Indiana Hoosiers to Visit White House on May 11 After Undefeated National Championship Season
The 16-0 Hoosiers, led by Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, will celebrate their first football national title in a tradition dating back to 1961.

ZIMBABWE —
Key facts
- Indiana football will visit the White House on Monday, May 11, 2025.
- The Hoosiers finished the 2025 season 16-0, winning the CFP title.
- Indiana defeated Miami 27-21 on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium for its first football national championship.
- 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.
- Alabama was the first college football champion to visit the White House in 1961.
- Indiana's 1976 men's basketball team was the first college basketball champion to visit the White House.
White House Visit Set for May 11
The Indiana Hoosiers football team, winners of the 2025 national championship, will visit the White House on Monday, May 11, multiple sources confirmed. The visit continues a longstanding tradition of championship-winning teams being honored by the President. Indiana will make the trip to Washington D.C. as the undefeated 16-0 national champions, capping a historic season that saw the program claim its first football national title. The Hoosiers join a select group of college football champions to receive this honor, following Ohio State, which visited on April 14, 2025.
Historic 16-0 Season Culminates in Title
The Hoosiers secured their first national championship in program history with a 27-21 victory over the University of Miami on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The win capped a perfect 16-0 season, a feat that placed Indiana among the elite in college football. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was instrumental in the run, winning the Heisman Trophy before being selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza's leadership and performance were key to Indiana's undefeated campaign.
Roster Scattered After NFL Draft
With eight players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft last weekend and six others signing as undrafted free agents, members of Indiana's championship roster are now spread across the country. Despite this, the university is aiming to bring back as many players as possible for the White House visit, according to reports. The dispersal of talent underscores the program's success but also presents logistical challenges for reuniting the team for the celebration. Indiana's athletic department is coordinating efforts to gather former players for the May 11 event.
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, setting a precedent that has been followed by many programs since. Indiana's football team will now join that lineage. Indiana has a rich history of championship visits in other sports. The Hoosiers men's basketball team, which has won five national titles, was the first college basketball champion to visit the White House in 1976. The football team's visit adds to this legacy.
First Football Title for Indiana
Indiana's national championship in football is the first in school history, a milestone that places the program alongside its five men's basketball national titles. The achievement has galvanized the university community and elevated the football program's national profile. The Hoosiers' undefeated season and championship victory have been celebrated by fans and alumni, with the White House visit serving as the final official recognition of their historic accomplishment.
Outlook: Reunion and Recognition
As Indiana works to reassemble its championship roster for the May 11 visit, the event promises to be a poignant reunion for players who have since embarked on professional careers. The White House ceremony will not only honor their achievement but also underscore the significance of Indiana's first football national title. For the program, the visit is a capstone to a season that redefined expectations. Looking ahead, Indiana will aim to build on this success, though the departure of key players like Mendoza to the NFL presents challenges for maintaining championship-level performance.
The bottom line
- Indiana football will visit the White House on May 11, 2025, to celebrate its first national championship.
- The Hoosiers completed a 16-0 season, defeating Miami 27-21 in the CFP title game on Jan. 19.
- Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza was drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
- Eight Hoosiers were drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, with six more signing as undrafted free agents.
- Indiana aims to bring back as many players as possible for the White House visit despite roster dispersal.
- The visit continues a tradition started by Alabama in 1961; Indiana's 1976 basketball team was the first college basketball champion to visit.


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