Author: Mike Schumann

Indiana starting punter Mitch McCarthy is back for the Big Ten opener. Meanwhile, Illinois First Team All-Big Ten cornerback Xavier Scott is out. Those are the headlines as the undefeated squads get set to face off in a top-20 battle. The Hoosiers will continue to be without freshman safety Byron Baldwin, who has now missed the first four games of the 2025 campaign.  As previously reported, running back Lee Beebe, Jr. and safety Bryson Bonds are out of the season. Illinois has a total of 11 players listed as out for this game, although most of them beyond Scott have…

It’s the game everyone has been waiting for. This Big Ten opener against Illinois has it all.  A top-20 matchup, sold out stadium, national television audience, under the lights, and a red out in the stands. Here’s everything you need to know about Indiana’s week four matchup against the Fighting Illini in Bloomington: No. 8/9 ILLINOIS (3-0, 0-0) at No. 17/19 INDIANA (3-0, 0-0) Kickoff:  7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday Location:  Bloomington, Ind., Memorial Stadium (52,626; field turf) Television: NBC – Noah Eagle (pbp), Todd Blackledge (color), Kathryn Tappen (sideline) Stream:  Peacock Radio:  IU Football radio network Odds:  Indiana is around…

Illinois coach Bret Bielema admitted last week his staff has been watching film on Indiana going back to the spring, and into their August camp. And on his radio show last night, IU coach Curt Cignetti acknowledged the 150-mile gaze has crisscrossed the state line. “I know they’ve had their eyes on us for a while, and we’ve had our eyes on them too,” Cignetti said. There’s a clear mutual respect between Cignetti and Bielema.  That much was apparent as they shared their public niceties during media availabilities this week.  But when the ball flies off the tee just after…

Indiana welcomes class of 2026 consensus top-25 center Ethan Taylor to Bloomington this weekend for an official visit. To help get you ready, below is a comprehensive look at Taylor, with everything you need to know as he arrives on campus Friday. ESSENTIALS Status —  OFFERED (May, 2025) -Class – 2026 -Hometown – Shawnee, Kan. -School – Link Academy (Missouri) -Position – Center -Height – 7-feet (7-foot-3 wingspan) -Weight – 240 -AAU – Mokan Elite (Nike EYBL) -Ranking – Averages to national top-25 4-star in 2026, No. 2 center in the class.  Consensus top-35, top-3 center. -Primary Competition – Taylor…

Indiana basketball released its entire 2025-26 schedule for the debut season under new head coach Darian DeVries. The Hoosiers face Purdue on Jan. 27 and Feb. 20. They take a trip to Los Angeles for two games Jan. 31 – Feb. 3, and Indiana finishes the Big Ten with three of four at home. The nonconference and exhibition schedule had been previously released. Here’s the full slate: 2025-26 Indiana Men’s Basketball Schedule PRESEASON Oct. 2 (Thursday) – Hoosier Hoops on Kirkwood Oct. 3 (Friday) – Cream & Crimson Scrimmage presented by Smithville Oct. 17 (Friday) – Marian Oct. 26 (Sunday)…

Illinois All-Big Ten First Team defensive back Xavier Scott is unlikely to play against Indiana on Saturday according to head coach Bret Bielema. The star cornerback suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Illinois’ 38-0 win over Western Michigan last weekend. “He had a doctor’s appointment on Tuesday. He’s got another one, he’ll get a second opinion on where he’s at with things,” Bielema said on Thursday. “I don’t know whether he’ll be back for Saturday or when it’s going to be in the season, but right now, no [for Indiana].” The 5-foot-11 Scott primarily covers the slot…

A big football weekend in Bloomington always makes for an attractive weekend for basketball visitors. And one of the top guards in the class of 2027, Missouri-based Chase Branham, will be on campus for an official visit. Based on the average of the national recruiting sites, Branham is the No. 42 overall player in the 2027 class, and the No. 12 shooting guard. Indiana’s new staff offered the 6-foot-4 Branham in late March.  Several members of the IU staff have ties back to Branham’s area and his AAU program.  This will be his second visit to Bloomington. As a sophomore…

Both Indiana and Illinois will have their hands full dealing with talented quarterbacks on Saturday. In fact, it’s quite staggering how similar IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s stat line through three games is to Illinois’ Luke Altmyer. Mendoza has completed 55 of 76 passes (72.4%) for 708 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions.  Meanwhile, Altmyer has completed 56 of 78 throws (71.8%) for 709 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. And for what it’s worth, they’re both similar to how Kurtis Rourke performed last year in nonconference games for IU.  He completed 46 of 61 throws (75.4%) for 706…

Indiana basketball has made what is likely their final adjustments to the roster, with the measurements you’ll see throughout the 2025-26 campaign. In terms of changes, there’s not too much here that’s headline worthy, but here are a few things that catch the eye: Trent Sisley is built like a veteran. Tucker DeVries has benefitted from a full offseason training program. Andrej Acimovic has a big frame to work with. After an October full of public events, Indiana opens the season on Nov. 5 in Bloomington. 💨 Coming in fast. pic.twitter.com/yq9ND281i0 — Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) September 15, 2025 ——————————————- Here…

The 2025 NFL season is underway, and six former Hoosiers saw the field in week two. Here’s a quick overview of how they performed. Cam Jones – New York Jets Jones played 20 special teams snaps in week two on four different units.  He had a tackle and earned a good special teams grade on PFF. Marcelino McCrary-Ball – New York Jets Playing alongside Jones, McCrary-Ball played 26 special teams snaps for the Jets on Sunday.  He plays on five different special teams units. He also played 28 snaps at linebacker on defense. He earned good grades at PFF for…