Indiana woefully underrepresented in Joel Klatt's best players list

Indiana's Josh Hoover. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Indiana woefully underrepresented in Joel Klatt's best players list

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Aug 3, 2026 8:10 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Texas Longhorns all believe they can be the champions of college football in 2026.

Each of those programs has a legitimate shot to do it as well because they all have the one-two punch needed to win a title. It comes down to talent and coaching in college football, and the Buckeyes, Irish and Longhorns are elite in both categories.

Ryan Day, Marcus Freeman and Steve Sarkisian all have great rosters. They have the high-end talent to win it all, and each coach, respectively, is considered amongst the best in the profession.

These three schools have so much talent that each is represented twice in a recent ranking of the top 10 players in college football heading into 2026 by Joel Klatt.

And yet, it's Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers who are the defending national champions.

Not a single Hoosier makes Klatt's top 10.

Who are the Top 10 players for the 2026 season?

Did @joelklatt get it right? pic.twitter.com/IOh7cs3VNc
— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) August 3, 2026

Keep an eye on Josh Hoover heading into 2026 college football season

Perhaps it doesn't matter, because Cignetti is the key in Bloomington. The very same head coach who became famous for the "Google me, I win" catchphrase followed up on his bravado with a 16-0 campaign and a national title just two seasons into his time with Indiana.

Cignetti also had a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, but it's worth pointing out that nobody thought Mendoza was a top-10 player, let alone a Heisman Trophy candidate, heading into 2025. He certainly wasn't on Klatt's top 10 list last preseason.

With that in mind, keep an eye on quarterback Josh Hoover this season. Hoover, like Mendoza, transferred to Indiana, and he's coming off multiple great seasons with the TCU Horned Frogs.

All-American offensive tackle Carter Smith could also make a case to be a top-10 player in the nation, though it's no fun to put offensive linemen on these kinds of lists.

Either way, you can bet Cignetti doesn't care. It's all about winning in Bloomington, now.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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