Indiana

Nebraska Football Preview: No. 16 Indiana

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2024

Nebraska Football Preview: No. 16 Indiana

Fresh off bye weeks and treated to the FOX Big Noon stage, the Nebraska Cornhuskers face their biggest test of the 2024 season with a surprising ranked trip to No. 16 Indiana where they’ll face an upstart Hoosiers squad under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti.

Plenty is on the line for the Huskers who enter the second half of its schedule only one win away from locking up its first bowl berth since 2016. While a loss wouldn’t crater NU’s season, a win over a ranked opponent on the road to kick off a difficult later half of the schedule would do wonders for Nebraska’s confidence in making this season a special one.

But the pressure may be on the Hoosiers who have inspired College Football Playoff talks from the national talking heads after their perfect 6-0 start. Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke is the best quarterback to wear the Cream and Crimson since Michael Penix in 2020, throwing for over 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns in just six contests.

What awaits him is a Blackshirt unit that’s the only team in the NCAA to not allow a touchdown and are top ten nationally in rushing and scoring defense. A classic may ensue in Bloomington, but first here’s all you need to know ahead of Nebraska’s second trip to Indiana as a member of the Big Ten.

How to Follow Along

Matchup: Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 B1G) at No. 16 Indiana (6-0, 3-0 B1G)

Line: Indiana (-6.5), 50.5 O/U (BetMGM)

Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IND

Time: 11 a.m. CDT

TV: FOX

Broadcast Crew: Gus Johnson (PxP), Joel Klatt (Color) & Jenny Taft (Sideline)

Radio: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

Sep 14, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti reacts at the end of the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Indiana Scout

Head Coach: Curt Cignetti | 1st season at Indiana | 125-35 Career HC Record | 2023 Sun Belt Coach OTY, 2017 Colonial Athletic Association Coach OTY | Previous HC stops at IUP (FCS), Elon (FCS) and James Madison (FCS into D1).

2023 Record: 3-9 (1-8 B1G, 7th B1G East) | Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award Winner, One All-B1G First-Team selection (Media), One All-B1G Second Team selection (Coaches), Three All-B1G Third Team members (Coaches & Media), four All-B1G Honorable Mentions | Did not qualify for the postseason.

All-Time Series: Indiana leads 10-9-3 (2022 last meeting, 35-21 NU)

Fun Fact: Saturday’s game will mark the sixth time in the past eight meetings at least one of the teams has been nationally ranked. It will be the first time that both teams have been ranked in at least one of the national polls entering a Nebraska-Indiana matchup. The Huskers are No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. This will only be the fourth matchup between the two schools as members of the Big Ten.

Key Returners: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, R-Soph. | Amare Ferrell, DB, Soph. | Jacob Mangum-Farrar, DL, Gr. | Josh Sanguinetti, DB, Gr. | Lanell Carr Jr., DL, Gr.

Outlook: Indiana is one of the feel good stories at the midpoint of the wild 2024 college football season as the Hoosiers sit at 6-0 their first start to a season since opening up with eight-straights wins in 1967. But new head coach Curt Cignetti doesn’t want his team to be viewed as a feel-good story, but rather a serious contender to disrupt the hierarchy of the Big Ten and make a run at the inaugural 12-Team College Football Playoff.

Following the firing of previous coach Tom Allen, over three dozen transfers exited the program, scattering around to different Power Four and Group of Five programs across the country. Cignetti, who was on the first staff of Nick Saban at Alabama, went to work on the recruiting trail and transfer portal bringing in 46 players as part of his first recruiting class. That included 30 transfers and over a dozen following him from his previous stop of James Madison, in which he posted a 52-9 (.853) overall record, plus an 11-1 final season mark in 2023.

Ohio transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke has used his veteran experience from playing in Maction to become the engine of this nearly unstoppable Hoosier offense. Indiana are tops in the Big Ten and top ten in the country in passing offense (315.3), scoring offense (47.5) and total offense (515.7). He’s been completing over 73% of his passes through six games with a 14-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio.

Sep 28, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke (9) warms up before a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images / Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Nearly the entire offensive skill players have been plucked from the transfer portal with the Hoosier’s three leading rushers as well as the three of the four top receivers coming from different schools including Wake Forest’s Justice Ellison who leads IU with 409 yards on 64 carries with six touchdowns. Ty Son Lawton splits the reps with Ellison racking up 329 yards of his own with seven scores on 68 carries. One of many transfers from James Madison, Elijah Sarratt is the leading receiver as the junior has recorded 513 yards on a team-high 29 catches and a pair of touchdowns. Returning wideout Omar Cooper Jr. has 375 yards and three scores while Texas Tech transfer Myles Price (266 yards) and Ohio transfer Miles Cross (208 yards, two touchdowns) also factoring into the passing game.

The calling card of his coaching style, Allen left behind some defensive gems that Cignetti convinced to stay after the transition. Gone is 2023 sack and tackles for loss leader Aaron Casey to the NFL as well as Andre Carter who posted a pair of sacks and 11 TFL. However, grad student and defensive linemen Lanell Carr Jr. is back after five sacks and 8.5 TFL last year. Mikail Kamara has filled that hole from Casey, garnering a team-high five sacks and 7.5 TFL. James Carpenter has been a menace up front from James Madison corralling four-and-a-half sacks and three TFL from the middle. Another follower from JMU, linebacker Aiden Fisher leads the team with 55 tackles which is 21 more than second-place Jailin Walker (34), who also followed Cignetti.

Granted, all these stats come from a schedule with opponents that have a combined record of 14-22 and no one currently above .500. However, the margin of victory has been extremely lopsided with an average win margin of over 32 points. There is a skill of stomping opponents you should beat, a skill that has escaped the Huskers over the past half decade.

Momentum is riding high for the Hoosiers and a victory Saturday is necessary for their postseason hopes as it seems unlikely for IU to get into the CFP with a 10-2 record and a lackluster schedule. A reasonable path is to split the games against Ohio State and Michigan while winning the rest. So, plenty is at stake Saturday morning for both teams and it’s safe to assume we’ll see play from both sides that reflects that sentiment.

MORE: Stukenholtz: Halfway Home, But Toughest Miles Still Ahead

MORE: Nebraska’s Midterm Exams Begin in the Form of Indiana & Ohio State in Back-to-Back Weeks

MORE: Kicker Remains Out, Cornerback Questionable for Nebraska Against Indiana

MORE: Keys to Victory: Nebraska vs. Indiana

MORE: Joel Klatt Says Dylan Raiola Needs a ‘Real Threat’ at Wideout

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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Indiana

Future of Chicago’s Soldier Field Uncertain as Bears Eye Move to Indiana

Published

8 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Future of Chicago’s Soldier Field Uncertain as Bears Eye Move to Indiana

Change could be coming to Chicago’s Soldier Field, a historic landmark initially designed as a memorial for American soldiers who died in combat. Opened in 1924, and home to the NFL’s Chicago Bears since 1971, the 102 year old venue’s future is uncertain as the team is exploring a new stadium, possibility across the Illinois state line in Hammond, Indiana.

“The fact that they’re even considering coming to Hammond versus keeping it in their own state says a lot about what we’re going to try to do to tell everyone Indiana is a place move your business,” said Governor Mike Braun (R-Indiana), in a televised news conference Monday, monitored by Military.com. The governor’s remarks addressed a range of issues related to the end of the state’s legislative session.

Governor Mike Braun (R-Indiana) touts Indiana’s effort to lure Chicago Bears to Hammond with new stadium deal. (Indiana.gov)

“We’re proud that we’ve put together a package to attract $2 Billion worth of investment from the Chicago Bears,” said the governor of Senate Bill 27, which he signed last week. “They’re now looking at Indiana as a place to actually bring that franchise.”

With a seating capacity of more than 100,000 spectators. Soldier Field is used not only for Bears games, but as a site for many other sporting events and exhibitions, including numerous Army-Navy games. But without an anchor sports team like the Bears, the stadium will likely be used less and Chicago could see less tax revenue.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson telling reporters Monday, the Bears were offered an opportunity to build a new stadium inside the city limits, as a way to stay in Illinois.

“We had an entire press conference, with a proposal on the lakefront two years ago,” Mayor Johnson said in a news conference. “How do you have an entire proposal with the Bears, with the city of Chicago, with labor, with the notion that somehow the greatest, the most fruitful, economic viable prime real estate anywhere in the state, anywhere in the region is somehow not suited?”

Mayor Brandon Johnson opposes efforts to move Chicago Bears outside city limits (City of Chicago).

There’s another proposed site on the table. Illinois lawmakers in the House have advanced House Bill 910, which would lock in property tax rates at the former Arlington Racetrack, in Arlington Heights about 30 miles from Soldier Field. The Bears already own the land, but the bill is still in its early stages and already has some critics.

“It would shift [tax] liability directly onto homeowners and small businesses,” said Brian Costin, deputy state director of the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity, in a statement to Military.com. “It could double or triple the effective property tax rates over the next few decades.”

For now, the Bears have not made a commitment to move to Indiana or stay in Illinois.

The Bears said in a statement, “Indiana has taken important steps over the last few months, and we are grateful for the leadership reflected by Governor Braun signing SB 27 establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana. We continue to work on the necessary due diligence and appreciate the .”ongoing engagement with Indiana state and local leaders.”

The team also addressed Illinois efforts to keep the team from leaving Soldier Field or Illinois altogether.

Future of Chicago’s Soldier Field uncertain as NFL’s Chicago Bears consider moving (ChicagoBears.com).

“We recognize and appreciate the advancement of mega project legislation by the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee,” said the statement from the Bears. “We look forward to continued engagement as the lawmakers determine the legislative path forward.”

In Indiana, Governor Braun hopes the better deal will be for the Bears to abandon Soldier Field for new digs across the Illinois border, in Hammond.

“We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal,” Braun said in a statement obtained by Military.com. “We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.”

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Indiana

Indiana Pacers Slide as 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Rise

Published

20 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Indiana Pacers Slide as 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Rise

The Indiana Pacers are making a real argument to be the worst team in the NBA this season.

The Pacers could become the first team in the Eastern Conference to reach 50 losses this season if they don’t beat the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night. Power rankings across the internet have the Pacers and Kings as the bottom two teams in the league.

NBA.com, John Schuhmann (30, no change)

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

“With the Jazz beating the Wizards on Thursday and the Nets’ incredible comeback in Detroit over the weekend, the Pacers are the only team without a win (they’re 0-9) since the All-Star break. Seven of those nine losses have come against other teams with losing records,” Schuhmann wrote.

“The Pacers and Kings are now tied for the fewest wins (15), and they’ll meet for the second (and final) time on Tuesday, with the Pacers having won the first meeting (Dec. 8) behind 28 points and 12 assists from Nembhard. That’s the end of the Pacers’ four-game trip, and they’ll then return home and begin their only stretch of five games in seven days.”

The Athletic, Law Murray (30, no change)

“The Pacers are the only team in the league without a win since the All-Star break, so they’re comfortably nestled at the bottom of these rankings. Indiana was only regular bad for the third quarter of the season overall, though the interior defense has been slammed like brakes,” Murray wrote.

“If they don’t win Tuesday in Sacramento in the Tyrese Haliburton trade bowl, then they’ll have to go and upset a team that is trying to secure wins for the rest of the March schedule.”

Clutch Points, Brett Siegel (29, down 1)

“As soon as Tyrese Haliburton went down with his Achilles injury, everyone knew that the Indiana Pacers would be taking a step back. The decision for this to be a gap year and completely tank was made after several impactful players, like Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard, all went down with injuries,” Siegel wrote.

“After all, a team that found success through its depth is nothing when all of its key talents are injured.

“The Pacers own the second-worst record in the NBA right now, giving them a real shot at getting the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Remember, Indiana will keep their selection this season if it falls inside the top four, which have a 52.1 percent chance of happening.”

Overview

It’s hard to argue the Pacers not being in this position because they’ve only won 15 games so far this season. On top of that, their last victory came on February 11, which was the final game before the All-Star break.

This isn’t exactly a bad thing for the Pacers, however, because they need that first-round pick to return to them in the draft. If they get the wrong shake in the lottery, the Pacers could be forced to give up their first-round pick in this year’s draft to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade.

The Pacers should use the rest of the season to figure out who fits in their system and develop their young players in hopes of some of them cracking the rotation for next season and beyond.

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Looking ahead: Five takeaways on high school basketball regional matchups

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Looking ahead: Five takeaways on high school basketball regional matchups

The high school basketball regional matchups and sites are set. Still more to come on recapping sectional week, including a wild championship Saturday night, but wanted to get out some initial thoughts and takeaways on the upcoming regional round.

Showdown at Southport

Pike vs. Mt. Vernon.

Is Caitlin Clark going to show up again? She should.

This matchup, set for Saturday at 4 p.m. at Southport Fieldhouse, is probably the headliner of the 4A regional slate. The first game was insane, as the two teams combined for a state-record 30 3-pointers in Pike’s 84-81 overtime win.

What do we have for an encore? Third-ranked Pike got through the more difficult Sectional 11 at Plainfield, defeating the fifth-ranked Quakers 56-53 on Friday, rallying from a 15-point third-quarter deficit. The Red Devils (23-3) played confident in a 79-68 win over a pesky and physical Brownsburg in the championship game, led by 17 points and four assists from junior guard Jahari Miller and three others in double figures.

The x-factor is Luke Ertel. Pike coach Jeff Teague, after Saturday’s win, called the Mt. Vernon senior “the best player in the state.” He will not find many arguments there. The Purdue recruit led the fourth-ranked Marauders (24-3) to the Sectional 9 title at Greenfield-Central with 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 64-50 win over the host Cougars.

Not many better matchups (are there any?) around the state than this one.

The second game at Southport is interesting, too. Talented Lawrence Central (14-11) has won five in a row, including a 70-57 upset win over Lawrence North in Sectional 10 at Tech. Decatur Central (19-6) set a school record for wins and won its first sectional since 2005.

Class 4A north battle at Plymouth

You could make a case for Chesterton vs. No. 2 Crown Point at Michigan City, but to me the most interesting 4A north regional matchup is No. 6 Northridge (24-1) vs. No. 8 South Bend St. Joseph (21-4) at Plymouth.

Northridge and South Bend St. Joe are two dramatically different teams, which adds a little bit more intrigue to the game. Northridge won its first sectional championship in six years with a 48-37 win over Warsaw in the sectional at Elkhart.

The Raiders, led by senior and Indiana All-Star candidate Brady Scholl, leads the state in 4A in points allowed per game at 44.4. South Bend St. Joseph, last year’s 3A state champion, leads the state in scoring at 78.4 points per game.

That game is 7 p.m. at Plymouth, following the 4 p.m. Class 3A game between No. 6 Columbia City (22-4) and Hanover Central (12-14).

Intrigue at Greencastle

Fourth-ranked Northview is a really good 3A team. Anyone who watched the Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle can confirm. The Knights rolled to the Sectional 27 title at Speedway with a 64-43 win over Cascade behind an 18-point night from Trayven Buis and 17 from Quinn Lewis.

But I have my eye on Northview’s game against Roncalli (17-7) in the regional at Greencastle. The Royals came through a tough Sectional 26 at Greenwood, knocking off the host Woodmen 56-44 in the sectional championship. Roncalli is balanced and veteran and added a big piece to the puzzle with Joey Ortman returning from a back injury that cost him most of the season.

I think this has a chance to be one of the best games of the day anywhere in the state.

Doubleheader at Martinsville

Oh man. There are a couple of great matchups set for Martinsville.

The first, No. 4 Parke Heritage (23-4) vs. No. 5 Centerville (24-2) could potentially decide the Class 2A entry from the south in the state finals. It is a huge game, a rematch of Parke Heritage’s 47-41 win over Centerville in the same round last season.

We have written and talked quite a bit about Parke Heritage, which had its path stopped in the semistate the past three years. This could be the team to break through.

We have probably not written enough about Centerville, which steamrolled Hagerstown (85-57) and Shenandoah (66-36) to win the sectional. The Bulldogs have knocked off teams like Delta, Guerin Catholic, Liberty Christian and Pendleton Heights this season. Seniors Shea Hollendonner (19.7 ppg, 4.2 rebounds) and Landyn Keiser (11.1 ppg, 5.2 rebounds) are Centerville’s top players.

The second game also looks tantalizing. No. 3 Cathedral (21-5) defeated No. 10 Brebeuf Jesuit (18-6) on Dec. 5 by nine points, 71-62. It is a little surprising these programs have only met once previously in the tournament, a Brebeuf sectional win 25 years ago.

Brebeuf knocked off No. 5 Guerin Catholic 48-47 for the Sectional 25 championship at Frankfort and Cathedral took out Crispus Attucks 81-63 in the Sectional 26 championship at Broad Ripple.

Neither of these teams will be the favorite to come out of the 3A south – that is top-ranked Silver Creek (27-1) – but the winner at Martinsville might be the Dragons’ toughest challenger.

The Class 2A north

Loaded.

The Class 2A north bracket looks awesome. There are a couple heavyweight matchups in the regional – No. 3 Westview (24-1) vs. No. 7 Gary 21^st Century (17-6) at North Judson and Blackford (20-6) vs. No. 9 Lapel (20-5) at Lapel (cue the complaints that Lapel gets to host a regional game).

Gary 21^st Century, which beat Westview three years ago in the regional, is led by senior point guard Terrence Hayes Jr. (17.6 ppg, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists), one of four players averaging in double figures. Kaden Grau (19.1 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) and Austin Schlabach (18.4 ppg, 5.5 assists) are standouts for Westview. Neither team was threatened in the sectional.

Blackford was challenged in the sectional, getting through Alexandria (62-54), Eastbrook (42-35) and Wapahani (49-39) in Sectional 40 at Eastbrook. Amarian Leggett (26.7 ppg, 4.3 assists) is one of the top sophomores in the state. Lapel has taken off since a 19-point loss to Oak Hill, winning 10 consecutive games. Owen Garber put up a cool 30 points in Lapel’s 77-54 sectional championship win over Sheridan in Sectional 39 at Elwood.

Here are the full regional matchups

Class 4A

Chesterton vs. Crown Point at Michigan City, 8 p.m.
Northridge vs. South Bend Saint Joseph at Plymouth, 7 p.m.
Fort Wayne Snider vs. Carmel at New Castle, 4 p.m.
Harrison (West Lafayette) vs. Homestead at Logansport, 4 p.m.
Mt. Vernon vs. Pike at Southport, 4 p.m.
Lawrence Central vs. Decatur Central at Southport, 7 p.m.
New Albany vs. Castle at Southridge, 4 p.m.
Columbus North vs. Terre Haute North at Greencastle, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Columbia City vs. Hanover Central at Plymouth, 4 p.m.
East Chicago Central vs. Mishawaka Marian at Michigan City, 5 p.m.
West Lafayette vs. New Haven at Logansport, 1 p.m.
Delta vs. Blackhawk Christian at New Castle, 1 p.m.
Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Cathedral at Martinsville, 7 p.m.
Northview vs. Roncalli at Greencastle, 4 p.m.
Evansville Bosse vs. Princeton at Southridge, 1 p.m.
Silver Creek vs. Batesville at Charlestown, 4 p.m.

CLASS 2A

Westview vs. 21st Century Academy at North Judson, 7 p.m.
Bishop Luers vs. Bremen at Huntington North, 7 p.m.
Blackford at Lapel, 4 p.m.
Benton Central vs. Oak Hill at Frankfort, 4 p.m.
Parke Heritage vs. Centerville at Martinsville, 4 p.m.
Cardinal Ritter vs. Triton Central at Greenfield-Central, 7 p.m.
Paoli vs. Linton-Stockton at Seymour, 4 p.m.
Austin vs. Forest Park at Charlestown, 1 p.m.

CLASS A

Fort Wayne Canterbury vs. Tri-County at Huntington North, 4 p.m.
Triton vs. Marquette Catholic at North Judson, 4 p.m.
Monroe Central vs. Southwood at Lapel, 1 p.m.
Rossville vs. North Vermillion at Frankfort, 1 p.m.
South Decatur vs. Hauser at Seymour, 1 p.m.
Liberty Christian vs. Greenwood Christian at Greenfield-Central, 4 p.m.
Barr-Reeve vs. West Washington at Washington, 1 p.m.
Northeast Dubois vs. Bloomfield at Washington, 4 p.m.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.

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