BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — People snickered a bit when Curt Cignetti called Indiana an ''emerging superpower'' in college football a year ago. But they're certainly playing the role very well right now.

It's one thing to be in the College Football Playoff semifinals, just two games away from the school's first football national title. But on Sunday they also proved that they're ready to contend in 2026 as well. With the transfer portal open, the Hoosiers got nine commitments in the past two days, according to reports, include four of the top players available at their positions.

Indiana's transfer portal class ranks No. 3 in the country right now, behind only Penn State and Oklahoma State, who are reloading their rosters after coaching changes. 

Here's who committed to Indiana on Sunday and Monday, according to multiple reports:

The former TCU quarterback is a familiar name to die-hard Indiana fans. The 6-foot-2 junior from Heath, Texas was once an Indiana commit back in 2022, but flipped to TCU on signing day.

He's been a three-year starter at the Big Ten school, throwing for 9,629 yards — which is eighth-best in all of college football — and 71 touchdowns. His only blemish is his 33 career interceptions.

Current Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza — who was the star of the transfer portal a year ago after coming to Indiana from California — does technically have another year of eligibility remaining, but it's very likely that he will turn pro and be the first-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders, who have the first pick, are in desperate need of quarterback help.

Mendoza's younger brother, Alberto, has been his backup all year and was expected to contend for the starting job next year, too. 

The Hoosiers are also familiar with Nick Marsh, the prolific wide receiver from Michigan State. They got to see him first-hand this year, when he had seven catches for 64 yards and a touchdown in the Hoosiers' 38-13 win over the Spartans on Oct. 18 in Bloomington. He was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection.

Marsh committed to the Hoosiers on Sunday. He's a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Detroit who has 100 catches for 1,311 yards in his Big Ten career, with nine touchdowns. He was a four-star recruit coming out of River Rouge High School in Michigan.

Adding a talent like Marsh is a big deal for the Hoosiers because Elijah Sarratt and E.J. Williams Jr. are out of eligibility after this season. Sophomore Charlie Becker has stepped up this season and it will be interesting to see if redshirt junior Omar Cooper Jr. returns or chooses to pursue his NFL options.

The Big Ten Network featured Marsh and his mother in a story earlier this season.

The Hoosiers got a commitment from Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi, who is in the top-five at his position on the transfer portal rankings. He spent four years at the Manhattan, Kan. school and has one year of eligibility remaining. He was a four-star high school recruit.

He played in six games this season and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.  He suffered a season-ending injury in October in a game against Baylor.

Osunsanmi played in all 13 games in 2024 as part of the Wildcats' defensive end rotation and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays. He also played in every game in 2023, and just four games in 2022 to preserve his redshirt.

Indiana has a need on the edge with Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley all out of eligibility.

Former Cincinnati safety Jiquan Sanks committed to Indiana on Sunday, according to reports.

A 5-foot-11, 175-pound safety, Sanks has two years of eligibility remaining. This past season, Sanks, played in 12 games with seven starts. He recorded 50 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and registered four passes defended while forcing a fumble as well.

Sanks is a versatile defender who can play all over the field. 

Former Boston College running back Turbo Richard committed to Indiana after a weekend visit. The rushed for 749 and nine touchdowns this season and was the team's leading rusher. The 5-foot-8, 207-pound back from Charlotte, N.C. played two years at BC and has two years of eligibility remaining. 

During his time with the Eagles he had career totals of 1,027 yards and 11 touchdowns on 200 carries. He has also had 32 receptions for 275 yards and two touchdowns during his two years there.

Running back is an area of need for the Hoosiers. Their two top backs in 2025, Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, are out of eligibility after this season. Lee Beebe Jr., returns from injury, and Khobie Martin has played well in a reserve role late in games.

Joshua Burnham, a 6-foot-4 defensive lineman from Traverse City, Mich., has committed to the Hoosiers. He's spent four years at Notre Dame, and has one year of eligibility remaining.

During his career, he had 65 tackles with 6 sacks and forced a fumble. This year, he played in all 12 games and made four starts. He had 16 tackles, and was third on the team with six tackles for loss, posting three sacks.

Preston Zachman was a key part of the Wisconsin secondary the past few years, but his 2025 season was cut short by injury. He's transferring to Indiana, and will have one year of eligibility remaining.

The Elysburg, Pa., native played in 25 games during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, posting 107 tackles, 11 passes defensed and four interceptions.

In particular, he excelled in coverage, where he posted an 87.2 grade according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks sixth among Big Ten safeties.

In 2025, he suffered a lower leg injury in the September game against Alabama and could never get back on the field. He is seeking a medical waiver to have that season restored. He first started playing college football in 2020.

Louis Moore, Indiana's current starting safety, is out of eligibility after this year. Amare Farrell has a year of eligibility remaining for Indiana, but he may have some NFL options this year, so he has a decision to make. 

Chiddi Obiazor committed to Indiana on Monday, the second Kansas State defender to  join the Hoosiers in two days.

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Obiazor spent three seasons at Kansas State, redshirting during his true freshman year in 2023. The following season, Obiazor recorded 17 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, earning honorable mention Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. In 2025, Obiazor had 28 tackles and two sacks. 

Obiazor is from Eden Prairie, Minn., and was a three-star recruit and the eighth-ranked player from the state coming out of high school. 

Indiana native Brock Schott spent his freshman year at Miami, but he is returning home to play for the Hoosiers. He committed on Monday, according to multiple reports. 

Schott is from Leo, Ind., north of Fort Wayne. He only played in two games this season, so he will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Schott had a brilliant high school career as the state's top tight end. He was a four-star recruit who chose Miami over Indiana and several other Big Ten schools. Schott had 28 catches for 462 yards and five touchdowns as a senior and was named “Mr. Football” at the tight end position by the Indiana Football Coaches Association. 

Current Indiana tight ends Riley Nowakowski, Holden Staes and James Bomba all out of eligibility.