Author: Mike Schumann

Dave Revsine has been with the Big Ten Network from the beginning. He’s seen a lot in 20 years, including a lot of bad Indiana football. The Hoosiers have had plenty of talented skill position players in the BTN era.  James Hardy, Marcus Thigpen, Cody Latimer, Tevin Coleman, Jordan Howard and Nate Sudfeld are names that spring to mind. But if there was one common denominator across the last two decades that kept the Hoosiers from being competitive in the Big Ten, it was the defensive line. Unable to generate a pass rush and stop the run, Indiana could score…

Former IU football quarterback Kurtis Rourke saw his first game action Thursday evening since Indiana played at Notre Dame in the 2024 College Football Playoff. After a long layoff, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback experienced the highs and lows. The starter for the 49ers preseason opener, Rourke played most of the first half and played well, but was taken to the hospital as a precaution after suffering a rib injury. Fortunately, coach Kyle Shanahan said Rourke’s injury is not believed to be serious. “They said ribs, he was struggling to breathe so they took him to the hospital just to…

Indiana linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones were both named to the Butkus Award Watch List, which is presented to the nation’s top college linebacker. The Hoosiers have one of the best linebacker duos in the nation this year. Hardy had 102 tackles in 2025 including 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks.  He earned second-team All-Big Ten. Meanwhile, Jones had 78 tackles including 15.5 for a loss and seven sacks in 2025 on his way to third-team All-Big Ten honors. The 51-player watch list honors Dick Butkus’ iconic No. 51 jersey and recognizes the toughness, instincts, leadership, competitiveness, and…

IU coach Curt Cignetti brought most of his position coaches with him from James Madison to Bloomington. But much of the personnel staff was new as he looked to assemble a modern Power Four front office in the age of the transfer portal and players getting paid. In order to facilitate high school and college recruiting efforts for Cignetti, that new team had to quickly learn the head coach’s preferences.  What players should they focus on?  What film should they clip for the head coach?  What traits should they highlight in their reports? Coming from other programs around the country,…

Below is at look at where former IU football players stand on NFL depth charts a few weeks into training camp and just ahead of the exhibition season. All of these players should see extensive action during the preseason as they compete to lock down roster spots. These preseason depth charts are typically compiled by communications staff. To see the preseason schedule, GO HERE. ———————————————- Las Vegas Raiders Fernando Mendoza — QB 2 Ian Thomas — TE 3 E.J. Williams — WR 4 (at one of three wide receiver positions listed) Roman Hemby  — RB 4 San Francisco 49ers C.J.…

It seems fair to say there’s virtually no way to exceed what Fernando Mendoza did for Indiana football in 2025. 16-0.  National champion.  Heisman Trophy winner.  No. 1 NFL Draft pick. How do you top that? You don’t. But it seems equally fair to acknowledge the quarterback you think you know before he arrives at IU is not the quarterback you’re going to see in year one with coach Curt Cignetti and his staff. We’ve documented this “QB whisperer” phenomenon extensively. On average, Cignetti’s last six starters at quarterback going back to his time at James Madison have seen a…

Two undrafted members of Indiana’s 2025 national championship team are off to strong starts at NFL training camps. Kahlil Benson has turned a spring minicamp tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs into a potential starting role this fall. The 6-foot-6 Benson appeared in 49 career college games with 33 starts. He started games at right tackle and right guard.  The Chiefs are putting that positional versatility to the test.  Benson has played starting right tackle and right guard during training camp in Kansas City.  He’s going to get an extended look during Kansas City’s exhibition games, and currently appears likely…

Steve Aird’s turnaround of the IU volleyball program is one of the more underreported stories in IU Athletics over the last few years. Part of the reason? Another Bloomington turnaround story has captivated the nation. “Certainly I’ve joked earlier that it’s taken me a little bit longer than Coach Cignetti to get good fast,” Aird said last week at Big Ten volleyball media day.  “But it’s been a labor of love. We’ve been working really hard over the last few years to develop elite-level athletes.” The volleyball story needs to be told in greater detail. Despite being picked 11th in…

Survey the current IU football roster and you’ll find all six tight ends have something in common. They’re all freshmen. “That room is really young,” coach Curt Cignetti said at Big Ten media day.  “Really young.” Yes, some are redshirt freshmen, or second-years if you prefer in this new age of five-year eligibility.  But when it comes to meaningful experience, none of the six have much of it.  That includes the spring, when injuries sidelined multiple players in the tight end room. That’s about to change of course, and on Monday Cignetti named the three who have separated themselves over…

The tangible benefits of elite college football are being felt in Bloomington. According to a report by Scott Dochterman of the Athletic, donations designated for IU Athletics have doubled year-over-year from $25 million to $50 million for the year ended June 30, 2026. The phenomenon of rapidly expanding student interest in a school in connection with major sports success has been measured in the past, and IU is experiencing that as well.  The Athletic reports applications have grown by more than 9.3 percent each of the last two years. More operational revenue has also come in the doors. According to…