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Indiana's Historic National Championship

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 1hrs 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Read the passage describing a news report on Indiana’s football championship. Summarize the central news angle in two sentences, highlighting both the final score and why the season is historically significant.

4 lines
2.

Explain how the story uses scene-setting details to show emotion at the stadium. Cite two specific elements and why they help readers feel the moment.

4 lines
3.

Match each fact with what it shows about the program’s turnaround.

a)

Final score vs. Miami

1.

Close, late-game win to clinch title

b)

Season record

2.

Perfect 16-0 campaign

c)

Two years prior record

3.

3-9 showing the team’s low point

d)

Historic comparison to Yale

4.

First top-level 16-0 since 1894

4.

Identify the main character named in the report and describe his role in the moment being covered.

4 lines
5.

What makes Indiana’s championship notable compared with powerhouse programs mentioned, and how does that deepen the news value?

4 lines
6.

In one paragraph, explain how a journalist structures a game recap to balance key numbers and narrative. Use examples from this championship story.

4 lines
7.

Match each journalism element with the example from the story.

a)

Lead (hook)

1.

Confetti falling and music blaring

b)

Nut graf (why it matters)

2.

Indiana’s rise to a 16-0 champion

c)

Context/history

3.

Reference to Yale 1894 and prior 3-9 season

d)

Outcome

4.

27-21 win over Miami

e)

Human detail

5.

Mendoza composing himself for TV

8.

Write a headline that captures the essence of the championship and the turnaround using no more than 12 words.

4 lines
9.

Explain how Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules have changed college football and why some teams gained an early advantage.

4 lines
10.

Describe the transfer portal change in 2024 and how it affected roster building for one coach.

4 lines
11.

Why does roster parity matter more now than simply collecting five-star recruits? Provide two reasons.

4 lines
12.

Match each program with the number of former five-star recruits on its roster during Indiana’s Playoff run.

a)

Indiana

1.

0

b)

Alabama

2.

14

c)

Oregon

3.

6

d)

Miami

4.

5

13.

How did expanded College Football Playoff format influence upsets this season?

4 lines
14.

Summarize Curt Cignetti’s core coaching philosophy in one or two sentences.

4 lines
15.

Identify two specific game moments that showed Indiana’s clean, mistake-free style in the championship.

4 lines
16.

Match each player description to the notable moment or role from the season.

a)

Fernando Mendoza

1.

Scored a game-winning rushing touchdown on fourth down

b)

Charlie Becker

2.

Receiver with few career catches who made two huge grabs in the final quarter

c)

Jamari Sharpe

3.

Made a late interception to clinch victory

17.

Explain how Indiana’s slower start with NIL transformed later and what that suggests about competing with top programs.

4 lines
18.

Match each structural change with its main effect on the sport.

a)

NIL rules (2021)

1.

Athletes can earn money, distributing talent more widely

b)

Transfer portal changes (2024)

2.

Unlimited immediate transfers, enabling rapid roster overhauls

c)

Expanded Playoff

3.

More opportunities for upsets and deeper runs by nontraditional powers

19.

Why might headlines claim that a mid-tier program has ‘broken’ college football? Use evidence from this season’s trends.

4 lines
20.

Consider the quote: “The whole was greater than the sum of its parts.” What does this mean for team-building in today’s college football?

4 lines
21.

Explain how expanding the College Football Playoff from 4 to 12 teams changed opportunities for programs like Miami and Indiana.

4 lines
22.

Match each program or figure with the role described.

a)

Miami

1.

Got in late and went on a hot run

b)

Notre Dame

2.

Beat in September, helping with playoff inclusion

c)

Selection committee

3.

Made last-minute decision to flip a team into the field

d)

Indiana

4.

Program that rose during the parity era

23.

What does the phrase “end of the superteam era” mean in this context? Provide two reasons mentioned.

4 lines
24.

Match each school with the recent outcome described.

a)

Georgia

1.

Still wins often but missed three straight semifinals

b)

Ohio State

2.

Had 14 players drafted yet lost two games

c)

Indiana

3.

Transformed from a long-time doormat to a champion

d)

Notre Dame

4.

Lost September game that helped another team’s playoff bid

25.

Indiana’s football budget grew from 24millionto24 million to 61 million over four years. Describe how such institutional investment can influence competitive results.

4 lines
26.

Match each leader with the statement or role.

a)

Curt Cignetti

1.

Coach emphasizing football commitment and momentum

b)

Pamela Whitten

2.

University president saying it’s a “new day” with innovation and ambition

c)

Steve Sarkisian

3.

Coach who doubted a 16–0 run was likely

d)

Bobby Knight

4.

Former basketball coach noted for strong teams at a school once known more for hoops

27.

Explain how roster depth built by waiting five-star recruits changed and why.

4 lines
28.

Match each concept with its effect on the sport.

a)

Transfer options

1.

Talent spreads as players move for opportunity and money

b)

Expanded playoff

2.

More teams have a chance to contend and get hot

c)

Donor and fan expectations

3.

Coaches face more pressure when new programs rise

d)

Institutional leadership

4.

Creates momentum by backing football with funding and vision

29.

Describe how journalistic analysis connects financial data (budget growth) with on-field outcomes in this story.

4 lines
30.

In one paragraph, argue whether wide playoff access is good for competitive balance. Use examples from the material.

4 lines

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