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Indiana’s fundamentals were off the charts. Zero fumbles lost in like 63 quarters of football. Few penalties. I watched all their postseason games and there were very, very few missed tackles which was critical many times in preventing first downs. This is as big a reason for 16-0 as any $.

I’m all for IU. NIL Is what it is, so if it wasn’t IU it would be just the same OSUs and UGAs spending the same amount and going to the ‘chip. This is what commonly comes up in this forum, if there was a bunch more NIL that is the only way to get enough players for a playoff caliber team and no...

Or maybe, when everyone could start legally paying players, the SEC’s age old bagman advantage went away.

That’s what they were expecting, that’s why they called the play according to both Mendoza and Cignetti interviews. When they saw the defense they hoped for they knew the play might work. If they didn’t see the D they hoped for then they probably would’ve changed the play at the line.

A bunch of the transfer players were…guys he developed at JMU. And there were holdovers from IU who developed into major contributors, like Becker.

I have exactly the opposite observation/opinion. Perhaps the very tippy top teams could out-talent most opponents, but in college, scheme and coaching are the MOST impactful especially in getting less talented programs to the next level. That’s exactly what happened with Indiana, just listen to...

I was responding to your curious question “is it easier to win when no one considers you a rival?” FYI “protected rival” is an actual term but I used it in quotes because the East schedule was protected in that IU had to play all of OSU PSU and Mich every year which the West teams didn’t. Purdue...

It’s not just another OOC cupcake game. The extra game is an extra playoff game against a top 10 team. You can’t just assume all these teams would’ve automatically won another playoff round, except probably LSU. Just look what happens in the NFL.

There was only one guy who had a shot at him before the first down marker and he didn’t really miss a tackle, he was coming from too far, and even diving could only his get his hands out to him so I wouldn’t say that’s a missed tackle. (I’m not including the guy who was fully engaged by a...

This year. Last year he had zero catches from what saw. I don’t think he got mid-year NIL.

Evidence that NIL is not what got half those players to IU since they were recruited before Cignetti and any significant money. Of course they’re getting some noelw because of rev sharing but do you really believe Charlie Becker got any significant contract when he had ZERO career catches aiming...

NIL$ was not the main factor last night. Sure there’s Mendoza but he wasn’t the highest paid QB on the field. More notably, the most heroic plays of that game (and all the points aside from Mendoza’s epic run) came from Charlie Becker - came to IU before Cignetti, did nothing until late this...

No? It’s not as if their rivalry game is an OOC opponent that adds to the conference gauntlet. Up until a couple years ago the East kept them in an impossible “protected rivalry” because they had to play ALL of OSU, PSU and Mich every year so that was a favorable change for Cignetti. But he...

In retrospect. Most teams who lose to 2 unranked teams mid season and finish tied for 3rd in their conference won’t sniff a playoff spot. Surely IU wouldn’t have been given that courtesy. Miami was playing like champions at the end of the year but Notre Dame had a better case and possibly...

Are you saying he couldn’t replicate success here with the same resources Fleck has? Maybe not 16-0, Heisman, NC. But probably better. And if Fleck simply had an extra $15 mil would he have gone 16-0?

So basically every national championship team, just for different reasons.

Insufferable. Got nothing left to tear them down this year so gotta focus on next year! No team since the 19th century has won 16 games and they beat in successive games OSU, Bama (destroyed), Oregon (destroyed, also beat on the road earlier in the year) and Miami AT HOME. When was the last time...

This is the one call I didn’t agree with, I thought on either 2nd or 3rd they should’ve called a drop back and tell Mendoza, if you don’t see anything then just tuck it and try to get something. Even if he lost yards it was still a short FG so net, it’s worth the risk of seeing if he had an easy...

Heatherman apparently went full ‘Cane for this opening gameplan and told his guys to hit Mendoza as dirty as possible until they start calling it. In the NFL that guy who crowned him under the chin and drew blood might still get a fine by the league next week despite no penalty on the field.

Raiola had too much expectations early on for the supporting cast around him, I think. It may have led to him trying to “make stuff happen” too much in addition to his possible Mahomes emulation complex. If he just tries to develop as a QB at Oregon within their offense, he may really break out...