IUFB Offseason Updates

[Pagoda 5,445]

29 minutes ago, Hardwood83 said:

2 questions: Let's say IU goes 10-2, dropping games @ Oregon & PSU.....still making the playoff? Gotta think in that scenario they will be a top 4 B1G team probably including Penn State, Oregon & O$U. 

Second, would you rather IU gets into the playoff again and loses similar to last year, not a blowout, but not really competitive either. OR goes to a Bowl game and wins? 

My answers are 1) Yes, 10-2 gets them back to playoff and 2) I'd rather win a bowl game then lose immediately in the playoff. 

1) If we play Oregon and PSU reasonably competitively I’d say we’re in.

2) Playoff.  That’s what the team would want and the other bowls don’t really matter much anymore and players often sit out, etc.  Making the playoff is a huge deal — you’re either a playoff team or you aren’t.

Just my $0.02.

[Hardwood83 5,131]

1 hour ago, Pagoda said:

1) If we play Oregon and PSU reasonably competitively I’d say we’re in.

2) Playoff.  That’s what the team would want and the other bowls don’t really matter much anymore and players often sit out, etc.  Making the playoff is a huge deal — you’re either a playoff team or you aren’t.

Just my $0.02.

#2) Most people will agree with you, I suspect. It would be a coup to make the playoff 2yrs in a row too. But losing 31-20 at LSU (for example) doesn't appeal to me, versus say, winning the Citrus Bowl. However, I am traditionalist and hate the 12 team playoff. The regular season should matter and the #9 team in the country doesn't deserve a shot at the Natl Championship. But more is always better in our society, so we'll have a 16 team, then 24 team playoff soon and a 128 team basketball tourney sooner than later, but I digress. 

[Napleshoosier 10,980]

Anybody know what channels the games will be on this year?  Just wondering if I need to subscribe to any extra channels….

[Hardwood83 5,131]

1 hour ago, Napleshoosier said:

Anybody know what channels the games will be on this year?  Just wondering if I need to subscribe to any extra channels….

Purdon't is on NBC, everything else is 'TBD'.

[DChoosier 9,988]

4 hours ago, Hardwood83 said:

2 questions: Let's say IU goes 10-2, dropping games @ Oregon & PSU.....still making the playoff? Gotta think in that scenario they will be a top 4 B1G team probably including Penn State, Oregon & O$U. 

Second, would you rather IU gets into the playoff again and loses similar to last year, not a blowout, but not really competitive either. OR goes to a Bowl game and wins? 

My answers are 1) Yes, 10-2 gets them back to playoff and 2) I'd rather win a bowl game then lose immediately in the playoff. 

1) Depends if we are competitive in the those 2 games and how the other potential 8-12 seed teams play (ie, last year Bama losing to Vandy opened up a slot).

2) playoff all day, every day. The entire football world is interested in the playoffs while the bowls, with opt outs and the “you didn’t make the playoff stigma”, are now largely followed by just the fan bases of the two teams involved.  

[cthomas 6,692]

9 hours ago, DChoosier said:

I am 110% on board with scheduling “sure win” non-conference games.  That being said, 2026 looks a little more interesting than this year but 2027 is absolutely putrid. You would think we could find a couple of “less crappy” crappy teams to play.

IU's non-league schedules

2025: ODU, Kennesaw St, Indiana St

2026: Howard, Colorado St, WKU

2027: Kennesaw St, Indiana St, UMass

2028: Austin Peay, Miami (Oh), E. Michigan

As an ISU alum, we thank you for your support of our program. Sure we get our brains beat in but it sure pays well.

[Pagoda 5,445]

7 hours ago, Hardwood83 said:

Purdon't is on NBC, everything else is 'TBD'.

One thought on the TBD's -- I think Peacock is the most annoying one for a lot of folks.  Peacock gets eight or nine B1G games per year.  We got stuck with one last year and my hope is we avoid a Peacock game this year as the schools who avoided it last year get stuck with one this year.

[Artie86 3,515]

14 hours ago, Pagoda said:

1) If we play Oregon and PSU reasonably competitively I’d say we’re in.

2) Playoff.  That’s what the team would want and the other bowls don’t really matter much anymore and players often sit out, etc.  Making the playoff is a huge deal — you’re either a playoff team or you aren’t.

Just my $0.02.

Yep....You make the coveted playoffs, that's your bowl with the option to keep playing till you lose. The group that makes the playoffs are where ALL the other teams want to be too.

[CSP 12,244]

Old Dominion is better than Purdue... and probably as good as some B12, ACC teams. 

[Hovadipo 62,117]

4 hours ago, Pagoda said:

One thought on the TBD's -- I think Peacock is the most annoying one for a lot of folks.  Peacock gets eight or nine B1G games per year.  We got stuck with one last year and my hope is we avoid a Peacock game this year as the schools who avoided it last year get stuck with one this year.

I understand that from the perspective of needing to have Peacock, but if you’ve already got it…those were my favorite broadcasts last year for football and basketball. I’d much rather be there than BTN, unless “BIG. RED. CARPET.” guy is on the call. 

[Lebowski 3,796]

17 hours ago, Hardwood83 said:

2 questions: Let's say IU goes 10-2, dropping games @ Oregon & PSU.....still making the playoff? Gotta think in that scenario they will be a top 4 B1G team probably including Penn State, Oregon & O$U. 

Second, would you rather IU gets into the playoff again and loses similar to last year, not a blowout, but not really competitive either. OR goes to a Bowl game and wins? 

My answers are 1) Yes, 10-2 gets them back to playoff and 2) I'd rather win a bowl game then lose immediately in the playoff. 

1. Depends. Short answer, more than likely. But if there are multiple 10-2 teams it gets trickier. For example, if UM, Illini, a dark horse (say USC) and some SEC schools finish 10-2, then we got an uphill battle. Finishing undefeated or with one loss then we're back in the playoffs 100%. 

2. PLAYOFFS!! Aside from winning it, a CFP appearance is the most prestigious accomplishment in college football. It's the reason we're currently get hammered by the SEC media about our appearance last year. They want that spot for a reason. We broke the status quo by going 11-1 in the Big Ten conference. Now the selection committee is changing the criteria on getting an at-large selection. Going forward, we should be looking at playing in a non CFP bowl as a participation trophy. CFP gets the eyes of the 5 and 4 star recruits, it brings in more money to the program, it improves the brand, it is the whole enchilada. It's the new tradition now. Wanting to play in a bowl over the CFP is like saying you would rather walk to your vacation destination instead of flying to it.

[Stuhoo 90,820]

There are 136 College Football Playoff (FBS) eligible men's football teams.

• About 9% (12) make the playoffs. That is a special group that is notable. 
• Each year about 60% are bowl eligible - primarily because the FBS record is .500, and most all add an FCS win to their non-conference schedule. That is not notable.

FWIW --there are 365 NCAA eligible men's basketball teams.

• 18% (68) make the NCAA tournament.

[Lebowski 3,796]

23 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

There are 136 College Football Playoff (FBS) eligible men's football teams.

• About 9% (12) make the playoffs. That is a special group that is notable. 
• Each year about 60% are bowl eligible - primarily because the FBS record is .500, and most all add an FCS win to their non-conference schedule. That is not notable.

FWIW --there are 365 NCAA eligible men's basketball teams.

• 18% (68) make the NCAA tournament.

I can't wait until they expand to a 24 or 32 team playoff. Personally, I think they should go ahead and adopt the FCS format like, yesterday. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 93,261]

Seems moderately newsworthy from Osterman

IU is entering into a field-naming agreement with Merchants Bank. Effective immediately, the Memorial Stadium playing surface has been renamed Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Total commitment from Merchants is $50 million.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/08/21/indiana-football-field-merchants-bank-sponsor-why-money-college-sports-nil-revenue-share/85749126007/

[Pagoda 5,445]

49 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Seems moderately newsworthy from Osterman

IU is entering into a field-naming agreement with Merchants Bank. Effective immediately, the Memorial Stadium playing surface has been renamed Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Total commitment from Merchants is $50 million.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/08/21/indiana-football-field-merchants-bank-sponsor-why-money-college-sports-nil-revenue-share/85749126007/

Thanks.  I'd say very newsworthy.  Our athletic dept needs the money and this and the Lucas Oil sponsorship for the field suites, etc. all adds up.  This is like an extra home game worth of cash flow every year, or a little over 10% of our rev share costs.

The name sounds fine too -- Merchants Bank Field.  Sometimes sponsors names don't sound good.

[Hoosierfan2017 25,200]

These doofuses are insufferable. But I love IUFB being relevant enough to piss off the SEC shills. Yeah, IU’s non-conference stinks. Guess what, we play 9 conference games. The sheer stupidity of Finebaum lauding Alabama for playing freaking Wisconsin while ignoring that IU plays them too this season makes me laugh. We aren’t all lucky enough to get an FCS tune-up game in mid-November.

https://twitter.com/rygi13/status/1958264613725966708?s=46&t=LoczziaTWuqlhvyvHGT92A

[Demo 24,710]

26 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

These doofuses are insufferable. But I love IUFB being relevant enough to piss off the SEC shills. Yeah, IU’s non-conference stinks. Guess what, we play 9 conference games. The sheer stupidity of Finebaum lauding Alabama for playing freaking Wisconsin while ignoring that IU plays them too this season makes me laugh. We aren’t all lucky enough to get an FCS tune-up game in mid-November.

https://twitter.com/rygi13/status/1958264613725966708?s=46&t=LoczziaTWuqlhvyvHGT92A

The appeal of Paul Finebaum is, has and always will be utterly lost on me. Seriously, why on earth is that guy a thing?

[Stuhoo 90,820]

1 hour ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

These doofuses are insufferable. But I love IUFB being relevant enough to piss off the SEC shills. Yeah, IU’s non-conference stinks. Guess what, we play 9 conference games. The sheer stupidity of Finebaum lauding Alabama for playing freaking Wisconsin while ignoring that IU plays them too this season makes me laugh. We aren’t all lucky enough to get an FCS tune-up game in mid-November.

https://twitter.com/rygi13/status/1958264613725966708?s=46&t=LoczziaTWuqlhvyvHGT92A

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA

Paul Finebaum is maaad. And not especially 'truthy.' HE MAAAAAD!!

It would be kinda funny if he really understands the truth and is just trolling for ratings. But it would be truly delicious if he actually believes this stuff!

[Hardwood83 5,131]

54 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

These doofuses are insufferable. But I love IUFB being relevant enough to piss off the SEC shills. Yeah, IU’s non-conference stinks. Guess what, we play 9 conference games. The sheer stupidity of Finebaum lauding Alabama for playing freaking Wisconsin while ignoring that IU plays them too this season makes me laugh. We aren’t all lucky enough to get an FCS tune-up game in mid-November.

https://twitter.com/rygi13/status/1958264613725966708?s=46&t=LoczziaTWuqlhvyvHGT92A

Gonna be tough for the SEC not coasting based off Bama's dominance anymore. They just got a pass for the last 15yrs because Bama was so good. Were they the best conference? Yeah most of the time, but things change and they are gonna have to earn it now without the 800lb gorilla to do all the heavy lifting. 

[Pagoda 5,445]

3 minutes ago, Hardwood83 said:

Gonna be tough for the SEC not coasting based off Bama's dominance anymore. They just got a pass for the last 15yrs because Bama was so good. Were they the best conference? Yeah most of the time, but things change and they are gonna have to earn it now without the 800lb gorilla to do all the heavy lifting.