrives from Cal after throwing for 3,000 yards last season. Ranked the No. 3 transfer QB in the portal, Mendoza is already drawing hype as the steady hand IU’s offense needs. Cignetti noted: “He’s played a lot of football, so I have a lot of confidence in him… There’s nothing like positive performance to establish yourself as a leader.”

Former Old Dominion QB Grant Wilson adds intrigue to matchup

There’s also a subplot worth noting: Grant Wilson, Indiana’s backup QB, transferred from Old Dominion after injuries derailed his 2024 season. Wilson looked sharp in the spring game, showing off his strong frame and accurate arm. While Mendoza is the starter, Wilson’s presence against his former team adds an extra layer of intrigue to Saturday’s matchup.

IU Back Up Quaterback Grant Wilson transferred from ODU, looks like a strong QB from Spring Game observations.

Old Dominion football returns experience on both sides of the ball

Don’t be fooled by ODU’s 5–7 record last season. “All but one of Old Dominion’s losses last year were by one score or less,” Cignetti reminded. “They’ve beaten Virginia Tech twice in recent history, so we’ve got to be ready to go.”

The Monarchs return talent in key spots:

Jason Henderson, an All-American linebacker, is back after injury. He led the nation in tackles in 2023 with 170.
Their linebacker corps brings back multiple starters, giving ODU defensive consistency.
Offensively, QB Colton Joseph and RB Aaron Young (887 rushing yards in 2024) form a dangerous backfield behind four returning offensive linemen.

ODU also pushed teams like South Carolina to the brink last year, losing just 23–19 in Columbia. As Cignetti put it: “I expect a very tough challenge from Old Dominion, and we’re going to have to play really well from the first play to the last play.”

New era at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium

Fans heading to Bloomington will notice two big changes:

A New Mascot: IU will officially unveil Hoosier the Bison, the school’s new mascot, during the pre-game Marching Hundred show. “Hoosier” will roam the stadium throughout the game, marking the start of a new tradition.
A New Stadium Name: This will be Indiana’s first game on Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, the result of a $50 million, 20-year partnership with Merchants Bank.

Both changes highlight IU’s push to usher in a new era of excitement and fan experience. From B-Town Boulevard tailgating to rally towel giveaways, the atmosphere promises to match the energy on the field.

IU Senior WR Camden Jordan goes up for grab during the IU Spring Game.

History on IU’s Side

Indiana has been nearly unbeatable in openers like this:

12 straight wins in non-conference home season openers since 2001.
A remarkable 26–3 mark in such games since 1953.

Cignetti himself enters 2025 with the fifth-best winning percentage in the FBS (.812), and he’s retained nearly his entire staff from last season’s playoff run. Stability, talent, and momentum all point toward Indiana keeping that streak alive.

Indiana vs Old Dominion prediction

Old Dominion will not be a pushover. With Jason Henderson back to lead their defense, a veteran offensive line, and a capable QB-RB combo, the Monarchs have enough to make this a competitive game early. They stayed within one score of nearly every opponent last season, and there’s reason to believe they could hang around again.

Still, Indiana’s depth, talent, and momentum are simply too much. With Fernando Mendoza steering the offense, proven playmakers like Justice Ellison and Elijah Sarratt, and a defense anchored by Aiden Fisher and Mikail Kamara, the Hoosiers have the firepower to put this one away in the second half.

Prediction: Indiana 38, Old Dominion 17.
The Hoosiers start Year Two under Cignetti the same way they ended Year One: strong, confident, and building toward something bigger. It may only be Week 1, but Indiana fans will leave Memorial Stadium reminded why this team belongs on the national stage.

Corey Hall