Hoosiers, fans brave winter storm to celebrate CFP title - ESPN

The Indiana Hoosiers took one last stroll from Assembly Hall to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, waving to the crowd, signing autographs and trading fist bumps with the fans who lined the way.

Then the Hoosiers walked onto their home field for the first time as national champions.

This was a scene even the most loyal Indiana fans couldn't have fathomed when Curt Cignetti was hired to coach major college football's losingest program in 2023. A little more than two years later, here they were, folding chairs on the field, trophies lined up across the dais and a series of presentations to cap the celebration.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect season.

«From the bottom of my heart, thank you Hoosier Nation,» Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza said just before the 35-minute ceremony ended with players, coaches and fans singing the school's fight song together. «Playing here has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Thank you so much and again, myself, my teammates are forever indebted to you guys. God bless. Go Hoosiers!»

Heisman Trophy Trust chief executive officer Jeff Price brought the trophy that will stay on campus permanently. University president Pam Whitten promised students at the half-filled stadium this wouldn't be their last football championship. Some of the team's seniors even helped local native John Mellencamp belt out «Hurts So Good» before, naturally, hearing «We Are The Champions» blaring across the public address system.

«The greatest university in the country is now the home to the greatest football team in the United States of America,» Whitten said to loud roars.

But the fans, like this team, had to tough it out Saturday.

The temperature barely hovered above 10 degrees, wind