September 1, 2025 – Austin, Texas

The 2025 season of the Hoosier Longhorn Confederacy is underway, with a fresh draft and a clean slate for all eight teams. With no keepers carried over from last year, every roster was built from scratch, though some familiar faces reunited with their old teams.

Rockport opened the draft by selecting Ja’Marr Chase first overall, then balanced him with Tee Higgins, Brock Bowers, Patrick Mahomes, Bucky Irving, and Jerry Jeudy, a mix of firepower and stability.

i2^3∑π followed by bringing Justin Jefferson back into the fold, then added Nico Collins, George Kittle, Ladd McConkey, Baker Mayfield, and Chuba Hubbard, building around a proven star while filling in across the board.

The New Mexico Lobos made Bijan Robinson their top back at No. 3. Jalen Hurts and De’Von Achane returned to anchor the offense, with Puka Nacua, Sam LaPorta, and Mike Evans rounding out a well-balanced core.

San Antonio secured Saquon Barkley at No. 4 and doubled down with Jonathan Taylor, Brian Thomas Jr., Davante Adams, Xavier Worthy, and Garrett Wilson, giving them a roster loaded with both power and speed.

Michiana grabbed Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 5, then made waves by pairing him with Christian McCaffrey in Round 2. They went on to add Drake London, Joe Burrow, Terry McLaurin, and Chase Brown, putting together one of the draft’s deepest starting cores.

The defending champion Austin Tourists stayed true to form, making Josh Allen their leader once again at No. 6. Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs also stayed in town, with Malik Nabers, Marvin Harrison Jr., and T.J. Hockenson filling in the rest of the early core.

The Jaybirds built their foundation at wideout, bringing back Amon-Ra St. Brown in the first and pairing him with A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill. They also added Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix to compete at quarterback, with Alvin Kamara anchoring the backfield.

The Troubadours closed the first round by keeping Lamar Jackson in a Tortilla Flats uniform. From there, they paired him with CeeDee Lamb, Trey McBride, Ashton Jeanty, C.J. Stroud, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, crafting a roster with star power and depth across the offense.

ESPN Power Rankings

The preseason power rankings placed the New Mexico Lobos in the top spot, with the Tortilla Flats Troubadours close behind at number two. The Michiana Muskellunge opened at number three, while the Robots slotted in at number four. The defending champion Austin Tourists came in at number five, followed by the Rockport Leatherheads at six, the San Antonio Tacos at seven, and the Jaybirds at eight. Of course, those numbers are only a preseason snapshot — the power rankings never stay still for long once the games begin.

Week 1 Matchups

Austin Tourists open against the Michiana Muskellunge in a meeting of the last two champions. With Josh Allen and Derrick Henry lining up across from Joe Burrow, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Christian McCaffrey, it’s a heavyweight battle right out of the gate.

The Jaybirds face the San Antonio Tacos in a game that contrasts receiver firepower with a strong running game. Amon-Ra St. Brown and A.J. Brown headline for the Birds, while San Antonio leans on the bruising tandem of Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor.

i2^3∑π take on the New Mexico Lobos in a matchup featuring Baker Mayfield and Justin Jefferson against Jalen Hurts and Bijan Robinson. It’s a clash of two teams that expect to be in the playoff mix from the start.

Rockport Leatherheads meet the Tortilla Flats Troubadours in the Gulf Coasr Shootout. Patrick Mahomes and Ja’Marr Chase square off against Lamar Jackson and CeeDee Lamb, making this a highly anticipated opening matchup.

The season is set, the lineups are in place, and the first games are here. Can the Tourists defend their first title? Will the Lobos or Muskies add a second championship to their history? Or will another team rise and claim the trophy for the first time? The path to the 2025 HLC Championship begins now.