Indiana Hoosiers to Visit White House on May 11 for First Football National Championship

Key facts

• Indiana Hoosiers won their first football national championship on Jan. 19, 2025, defeating Miami 27-21 at Hard Rock Stadium.
• The team finished the season undefeated at 16-0, winning the College Football Playoff title.
• Starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and was drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
• The White House visit is scheduled for Monday, May 11, 2025.
• Eight Hoosiers were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and six others signed as undrafted free agents.
• Indiana is the first college basketball champion to visit the White House in 1976; Ohio State was the last football program to visit on April 14, 2025.
• The visit continues a tradition started by Alabama in 1961.

A Historic Invitation

The Indiana Hoosiers football team, celebrating its first national championship in program history, will visit the White House on Monday, May 11. The undefeated squad, which went 16-0 and captured the College Football Playoff title, will be honored by the President in a tradition that dates back to 1961. Sources confirmed the visit to multiple outlets, with Outkick’s Dan Dakich first reporting the news. The Hoosiers will join a long line of championship-winning teams that have made the trip to Washington, D.C.

The Championship Run

Indiana claimed its national title with a 27-21 victory over the University of Miami on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The win capped a perfect season that saw the Hoosiers dominate opponents en route to the College Football Playoff championship. The team’s success was fueled by standout performances, including that of starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza later became the first overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, further cementing the program’s historic year.

Scattered Roster, United Celebration

With eight players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft last weekend and six others signing as undrafted free agents, members of the championship roster are now spread across the country. Despite this, Indiana is aiming to bring back as many players as possible for the White House visit. The university’s efforts reflect the significance of the moment: the first football national championship in school history, adding to five men’s basketball titles. The Hoosiers became the first college basketball champion to visit the White House in 1976.

A Tradition of Champions

The White House visit continues a tradition that began with the University of Alabama in 1961, when the Crimson Tide became the first college football national champion to be honored by the President. Ohio State is the most recent football program to make the trip, attending on April 14, 2025. Indiana’s visit underscores the program’s rise to the pinnacle of college football, a journey that culminated in a perfect season and a championship victory that will be remembered for generations.

What Comes Next

As the Hoosiers prepare for the White House, the program looks ahead to building on its historic success. The championship has elevated Indiana’s profile in the college football landscape, and the visit serves as a capstone to a remarkable season. Details about the event remain limited, but the university is expected to release further information in the coming days. For now, the focus is on reuniting the team for a celebration that honors their unprecedented achievement.

The bottom line

• Indiana football will visit the White House on May 11, 2025, to celebrate its first national championship.
• The Hoosiers went 16-0, defeating Miami 27-21 in the title game on Jan. 19.
• Quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman and was drafted first overall by the Raiders.
• The visit continues a tradition started by Alabama in 1961; Ohio State was the last football team to visit.
• Indiana aims to gather as many players as possible, despite many being drafted or signed as free agents.