The Indiana Hoosiers are making serious noise in the offseason, and it's paying off in the national conversation. After landing a significant haul from the transfer portal, Indiana has surged into the No. 19 spot in the latest CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 And 1 rankings for the 2026-27 season. For a storied program that hasn't reached a Sweet Sixteen since 2016, this influx of talent signals a bold attempt to return to college basketball's elite.

Head coach Darian DeVries and his staff have been aggressive, securing six key transfers headlined by two major acquisitions. The class is anchored by Aiden Sherrell, a 6-foot-10 forward from Alabama who brings Sweet 16 experience and averages of 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. He's joined by dynamic guard Markus Burton from Notre Dame, a proven scorer who averaged 19.1 points over his collegiate career.

The supporting cast is equally impressive, featuring double-figure scorers Bryce Lindsay (Villanova), Samet Yigitoglu (SMU), and Jaeden Mustaf (Georgia Tech), along with Darren Harris from Duke. This collective effort has resulted in the nation's second-ranked transfer portal class, according to 247Sports, trailing only Louisville.

While building a contender primarily through transfers can be a challenge, recent history shows it's a viable path to glory. The reigning national champion, Michigan, proved exactly that by starting five transfers, four of whom were new to the program. Indiana is betting it can be the next exception to the conventional rules of roster-building. With a wave of fresh faces arriving in Bloomington, the Hoosiers are positioning themselves for a potentially dramatic and relevant return to the national stage.