Why this defender is to Indiana football this season what Fernando Mendoza was in 2025

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Why this defender is to Indiana football this season what Fernando Mendoza was in 2025

Why this defender is to Indiana football this season what Fernando Mendoza was in 2025

Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star · Indianapolis Star

Fri, October 30, 2026 at 8:50 AM UTC ·

7 min read

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BLOOMINGTON — In the basement of Memorial Stadium's North End Zone facility, along a wall facing an anteroom where football players cleat up before and decompress after practice, dozens of silver metal plaques arranged into long, slanting rows bear the names of every team captain in IU football history.

They stretch back as far as 1885, and fullback Harry Wise. They scroll steadily forward to present day — nearly every year including at least one captain — until they become a curiosity to eagle-eyed passersby. Beginning with 2024, plaques for the last three years are blank.

That's very much by choice. Among his many small departures from the methods of his peers, Curt Cignetti , always at war with complacency, does not name team captains.

What he does instead is invite chosen players to speak to their team at specific times — Aiden Fisher earned this honor a lot — and then name game captains, based on who has, in Cignetti's eyes, earned that honor with their leadership and performance the previous week.

For Indiana this fall, that group has always included linebacker Isaiah Jones , and consistently, offensive tackle Carter Smith as well. Jones has been a captain for all eight games, and Smith seven.

Keen observers noticed a new teammate joining them lately. In two of the last three weeks, Kansas State transfer defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi has carried that same honor.

"He's playing tremendous, great football," Cignetti said. "He's also a great leader. He's got a voice."

Tremendous might be an understatement. Osunsanmi sits second nationally behind only Texas edge Colin Simmons, widely considered a top-10 pick in next spring's NFL draft, in both sacks and tackles for loss. Proud owner of 8.5 career sacks before arriving in Bloomington, Osunsanmi has nine just this fall, including five in the Hoosiers' last three games.

He's leading (Cignetti's chosen word) a defense now operating at the same impressive level as its immediate predecessor, if not one slightly better. And he's making it difficult, perhaps impossible, to avoid talking about Osunsanmi and his relationship to Indiana 's defense in much the same way we did Fernando Mendoza and its offense one year ago.

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Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

1. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)

Last week (1):Bye

This week:at USC, Oct. 31

What to know:These first few are pretty straightforward. Ohio State's best case is that the bye prepared Luke Fahey to spam the life out of Jeremiah Smith, and with their most difficult games in the rear view, the Buckeyes win out and return to Indianapolis.

Read our full rankings here .

(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)

**1. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)**
**Last week (1):**Bye

**This week:**at USC, Oct. 31

**What to know:**These first few are pretty straightforward. Ohio State's best case is that the bye prepared Luke Fahey to spam the life out of Jeremiah Smith, and with their most difficult games in the rear view, the Buckeyes win out and return to Indianapolis.

**Read our full rankings here** .
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)

**2. Indiana (7-1, 4-1)**
**Last week (2):**13-6 win (OT) at Michigan

**This week:**Minnesota, Oct. 31

**What to know:**The defense remains dominant, Josh Hoover gets healthy and gets his offense back on track. Indiana wins out and returns to Indianapolis.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

**3. UCLA (7-0, 5-0)**
**Last week (4):**28-10 win vs. Michigan State

**This week:**Nevada, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Ty Dieffenbach continues to settle in behind center, the rushing attack remains dominant and the Bruins , facing a wholly manageable last month, win out and make the trip to the Circle City.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

**4. Northwestern (6-1, 3-1)**
**Last week (5):**42-14 win vs. Rutgers

**This week:**at Oregon, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Aidan Chiles uses this weekend's trip to Oregon to announce his dark-horse Heisman candidacy, and despite a loss in Columbus in November, the Wildcats finish 10-2 and make the College Football Playoff.
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

**5. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1)**
**Last week (8):**24-7 win vs. Southern Cal

**This week:**at Iowa , Oct. 31

**What to know:**Luke Fickell's defense does enough to win in Iowa City. The Badgers use Rutgers, Maryland and Purdue to get right for Minnesota, win their rivalry game and grab the CFP's last at-large bid.
(Scott Ash /Â Milwaukee Journal S, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

**6. Iowa (5-2, 2-2)**
**Last week (3):**13-10 loss at Minnesota

**This week:**Wisconsin, Oct. 31

**What to know:**The Hawkeyes split their next two games, home to Wisconsin and at Northwestern, before winning out and landing another sunny spot bowl berth. Iowa beats a disinterested SEC team to finish Kirk Ferentz's first 10-win season in five years.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

**7. Minnesota (5-2, 3-1)**
**Last week (10):**13-10 win vs. Iowa

**This week:**at Indiana, Oct. 31

**What to know:**The Gophers fight one out in Bloomington and come up just short of beating top-five Indiana, then return home to upset UCLA and end the Bruins' dream run. Wins over Penn State and Wisconsin land P.J. Fleck's team in the ReliaQuest Bowl, which it wins, because that's what Fleck does in bowl games.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

**8. Nebraska (5-2, 2-2)**
**Last week (9):**Bye

**This week:**Washington, Oct. 31

**What to know:**The Cornhuskers run behind the impressive synergy between their offensive coordinator and quarterback. They win three in a row, then upset Ohio State in Lincoln for Matt Rhule's signature win before doing the same in Iowa City a week later. At 10-2, they're living on the playoff bubble and watching Selection Sunday with interest.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard)

**9. Oregon (4-3, 2-2)**
**Last week (6):**21-10 loss at Illinois

**This week:**Northwestern, Oct. 31

**What to know:**The change at coordinator relieves enough pressure to beat Northwestern. Dan Lanning rescues the back end of his season by picking and sticking with next season's starting quarterback, planting the seeds of 2027 in 2026.
(Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

**10. USC (6-2, 3-2)**
**Last week (7):**24-7 loss at Wisconsin

**This week:**Ohio State, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Lincoln Riley gets the scalp he needs this weekend, beating the Buckeyes, before repeating the feat against offensively challenged Indiana in Bloomington. A rivalry weekend win over UCLA gets the Trojans into the back end of the 12-team field.
(Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

**11. Illinois (4-3, 2-2)**
**Last week (14):**21-10 win vs. Oregon

**This week:**at Maryland, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Freshman QB Michael Clayton II builds on two encouraging performances. Illinois beats Maryland and Nebraska, before playing spoiler with a win at UCLA. Bret Bielema's team does the same at Northwestern to cap the season, winning eight games and keeping the rival Wildcats out of the playoff.
(Ron Johnson/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

**12. Washington (4-3, 1-3)**
**Last week (11):**Bye

**This week:**at Nebraska, Oct. 31

**What to know:**The quarterback carousel settles on Elijah Brown for the rest of the season, and he gives the Huskies hope for the future by winning four of his last five. Freshmen and sophomores at the skill positions give Washington a way forward out of this season.
(Dana Marie- Huskies Wire)

**13. Michigan (4-3, 1-3)**
**Last week (13):**13-6 loss (OT) vs. Indiana

**This week:**at Rutgers, Oct. 31

**What to know:**A big win at Rutgers boosts Tommy Carr's confidence, as the offense grows around him. Michigan gets bowl eligible with wins over the Scarlet Knights and rival Michigan State, before putting an almighty scare into UCLA in the Big House. That sets up a fascinating matchup of true freshman quarterbacks in Columbus.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)

**14. Purdue (3-4, 2-2)**
**Last week (12):**Bye

**This week:**at Penn State, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Ryan Browne leads Purdue to wins over Penn State and Maryland, then throws three touchdown passes in a senior day upset of Wisconsin. The Boilermakers go bowling.
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

**15. Penn State (3-4, 0-4)**
**Last week (15):**Bye

**This week:**Purdue, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Beating Purdue steadies the ship. Penn State loses at Washington before winning out from there, beating Minnesota, Rutgers and Maryland to get to seven wins.
(Rick Osentoski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

**16. Michigan State (2-6, 0-5)**
**Last week (17):**28-10 loss at UCLA

**This week:**Bye

**What to know:**The bye week gets Alessio Milivojevic healthy, and the Spartans deepen Michigan's woes with an upset win in Ann Arbor that recasts Pat Fitzgerald's first season in East Lansing. A last-week win over Rutgers gives Fitzgerald some momentum into the offseason.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

**17. Rutgers (2-5, 1-3)**
**Last week (16):**42-14 loss at Northwestern

**This week:**Michigan, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Rutgers plays spoiler late, beating Michigan and Michigan State at home. Antwan Raymond and KJ Duff announce they're coming back to Piscataway in 2027.
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

**18. Maryland (2-5, 0-4)**
**Last week (18):**Bye

**This week:**Illinois, Oct. 31

**What to know:**Using its head start, Maryland finds a coach that can secure commitment from Malik Washington and a handful of promising underclassmen to return for 2027, then generates enough momentum to let Maryland play more seriously in turning over the roster in January.
(Dylan Widger, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Tobi Osunsanmi shares similar path to stardom as Fernando Mendoza

We'll pause here, to allow you to collect yourself after your coughing or scoffing. Once you've done that, consider in actual terms what we're talking about.

No, not necessarily two Heisman Trophy candidates (though if you'd like to frame Osunsanmi's season through that lens, we won't stop you). But certainly two transfers, both from Power Four programs down the food chain, that after the necessary bedding-in time early have elevated their respective sides of the ball to the national championship standard Indiana expects.

Osunsanmi certainly has not done that alone. The depth of the front four is unlike anything Cignetti and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines have enjoyed the previous two years. Indiana remains hugely experienced at linebacker, corner and safety, and finally healthy again, after losing Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris each for an extended stretch in the first half of the season.

Returning those players to their preferred positions has restored front-to-back balance in a defense now as disruptive and dangerous as any in the country. That's not entirely because of Osunsanmi.

He's got a big hand in it though. Perhaps as big as Mendoza's impact on the other side of the ball in 2025, an impact Mendoza himself would quickly share with his linemen, receivers, backs and tight ends. With fellow transfers like Pat Coogan, Roman Hemby and Riley Nowakowski.

Cignetti is fond of saying a quarterback will always get too much praise, and too much blame. The same can't be said for any other position. Skewing perspective doesn't change reality.

Osunsanmi embodies what makes this defense elite in the same way Mendoza did his offense a season ago. Their journeys before and through their Indiana careers, at least to this point, are not dissimilar. And the results are certainly comparable.

Aug 13, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Aug 13, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Brytus-Imagn Images
(David Brytus, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

IU's defense challenging for best in college football

By any measure, Haines' defense is back to its trophy winning best.

Those injuries, plus some new faces in new places — and unexpectedly, old faces in old places — disrupted performances early in the season. Sacks came but consistent pressure did not. There were issues in that depleted secondary. Haines searched across his roster for an effective third linebacker, while he also redrew his plans for the season at the 11thhour with the welcome-but-unanticipated return of Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt .

All of which led to some September performances described not as alarming, but perhaps disjointed, and certainly below the expectations Indiana held for itself based on the previous two years.

Not anymore.

Indiana enters this weekend second in the nation in scoring defense, and eighth in total defense. Bill Connolly's SP+ metrics over at ESPN give the Hoosiers the No. 2 spot nationally.

In five Big Ten games, IU is allowing just 1.97 yards per carry, a stunning number given the physicality, talent and schematic complexion of the teams the Hoosiers have played. They lead the conference — comfortably — in both sacks and tackles for loss, and their per-game average is up in both categories from a season ago.

That front is a big reason why. In addition to those dominant rush-defense numbers, Indiana has 21 sacks and 39 tackles for loss in those five league games as well. That's 4.2 sacks per game, which would rank third nationally across the full course of 2026 so far. It would have led the nation by more than a full sack last year.

"Our defense is all about wreaking havoc and creating TFLs and sacks and making everything happen on their side (of the) line of scrimmage," Cignetti said. "He's really good at that."

More: Why Indiana football knew Josh Hoover would find a way against Michigan

Tobi Osunsanmi leads genuine dominance on IU defense

The "he" in that sentence is Osunsanmi, a player who is not doing this alone but certainly carrying the standard for the way Indiana does it as a team.

"Every play, we just hunt," he said after the win at Michigan on Saturday. "If we send pressure, we expect it to hit."

Often as not, they are: The Hoosiers' pressure rate through five Big Ten games stands at a whopping 47.5%, or 95 pressures on 200 total dropbacks. That's a migraine-inducing number for opposing coordinators. It's part of the reason turnover variance is starting to swing back toward the Hoosiers, who have five takeaways in the last three weeks after just three through the season's first five. And it's as reflective of the dominance of that front as the stifling aforementioned averages against the run.

Indiana is operating at an elite level defensively right now. Perhaps no endorsement could mean more than their coach looking at two field goals on the road in Ann Arbor and deciding his defense was good enough to stand that up for 60 minutes.

Insider: Leaning on defense, Curt Cignetti's secret weapon keeps fueling Indiana football to wins

"We've got good players," Cignetti said Monday. "We're good up front. Our front seven, eight, we're hard to run against. We've got all 11 (players) doing their job, and it's pretty tough."

Pretty tough might undersell what has been genuine dominance. And we're all probably guilty of understating Osunsanmi's role in that dominance, in a way we never were Mendoza's on the other side of the ball.

Whether he should be a contender for something like the Heisman Trophy is your opinion, and yours alone. This comparison isn't about individual awards.

It's meant to ask and answer the question of whether Indiana can repeat as either a Big Ten or a national champion this season. A year ago, belief in Fernando Mendoza was belief in Indiana football, and vice versa. Increasingly, the same can and should be said for Tobi Osunsanmi, and for the defense he will lead onto the field Saturday against Minnesota, hunting for more hardware.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter . Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why this defender is to Indiana football this season what Fernando Mendoza was in 2025

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1. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)

2. Indiana (7-1, 4-1)

3. UCLA (7-0, 5-0)

4. Northwestern (6-1, 3-1)

5. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1)

6. Iowa (5-2, 2-2)

7. Minnesota (5-2, 3-1)

8. Nebraska (5-2, 2-2)

9. Oregon (4-3, 2-2)

10. USC (6-2, 3-2)

11. Illinois (4-3, 2-2)

12. Washington (4-3, 1-3)

13. Michigan (4-3, 1-3)

14. Purdue (3-4, 2-2)

15. Penn State (3-4, 0-4)

16. Michigan State (2-6, 0-5)

17. Rutgers (2-5, 1-3)

18. Maryland (2-5, 0-4)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

1. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

2. Indiana (7-1, 4-1)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

3. UCLA (7-0, 5-0)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

4. Northwestern (6-1, 3-1)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

5. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

6. Iowa (5-2, 2-2)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

7. Minnesota (5-2, 3-1)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

8. Nebraska (5-2, 2-2)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

9. Oregon (4-3, 2-2)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

10. USC (6-2, 3-2)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

11. Illinois (4-3, 2-2)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

12. Washington (4-3, 1-3)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

13. Michigan (4-3, 1-3)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

14. Purdue (3-4, 2-2)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

15. Penn State (3-4, 0-4)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

16. Michigan State (2-6, 0-5)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

17. Rutgers (2-5, 1-3)

Big Ten power rankings after college football Week 8

18. Maryland (2-5, 0-4)

Tobi Osunsanmi shares similar path to stardom as Fernando Mendoza

Fernando Mendoza of Indiana football plays for Las Vegas Raiders in NFL preseason debut

Fernando Mendoza of Indiana football plays for Las Vegas Raiders in NFL preseason debut

Fernando Mendoza of Indiana football plays for Las Vegas Raiders in NFL preseason debut

Fernando Mendoza of Indiana football plays for Las Vegas Raiders in NFL preseason debut

Fernando Mendoza of Indiana football plays for Las Vegas Raiders in NFL preseason debut

IU's defense challenging for best in college football

Tobi Osunsanmi leads genuine dominance on IU defense