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

Key facts

• Indiana football will visit the White House on Monday, May 11, 2025.
• The Hoosiers finished the 2025 season with a perfect 16-0 record.
• Indiana defeated the University of Miami 27-21 in the CFP title game on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium.
• Quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and was drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
• Eight Hoosiers were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, with six others signing as undrafted free agents.
• This is Indiana's first football national championship; the school has five men's basketball titles.
• Alabama was the first college football champion to visit the White House in 1961.
• Ohio State was the last football program to visit, on April 14, 2025.

White House Visit Set for May 11

The Indiana Hoosiers football team, national champions for the 2025 season, will visit the White House on Monday, May 11, sources have confirmed. The visit continues a tradition of championship-winning teams being received by the President. Indiana will make the trip to Washington, D.C., as the 16-0 National Champions.

A Historic Undefeated Season

The Hoosiers captured their first football national championship in program history with a 27-21 victory over the University of Miami on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The win capped a perfect 16-0 season, a remarkable achievement for a program that had never before reached such heights. The team's success was fueled by standout performances, including that of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and was later selected first overall in the NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Reuniting a Dispersed Roster

With eight players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft last weekend and six others signing as undrafted free agents, members of the Hoosiers' championship roster are now scattered across the country. Indiana is aiming to bring back as many players as possible for the White House visit, according to reports. The effort underscores the logistical challenge of gathering a team that has largely moved on to professional careers.

Tradition of Champions at the White House

The University of Alabama became the first college football national champion to visit the White House in 1961. Indiana itself has a history of such visits: the Hoosiers were the first college basketball champion to make the trip in 1976. The most recent football program to visit was Ohio State, which attended on April 14, 2025. Indiana's visit continues a long-standing custom of honoring national title teams.

Indiana's Championship Legacy

This football championship adds to Indiana University's rich athletic history, which includes five national titles in men's basketball. The football program's breakthrough season has galvanized the campus and fan base, marking a new era for Hoosier sports. The White House visit serves as a formal recognition of the team's historic achievement.

Looking Ahead

As the Hoosiers prepare for the White House ceremony, the university is working to coordinate schedules and travel for players now in the NFL. The visit is expected to be a celebratory reunion for a team that achieved perfection. Further details about the event are anticipated in the coming days.

The bottom line

• Indiana football will be honored at the White House on May 11 for its first national championship.
• The Hoosiers went 16-0, defeating Miami 27-21 in the CFP title game.
• Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 NFL Draft pick by the Raiders.
• Eight Hoosiers were drafted in 2026, with six more signing as free agents.
• The university is working to reunite players for the visit despite their professional commitments.
• Indiana joins a tradition of champions visiting the White House, dating back to 1961.