Indiana is bowl-eligible for the first time since the 2020 season.

With a 41-24 win over Northwestern in Evanston, Curt Cignetti’s team reached the 6-win plateau. What’s more, they remain perfect for the 2024 campaign with a 6-0 mark.

The Hoosiers have started a season 6-0 only one other time: in 1967. That squad, coached by John Pont, finished with a 9-2 record, a first-place finish in the Big Ten, a Rose Bowl Game appearance and a Top 10 ranking.

This year’s group has come out of the blocks quickly in Cignetti’s first year at the helm. He seamlessly helmed James Madison’s transition from FCS to FBS — the Dukes finished No. 24 in just their second season in FBS — before taking the reins in Bloomington.

Now, Cignetti has seen similar success with his new team. The Hoosiers entered the day ranked No. 23, their first time as a ranked team since 2021. Granted, games against Michigan and Ohio State are coming up, but Hoosier fans can’t be blamed if they’re at least dreaming of an at-large College Football Playoff berth.