A year ago, Indiana's starting center went through a low-point in his football career. In the same stadium 12 months later, he's on top of the world.
Rose Bowl MVP Pat Coogan has full circle moment in Indiana's CFP semifinal rout of Oregon in Atlanta originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
ATLANTA – The last time Pat Coogan was at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he was on the brink of dream.
A Chicago-born, Irish-Catholic diehard Notre Dame fan from a diehard Notre Dame family, Coogan was the emotional starting center for the Irish in the 2024 national championship game against Ohio State. He was four quarters from bringing a national title to the school he’d rooted for and eventually bled for.
After the 34-23 loss to the Buckeyes, Peacock cameras caught Coogan listening to coach Marcus Freeman in the locker room, despondent. He had one year of eligibility remaining, but there was a chance his starting spot would not be there for him once the Irish line got fully healthy for 2025. The disappointment of losing to Ohio State was multiplied by the fact that he might not wear that gold helmet ever again.
After his exit interview with Freeman a few days later, it was clear ND saw him as a reserve, and Coogan left his beloved Irish.
“They valued me as a person, leader and member of the team,” Coogan told The Herald-Times. “But not as a football player, a talent on the roster.”
Fast forward almost exactly 12 months, and Coogan was in the same stadium, in the College Football Playoff again, a starting center again and a team leader again. This time, he was wearing the crimson and cream of Indiana, and he felt nothing but joy at the end of his four quarters.
No. 1 Indiana obliterated No. 5 Oregon 56-22 to advance to the CFP championship game. The Hoosiers dominated from the start in front a crowd that may as well have been Bloomington South. It was 35-7 at the half and every Hoosier was already checking the get-in price for next week (it's VERY HIGH). The running game, the passing game, the defense, it was all working for Indiana. IU coach Curt Cignetti concluded his halftime interview with ESPN by saying, "We're whipping them up front."
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After the festive postgame presentations, Coogan descended the stairs of the celebratory stage with a Peach Bowl champions hat and his helmet in hand. He paused for photos with Indiana fans and then reflected on what a difference a year makes.
"Polar opposite," Coogan said with a smile. "Pain, sadness vs. just happiness for my teammates and everything. It's just a blessing. We've got more work to get done."
Coogan said the defense deserved credit for tilting the game toward the Hoosiers.
"And then on offense, just our togetherness," he said. "We were playing for each other, with each other. That's when we're at our best, when we are playing 11 as one."
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Coogan had an outstanding block on Aaron Flowers late in the first quarter that led to Indiana's second touchdown of the night.
BIG COOGAN MOVIN' #PMSCFPpic.twitter.com/WfL806m0Yz
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 10, 2026
Coogan, the Rose Bowl’s Offensive Most Valuable Player, has been every bit the leader Cignetti hoped he’d be when he reached out to Coogan as soon as Coogan hit the portal last January. The senior has shared his experience of what it takes to reach the CFP final with his new teammates, and they followed suit.
“Everyone talks about national championship, national championship,” Coogan said two days before the Oregon game. “I wanted to win the Rose Bowl. I want to win the Peach Bowl. You have to focus on the task at hand. You can’t let the macro perspective crowd your brain.”
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The task at hand will now be beating the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes in their home stadium on Jan. 19. Indiana may be one step away from a national title, but with Coogan’s help, there will be no let up.
“One of the keys to our success has been our growth,” he said. “It has been a never-ending growth of improvement. That is what has led us to success on Saturdays. It is a never-ending journey of improvement, an urgency to improve, fix mistakes and get it right. We’ve never been complacent.”
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After Friday's win, he was ready for more.
"We've earned the right for this opportunity," Coogan said. "Now we have to go attack the preparation."
Category: General Sports
