NIL

The contrarian case for the Pac-12 sticking with eight FB members

Published

5 months ago

July 19, 2025

The Hotline mailbag publishes weekly. Send questions to wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com and include ‘mailbag’ in the subject line. Or hit me on the social media platform X: @WilnerHotline

Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.

The Pac-12 wants multiple media partners. But with only eight football members, that’s just four games per week for the majority of the season. How would that work? Doesn’t seem like enough inventory to go around. — @NateJones2009

It depends on how creative the conference, and its partners, are willing to be.

For instance, nothing would prevent the Pac-12 from signing deals with four media partners and placing one game on each network per week during conference play (unless teams are idle).

Yes, that’s an extreme example. But applying conventional programming strategies to an unconventional situation is the wrong approach.

The Pac-12’s football-playing schools decided months ago on the minimum number of games that their media adviser, Octagon, could take to market.

The package assuredly included a scenario in which the Pac-12 implemented an eight-game conference schedule attained by:

— Expanding to nine members, or

— Creating home-and-home series, with each team playing one of the others twice. (Washington State and Oregon State are doing exactly that in 2025.)

But we suspect the conference has carved out the option to play a seven-game round-robin schedule, as well. As one industry source (unaffiliated with the Pac-12) told the Hotline recently: “A seven-game schedule could end up being a plus.”

That’s the contrarian view, to be sure. The cost of buying enough Group of Five opponents to fill out a schedule with five non-conference openings could be significant — and is the primary reason most observers believe the Pac-12 will play at least eight league games.

But as the source noted, flexibility is vital in a chaotic landscape. Adding a ninth football-playing member that doesn’t work competitively or financially makes less sense than sticking with eight.

With eight schools, the Pac-12 would have the option to play seven conference games or eight (by using the home-and-home approach).

Under what circumstances would a seven-game conference schedule prove beneficial?

What happens if the Big Ten and SEC create an annual crossover series, which has been discussed?

What if the SEC adds a ninth conference game, which is under serious consideration?

In either case, and certainly if both scenarios happen, SEC and Big Ten schools could look to adjust their lineups by cancelling series against Big 12 and ACC opponents.

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini said exactly that, telling the Hotline last week: “If the SEC goes to nine, my hunch is they’ll want out of our games.” (The Sun Devils have home-and-home series under contract with LSU, Florida, Texas and Texas A&M.)

SEC and Big Ten teams are scheduled to face dozens of Big 12 and ACC opponents in the next six or eight years. If a slew of those are cancelled, Arizona State and others could turn to the Pac-12 for help filling out their schedules.

In that case, the flexibility to play five non-conference games could morph into an advantage.

Bottom line: We don’t know what will happen, but the terrain is fragile enough that the Pac-12 should consider options that provide maximum schedule flexibility, regardless of how unconventional they might seem.

What exactly is the potential of Texas State? — @CelestialMosh

At the top of the outcome range, the Bobcats could dominate the new Pac-12 the way Boise State has dominated the current Mountain West, with frequent 11-win regular seasons.

Success is all about resource allocation and talent acquisition which, of course, go hand-in-hand.

Texas State is located in one of the nation’s most fertile recruiting areas, president Kelly Damphousse appears committed to winning, coach G.J. Kinne is a proven developer of talent and, crucially, the university has the financial wherewithal to support football at a high level relative to other programs outside the power conferences.

We were struck by a recent report by the website On3 about the “top 10 biggest spenders” in college football in 2025 as defined (presumably) by the cost of the roster using revenue sharing and NIL.

Three of the top five were from the Lone Star State: Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M.

Granted, Texas State is nowhere near those schools when it comes to tradition, success, fan passion or resource potential. But it doesn’t need to be. The relevant comparison — the Bobcats’ peer group, in other words — is the Pac-12.

And compared to most football programs in the rebuilt conference, they have inherent advantages in both recruiting and resources thanks, largely, to their location in a football-crazed state.

Will they execute?

We should have clarity in two or three years. But it’s not difficult to envision a scenario in which Texas State, like Boise State, is an annual contender for the Pac-12 title and a playoff bid.

Should the Pac‑12 lean into its role as a developmental league for the Power Four — embrace a ‘farm system’ identity — or fight to reclaim major conference status in a marketplace that may no longer have room for five? — @CurtisBlack

Any acknowledgement of a “farm system” approach could damage the Pac-12 brand, and we see no chance (none, zero, zip) of Gonzaga approving the strategy in basketball.

On this topic, the conference has a narrow path forward. It won’t be considered the equal of the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten or SEC and shouldn’t bother making the attempt. But positioning itself as the best of the remaining conferences — as the clear No. 5 — is entirely reasonable from a marketing standpoint.

And that’s exactly what you hear from commissioner Teresa Gould and others: They use the phrase “top five” to describe the Pac-12’s competitive position.

It will take a few years of success for the conference to cement its status as neither Power Four or Group of Five, but on a tier of its own making.

The rebuilt conference might not get there — maybe the American grabs that mantle; maybe nobody does — but the underlying strategy seems sound.

I see hardly any mention of San Jose State as a prospective member of the Pac-12. Why is that? Being in the biggest city in a large market that the Pac-12 lost, I would think they would be a good addition. — Alec S

First, let’s address a frequent misconception: Presence in a major market does not necessarily mean that school receives credit for the full media value of the market.

The Spartans are an afterthought on the Bay Area sporting scene; they don’t move the ratings needle one iota. No media company (linear or streaming) would view SJSU as delivering the nation’s 10th-largest market regardless of the conference affiliation.

Beyond that, there are serious concerns over the university’s commitment to athletic success, especially in football. Just look at the recent remodel of CEFCU Stadium: The eastern side has no stands. It’s a 100-yard patch of grass that creates terribly poor optics on TV.

If you’re the Pac-12, why trust any university — the decision was not made by the athletic department — that would show so little commitment to football?

The remodel lowered capacity to 18,265, and the Spartans didn’t even sell out for the home date against UNLV when the nine-win Rebels paid a visit last season. (By comparison, Texas State’s stadium capacity is 30,000.)

It’s an unfortunate situation at SJSU. College football in the Bay Area would be vastly more interesting if the Spartans were relevant. Generally, we believe the athletic department makes the most of the hand it has been dealt. The issue is largely with central campus.

Are college athletics administrators submitting these NIL collective deals really caught off guard? Or is this just faux outrage to fuel their narrative? I thought it was clear the standard collective deal of the past three years was dying with the settlement? — @GoodSirHamlet

You certainly are not alone. Many are confused by the, err, confusion.

The intent of the House vs. NCAA settlement and subsequent formation of the College Sports Commission was to root out the pay-for-play that has dominated the NIL era. Deloitte’s technology platform, NIL Go, is designed to reject deals that are not for “valid business purposes.”

The question is whether deals arranged by NIL collectives can, in fact, be considered legitimate. The CSC doesn’t think so. The collectives disagree.

Everyone knew there would be potholes in the first year of the CSC, but this could metastasize into a sinkhole.

If the collectives are permitted to continue with business as usual — or anything close to usual — then the enforcement component could collapse and the college sports industry is back where it started before the settlement.

Any idea how much is being spent on lawyers in the Pac-12 lawsuit against the Mountain West? — @coleltaylor

Take your best guess at the hourly rate for top-end attorneys, multiply that times a bajillion hours and you have the answer.

In other words: The Hotline cannot begin to offer a reasonable estimate for the legal cost of the poaching penalty lawsuit, which is headed back to court after mediation failed to produce a resolution.

Here’s what we know:

— The firm representing the Pac-12 in the case is the same outfit, Keker, Van Nest & Peters, that took the lead in the lawsuit filed by Washington State and Oregon State against the 10 outbound schools back in 2023.

(According to a source with no affiliation to the Pac-12 or the firm itself, Keker has an excellent reputation.)

— The Pac-12 spent approximately $12 million on legal fees in the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to financial documents obtained by the Hotline.

Granted, FY2024 included the lawsuit over control of the conference. But there were other legal issues — many other legal issues — unfolding during that time, including the Comcast overpayment fiasco.

And there are other legal issues now, with the House lawsuit atop the list. (The Pac-12 was a named defendant in the case.)

It’s not unreasonable to think the conference once again will spend many millions on legal fees. Exactly how much can be pinned on the poaching penalty lawsuit specifically, we cannot say.

Wouldn’t a football scheduling agreement with Sacramento State in 2026 make a ton of sense? The Pac-12 probably wouldn’t have to pay the Hornets and would buy time to add more football schools later. — @brycetacoma

On the surface, yes: An agreement with Sacramento State for four, five or six games seems like sound strategy for a conference that could need non-conference matchups.

That said, FBS schools only receive credit (toward bowl eligibility) for one victory over an FCS opponent per season, and many teams in the rebuilt Pac-12 have their FCS opponent locked in for ’26.

For example, Oregon State is scheduled to play Montana, while Washington State is facing Duquesne, and San Diego State has Portland State.

Adding Sacramento State makes no sense for those programs because the game wouldn’t count toward the six wins needed for a postseason bid.

And there’s one more matter to consider: Matchups with FCS opponents offer little in the way of TV value. Any dates with Sacramento State would be streamed, and that’s not the Pac-12’s preference for its media inventory.

The Pac-12 will reportedly sponsor men’s tennis, but only four schools play it, so affiliate members are needed. The other western conferences all sponsor it, as well. How will that work? — @cougsguy06

Tennis is one of eight men’s sports the rebuilt conference plans to sponsor, in addition to at least 10 on the women’s side. (The FBS minimum is 16.)

And yes, only four of the nine members have men’s tennis. The conference is working through the sponsorship piece and will undoubtedly identify affiliates — not only in men’s tennis but a slew of sports.

That’s not unusual. Little Rock (Arkansas) has been an affiliate member of the Pac-12 in wrestling for years, just as Cal’s field hockey team was a member of the America East before the Bears joined the ACC.

We suspect that most, if not all Olympic sports eventually will realign in conferences that make geographic sense.

The sooner the better for the athletes.

Do the new schools entering the Pac-12 get an equity stake in Pac-12 Enterprises, or is that going to be owned completely by Oregon State and Washington State? — @Brian_Wood45

The Pac-12 Enterprises is not mentioned in the grant-of-rights agreement that begins next summer, and our hunch is the conference wants to closely protect any matters involving equity — just as it did for years with the Pac-12 Networks and the legacy schools.

But the incoming members view Pac-12 Enterprises as a significant asset on multiple fronts: Not only will the production unit allow for the promotion and visibility of Pac-12 teams, but Enterprises can generate revenue through third-party agreements. (Last fall, for instance, it handled production for a Golden State Warriors game on NBC Bay Area.)

Any profit from Enterprises will be funneled to WSU, OSU and the new schools alike as part of their annual distributions.

*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

*** Follow me on the social media platform X: @WilnerHotline

Originally Published: July 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM PDT

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NIL

Three Potential Quarterback Transfers That Make Sense for Oregon Ducks

Published

15 minutes ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Oregon Ducks dan lanning schedule Dante moore Sam Leavitt Drew Mestemaker Transfer Portal 2026 NFL Draft Kenny Minchey NIL — Oct 25, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) against the Houston Cougars at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Big Ten Team Emerges as Dark Horse in National Championship Odds

Published

1 hour ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Oregon Ducks College Football Playoff National Championship Betting Odds Indiana Hoosiers Ohio State Buckeyes Orange Bowl — Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning smiles during the third quarter against the James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

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NIL

Damon Wilson II Sues Georgia as NIL Legal Dispute Escalates

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In the wake of the University of Georgia Athletic Association (UGAA) recently suing him for $390,000 over a breached NIL deal, Missouri defensive end Damon Wilson II—who played for the Bulldogs in 2023 and 2024—sued UGAA and others on Tuesday. Wilson insists his NIL deal wasn’t a contract and thus isn’t enforceable, and that UGAA falsely told other schools he had to pay a $1.2 million buyout to transfer.

Wilson’s complaint was filed in Boone County (Mo.) Circuit Court, a potentially friendlier forum for the Tigers star than Athens-Clarke County (Ga.) Superior Court, where UGAA sued him in October.

More from Sportico.com

As detailed by Sportico, UGAA seeks a court order to compel arbitration. On Dec. 21, 2024, Wilson signed what UGAA says was a 13-month, $500,000 NIL deal with Classic City Collective (CCC)—a Georgia-aligned former NIL collective that shut down after U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House settlement. In that process, CCC assigned its Wilson contract to UGAA, meaning the athletic association has the legal right to enforce the contract.

Four days after he signed the original agreement—Christmas Day 2024—CCC paid Wilson $30,000. In early January, the player entered the transfer portal and then joined Missouri. UGAA contends that Wilson breached his NIL deal by entering the transfer portal and that the deal contains a $390,000 liquidated damages provision. In general, a liquidated damages provision is designed to clarify the amount of money a contracting party owes in the event of a breach.

Through Jeff Jensen, Bogdan Susan and other attorneys from Torridon Law and Holder Susan Slusher, Wilson offers a very different retelling of events.

Wilson argues he only signed a term sheet that “contained a non-binding list of key terms” that “would be used to create a legally binding document.” The term sheet, Wilson says, went so far as to say it “precedes” a “full License and Option Agreement” that would reflect a “full legal contract.” The term sheet also allegedly directs Wilson to “seek legal counsel” before signing a “full License and Option Agreement.” Wilson says CCC didn’t present him with the full agreement and thus he wasn’t in contract with CCC.

Wilson’s complaint implies he was surprised when, four days after signing the term sheet, he was paid $30,000. When CCC later demanded he pay $390,000, Wilson says that was part of UGAA’s “coordinated effort” to “strong-arm” the player and “punish” him for entering the portal. Wilson contends that UGAA has violated confidentiality provisions in the term sheet by leaking term sheet provisions “to sympathetic news outlets and affiliates to tarnish Wilson’s reputation.”

Further, Wilson claims that UGAA has no right to compel arbitration since—he says—he never agreed to mandatory arbitration. As described by Wilson, the term sheet ambiguously references “arbitration” and omits key details including the method for appointing an arbitrator, the applicable procedure for arbitration and a specific scope of topics subject to arbitration.

Wilson describes UGAA and by extension “sophisticated and prominent universities like Georgia” as “exploiting their bargaining power” in the aftermath of the House settlement. Among other features, the settlement allows participating colleges to directly pay athletes a share of up to 22% of the average power conference athletic media, ticket and sponsorship revenue. Wilson points out this new framework means schools can “directly enter into NIL agreements” with athletes and “thus no longer rely on a collective or similar intermediary to arrange NIL deals.” He contends schools are abusing this newfound power to convince athletes “to sign NIL agreements with unconscionable and unenforceable provisions that the universities can use to threaten a student-athlete who is considering transferring and prevent the student-athlete from realizing the benefits of free and open competition for their athletic services.”

Much of Wilson’s complaint rebukes the liquidated damages provision. Wilson claims UGAA “weaponized this provision” by “falsely representing” to coaches of at least three other schools where Wilson “actively discussed potentially transferring” that he would be liable for a $1.2 million buyout.” These alleged representations, Wilson argues, financially harmed him since it denied him a chance to realize “the benefits of free and open competition for his athletic services and his NIL licensing rights.”

The Missouri DE also attacks the structure of the liquidated damages provision. He argues it “makes no attempt” to connect what he would have to pay with a “reasonable estimate of the harm to CCC that would result from a breach.” In other words, Wilson describes the provision as imposing an excessive penalty that is more about punishing him than compensating CCC. Wilson says the provision is “masquerading” under the moniker “liquidated damages” when it should be better understood as an unconscionable “penalty provision” designed to retaliate against him for entering the transfer portal.

Wilson’s complaint seeks a judicial declaration that the term sheet is unenforceable, or if it is enforceable, the arbitration and liquidated damages provisions within it are unenforceable. Claims for tortious interference, civil conspiracy, defamation and breach of confidentiality are included, too.

“Damon never had a contract with them,” Jensen, Wilson’s attorney, said in a statement. “I don’t see how Georgia thinks intimidation and litigation will help their recruitment efforts—maybe players could bring lawyers with them to practice.”

In the coming days and weeks, expect attorneys for UGAA to raise several counterarguments.

They will assert the dispute should be heard in Georgia, not Missouri, since UGAA filed first and the center of the controversy arguably occurred in Georgia. UGAA attorneys will also contend that Wilson and CCC signed an enforceable contract that contains the basic elements of a contract, including offer, acceptance and, with Wilson accepting the $30,000 payment, a bargained-for exchange.

Similarly, UGAA will insist the arbitration and liquidated damages provisions are reasonable in the context of NIL at a power conference school and binding. To that end, expect UGAA to note that Wilson was an adult when he signed the NIL contract/term sheet—he was 19 years old and thus not a minor—and that CCC’s recommendation he hire an attorney didn’t create an obligation on the part of CCC to stop negotiating with him if he hadn’t secured an attorney.

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NIL

How to watch E60’s 2025 documentary ‘Paid to Play’ on ESPN

Published

3 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec 26, 2025, 11:25 AM ET

Amateurism in college sports has all but disappeared. The speed at which the landscape has changed could give even the most die-hard fan whiplash.

In a new ESPN E60 special, “Paid to Play: Understanding College Sports in 2025,” Jeremy Schaap delves into how the idea of playing for school pride, tradition and the love of the game has morphed into a high-stakes name, image and likeness marketplace where athletes can play for the highest bidder — receiving direct payments from schools — and have the freedom to bolt through free agency in the form of the NCAA transfer portal.

Here are key facts about the new ESPN E60 special:

When will ‘Paid to Play: Understanding College Sports in 2025’ air?

The one-hour report debuts Sunday, Dec. 28, at 8:30 p.m. ET.

How can fans watch?

Fans can watch the debut on ESPN. The program will be available in the ESPN App immediately following the television premiere. Watch it and other reports in the E60 streaming hub.

Do you have what it takes to be an AD?

Related to the subject of the new E60 special, ESPN has an original interactive game that puts fans in the role of a college athletic director, guiding them through decisions around name, image and likeness, the transfer portal and more, and offering a dynamic and engaging look at the ever-evolving landscape of college sports.

What is ESPN E60?

Founded in 2007, E60 is ESPN’s storytelling brand that features a mix of revealing profiles, hard-hitting investigations and exclusive interviews. It has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Hosted Edited Series for the fifth time in 2025.

How can fans access more college sports coverage from ESPN?

Check out the ESPN college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball and college sports hub pages for more content.

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NIL

Dan Lanning claims Joey McGuire has done ‘an unbelievable job’ building Texas Tech roster with NIL

Published

4 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

With a spot in the College Football Playoff Semifinals on the line, No. 4 Texas Tech and No. 5 Oregon will clash in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. The Ducks are seeking their first appearance in the Semifinals since they made a run to the National Championship in the inaugural CFP (2014), while Texas Tech is seeking its first ever CFP victory.

Both programs are great success stories of the Transfer Portal era, as many players that will suit up for either Texas Tech or Oregon in the matchup began their careers elsewhere.

High-level players such as Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (UCLA), Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (Virginia), Oregon running back Noah Whittington (Western Kentucky), and Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas (Florida) have all made their way to their respective programs by way of the Transfer Portal and have been immediate impact pieces.

Dan Lanning commends Joey McGuire and Texas Tech for mastering Transfer Portal

This past offseason, Texas Tech hauled in 21 players from the Portal, earning the No. 1 spot in On3’s 2025 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. Their class boasted an estimated $7 million in adjusted NIL value, more than almost any other program in the sport.

Prior to the Ducks’ clash with Joey McGuire‘s Texas Tech program, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning commended him on building such a great roster with their strong NIL resources.

“He’s built a great roster,” Lanning said on Monday. “College football is about adapting. This is obviously a program that’s done an unbelievable job adapting and saying ‘let’s make our team the best it can possibly be’. They’ve done that this year. They deserve credit for how they’ve evaluated. There’s a lot of teams that take players out of the portal. There’s not a lot of those teams that necessarily have success evaluating that talent, getting them to play together, and creating a team that does that. This is a team that’s done that.”

As Lanning touched on, mastering the Portal is a very thin line. Five of the top-ten transfer classes this offseason helped their programs reach the College Football Playoff (No. 1 Texas Tech, No. 3 Ole Miss, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Miami, and No. 10 Ohio State), while three of the top-ten classes missed the postseason completely (No. 7 Auburn, No. 8 North Carolina, and No. 9 Rutgers).

The Orange Bowl matchup between No. 4 Texas Tech and No. 5 Oregon will surely be one of the most entertaining games in the entire College Football Playoff. Kick-off on Jan. 1 is scheduled for 12:00 PM on ESPN.

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NIL

Fifty years after IU’s undefeated champs … a Rose Bowl

Published

5 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 26, 2025, 5:33 a.m. ET

Head Coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana University football practice on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Indiana University’s football program has a long history of losses and disappointments.
New coach Curt Cignetti has revitalized the team using transfers and NIL funds.
IU is now the No. 1 seed in the college football playoffs and will play in the Rose Bowl.

BLOOMINGTON — On Sept. 14, 2024, Indiana University’s football team was scheduled to play UCLA in Pasadena. In a stadium called the Rose Bowl.

The week before, I sat at the bar in Binkley’s Kitchen in Broad Ripple and watched the Hoosiers blast Western Illinois 77-3. I pondered, should I book a flight to LAX to watch, perhaps for the only time in my life, the Hoosiers play in the Rose Bowl?

As a tormented sports fan, I had overcome dozens of forlorn seasons to witness my Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts win Super Bowls in 1986 and 2007, and in 2005, the seeming impossible, a World Series title for my winning ugly Chicago White Sox.

But IU’s football team? With at 715 losses the most in NCAA Division 1 history? C’mon, man.

The enduring pain of Hoosier fandom, spanning decades since IU’s only New Year’s Day Rose Bowl in 1968 when O.J. Simpson’s USC Trojans won 14-3, has been palpable. We share one of the smallest states in the Big Ten with Purdue and Notre Dame.

There were lingering ghosts. When legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes lost his first game to IU 32-10 in 1951, he vowed he would never lose to the Hoosiers again. He ended up going 22-0-1 since. IU didn’t defeat Ohio State again until 1987, after Hayes had died in March of that year. We watched Coach Lee Corso pose for a first half team photo with the scoreboard showing IU leading Ohio State, only to suffer yet another blow-out loss. Corso’s weekly TV show featured him rising out of a coffin, declaring to Sammy Terry vibe, “We’re not dead yet!”

There was IU’s most successful football coach, Bill Mallory, going 0-11 in his first season. There had been IU’s annual traipse through the Big Ten’s murderer’s row Eastern Division where we had to play Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State … every year. And then came a second wave of brutality, with USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington joining what had been a Midwestern conference.

There was the year runningback Anthony Thompson was poised to win the Heisman Trophy, only to lose the Oaken Bucket game to Purdue, finishing with a 5-6 record. No Heisman.

The first time I thought I had a glimpse of an Indiana University Big Ten football title came in November 1987 when the Hoosiers invaded Michigan State with the winner destined for the Rose Bowl. I entered the packed stadium press elevator and it lurched into motion, only to come to a halt between floors. As the temperature escalated, we all glanced at the ceiling that had no escape hatch. About seven minutes later and with a hint of panic, the car began to move, and as the doors opened into the press box, we all sprang out to begin our reporting.

By dusk, Michigan State throttled the Hoosiers 27-3. A New Year’s Day Rose Bowl berth would have to wait another 38 years.

Coach Curt Cignetti was hired in November 2023, just weeks after IU’s legendary basketball coach Bob Knight died. Cignetti told fans at Assembly Hall, “Google me. I win.”

Coach Cig has created this IU phoenix with James Madison University and portal transfers, as well as NIL money, leveling the playing field with the SEC. Earlier this month, IU finally defeated Ohio State 13-10 to win its first Big 10 title since 1967. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza finally brought a Heisman Trophy back to B-ton. Cignetti unveiled his 2026 recruiting class that is studded with a half dozen four-star recruits.

Yes, IU could become a football power house.

“Great win; gutty game; hard-fought, physical football game,” Cignetti said after defeating Ohio State. “Wasn’t perfect by either team. We found a way to survive it, made the plays when we had to. And I thought, once again, when the game was on the line, you know, Fernando was throwing dimes and Charlie Becker was showing up making big plays and (Elijah) Sarratt with a big touchdown, our defense created a lot of issues.

“It’s another step we need to take as a program,” Coach Cig continued. “It’s a great win, obviously. And we’re going to go in the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. And a lot of people probably thought that wasn’t possible. But when you get the right people and you have a plan and they love one another and play for one another and they commit, anything’s possible. And I think that’s what you saw happen here.”

He added, “I’ve got three and a half weeks to get this team humbled for the playoffs.”

Yes, the playoffs, where the top-ranked Hoosiers are the No. 1 seed, scheduled to play Alabama’s Crimson Tide on New Year’s Day … in the Rose Bowl. The Hoosier Hundred Marching Band will be featured in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

It all is cascading around us like a dream, 50 years after Bob Knight led the undefeated Hoosiers basketball team to an NCAA championship.

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