College Football Thread

[Pagoda]

38 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

On a related note, I was listening to some podcast where some IU people mentioned Indiana being open to new "rivals" now that we're good at football.  That got me thinking... I don't think a new rivalry will happen.  It's not a bad thing, but here is the reasoning:

What makes for a strong rivalry in college sports?
1) The game matters even if both teams are bad
2) The rivalry permeates all sports, not just one
3) Both schools generally agree it's a rivalry

Schools only have bandwidth for a main rival, a secondary rival, and somewhat rarely a tertiary rival.  IU obviously has Purdue.  We care about games vs. them even when the teams stink, and we care about whatever we play them in.  UK is our secondary rival.  It's been weakened with the hiatus, but I think factors #1 and #2 are there, though far less than PU. Sorry Illinois, you're not a rival, see factor #3.

If we stay good at football, things are going to keep heating up with the football schools in conference.  While I think the familiarity of being in the same conference as those schools for 100+ years will drive significant interest, great crowds, and plenty of jabbing... we've seen it happen already, it would take a lot for an actual new rivalry to be born.  The reason being if we stunk again people would quicky not care (factor #1).  And IU being good at football will likely not make, say, IU vs OSU in soccer, any more meaningful (factor #2).

I suppose if we stay good at football for another 10-15 years (Cig's tenure and we keep it up post-Cig), maybe we become a tertiary rival for OSU or UM or whoever.  I just think it's hard to form a new legitimate rivalry.  It takes a lot of friction to start a long-burning rivalry fire. 

Anyways, this is a pointless analysis of the definition of "rivalry," but that's what message boards are for. 

[jermhoosierfan]

15 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

I’m pretty sure it’s a joke list. Look at #25.  

I saw that one.  Tennessee/Florida would be above that, and it isn't even ranked.

[jermhoosierfan]

5 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

On a related note, I was listening to some podcast where some IU people mentioned Indiana being open to new "rivals" now that we're good at football.  That got me thinking... I don't think a new rivalry will happen.  It's not a bad thing, but here is the reasoning:

What makes for a strong rivalry in college sports?
1) The game matters even if both teams are bad
2) The rivalry permeates all sports, not just one
3) Both schools generally agree it's a rivalry

Schools only have bandwidth for a main rival, a secondary rival, and somewhat rarely a tertiary rival.  IU obviously has Purdue.  We care about games vs. them even when the teams stink, and we care about whatever we play them in.  UK is our secondary rival.  It's been weakened with the hiatus, but I think factors #1 and #2 are there, though far less than PU. Sorry Illinois, you're not a rival, see factor #3.

If we stay good at football, things are going to keep heating up with the football schools in conference.  While I think the familiarity of being in the same conference as those schools for 100+ years will drive significant interest, great crowds, and plenty of jabbing... we've seen it happen already, it would take a lot for an actual new rivalry to be born.  The reason being if we stunk again people would quicky not care (factor #1).  And IU being good at football will likely not make, say, IU vs OSU in soccer, any more meaningful (factor #2).

I suppose if we stay good at football for another 10-15 years (Cig's tenure and we keep it up post-Cig), maybe we become a tertiary rival for OSU or UM or whoever.  I just think it's hard to form a new legitimate rivalry.  It takes a lot of friction to start a long-burning rivalry fire. 

Anyways, this is a pointless analysis of the definition of "rivalry," but that's what message boards are for. 

I would think Michigan would be more of a rivalry chance than anyone.  The history on the BBall side from the last 50 to 70 years would be a big factor.  

[LIHoosier]

36 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

I’m pretty sure it’s a joke list. Look at #25.  

Doesn't UGA have to win once in a while to consider it a rivalry?

[AZ Hoosier]

On 6/16/2026 at 8:12 AM, Hovadipo said:

Cincy knew about the gambling issue as far back as 2024 and didn't do s**t about it until he left.

SAIP... just read this... not sure how they could not know... but gotta CYA, Cincy.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49101081/cincinnati-denies-agent-claim-knew-sorsby-gambling

[CSP]

easy to track

 

[CSP]

 

Welp

[AZ Hoosier]

13 hours ago, CSP said:

 

Welp

If, in fact the above is true, then Cincinnati absolutely had to know about Sorsby's issues. There's no way they would have "educated[d]" him if they didn't know.

Bottom line, the horse is dead... it's probably time to stop beating it.

[Magnanimous]

West Virginia University has (and is increasing) an “athletics advantage fee” that charges its student population $500/year to support their athletic department’s NIL. The fee is mandatory…

At least their honest about why they’re doing this:

Why has this fee increased since last year?

“Continued success of WVU Athletics programs in today’s collegiate sports landscape depends on these additional funds. Strong athletics is now mission-critical in increasing enrollment, enhancing our institutional reputation and brand identity, and amplifying momentum on the national stage.”

https://tuition.wvu.edu/mountaineer-athletics-advantage-fee?utm_source=cision-news-release&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general&utm_id=strat-comm&utm_content=gen3348

 

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, Magnanimous said:

West Virginia University has (and is increasing) an “athletics advantage fee” that charges its student population $500/year to support their athletic department’s NIL. The fee is mandatory…

At least their honest about why they’re doing this:

 

Why has this fee increased since last year?

“Continued success of WVU Athletics programs in today’s collegiate sports landscape depends on these additional funds. Strong athletics is now mission-critical in increasing enrollment, enhancing our institutional reputation and brand identity, and amplifying momentum on the national stage.”

https://tuition.wvu.edu/mountaineer-athletics-advantage-fee?utm_source=cision-news-release&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general&utm_id=strat-comm&utm_content=gen3348

 

That’s about $15 million in revenue.

My first blush reaction is that this really sucks, but I can’t put my finger on exactly how. Full price students pay for academic scholarship students to go to a school and this seems to be an exponential version of the same thing.

[Brass Cannon]

Touch the entire IU network have one NIL budget or is it broken down by campus?   Could IU do this with all their campuses to funnel money to IU football 

[Pagoda]

3 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

That’s about $15 million in revenue.

My first blush reaction is that this really sucks, but I can’t put my finger on exactly how. Full price students pay for academic scholarship students to go to a school and this seems to be an exponential version of the same thing.

Kinda funny to think back in the mid-2000’s IU had a small $30 annual fee for athletics that was quite controversial.  They dropped it and to make up for the lost revenue the north AH bleachers shifted from students to alumni.  

I agree there is something distasteful about students paying this.  Not all of them care about sports, they’re supposed to be mostly paying for an education, and student debt is a concern.

But, sports are a big part of the college experience and it’s not like each student’s tuition is perfectly spent on just what that student uses/wants.

I don’t know the answer here.  I’m not sure this is possible given disclosure laws, but the optics would be better to just increase tuition and funnel money to the AD on the back end… that happens a lot of places already.

It’s tough for some ADs to stay competitive, especially outside the B1G and SEC.  I think it’s usually the schools’ fault for several reasons.  We shall see what congress does.

[Hovadipo]

If I’m a student and I have to pay that fee, plus I’m getting charged for student tickets I am HOT. $500 is wild.