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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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As the start of the 2026 college football season quickly approaches, analysts are already starting to make their predictions.
During the most recent episode of the "College GameDay Podcast," ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel delivered his early national championship prediction for the upcoming season.
“I’m just going to spoiler alert everything here,” Thamel said, via On3 Sports. “I said this when we did way-too-early, whatever, in January after the year. I’m taking Indiana. Until they prove otherwise, I am taking Indiana.”
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“That’s not that I think Ohio State’s gonna be bad, or anyone else is gonna be bad,” Thamel added. “But I am all in on Indiana.”
Indiana, led by head coach Curt Cignetti and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, mounted a flawless 16-0 record en route to their College Football Playoff national championship title this past season. Mendoza was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but Cignetti landed former TCU signal caller Josh Hoover in the transfer portal.
Indiana leads the way in 2026 Big Ten Preseason Honors with three players: wide receiver Charlie Becker, linebacker Rolijah Hardy and defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker.
The Hoosiers will begin their 2026 college football season with a matchup against North Texas on Sept. 5.
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