Indiana
In first real test this season against Maryland, Indiana football showed its mettle
BLOOMINGTON — Entering week five, the biggest knock against Indiana football was its lack of a real test.
The Hoosiers steamrolled through their first four weeks of the 2024 season. But that group included just one Power Four opponent — UCLA, which was expected to finish in the bottom half of the Big Ten — and one of the worst FCS teams in the country in Western Illinois. IU looked excellent in those games, and set itself up well for the rest of the year. But those teams rarely, if ever, forced Indiana to face difficult moments. And the schedule was always going to get tougher, particularly in the second half of the season.
Indiana was tested on Saturday for the first time this season, by both wet and windy conditions and a tough Maryland team. And it wasn’t completely smooth. The Hoosiers faced real adversity, something entirely foreign to them before this game. But they cleared those obstacles and passed this test, rather convincingly. Their 42-28 win at Memorial Stadium gave IU (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) its best start since 1967.
“There were a lot of good responses in that game. The defense responded to offensive turnovers. The offense responded to touchdowns given up by the defense. We responded more than they did,” IU head coach Curt Cignetti said after the game. “There was really a lot that went on in that game. There’s no doubt about it. Winning is good because it deepens belief in confidence and success, which leads to confidence and belief, which leads to success. You’ve still got to put the work in, but strengthens that confidence and belief.”
Maryland (3-2, 0-2) presented Indiana with plenty of challenges. Billy Edwards Jr. is the best quarterback Indiana’s faced so far this season. Wide receiver Tai Felton led the Big Ten in receiving entering Saturday by over 300 yards. UMD’s defensive line is the biggest and deepest IU has seen so far.
The Terrapins aren’t the best team on the Hoosiers’ schedule this season, but they came into the season expecting to contend for a fourth straight bowl game. This was Indiana’s first opportunity to truly prove itself and show that the undefeated start isn’t because of a soft schedule, but because this is just a good football team. And IU did exactly that. The offense played with physicality and explosiveness that Maryland couldn’t match. The defense made things difficult for Edwards, kept Felton quiet before he left the game with an injury in the third quarter, and mostly shut down Maryland’s run game.
“Coach (Bryant) Haines talks about it: we haven’t really been tested as much as we’d like so far,” linebacker Aiden Fisher said. “We kind of prepare that we’re going into war each week, and we got that today.”
Matchup aside, the Hoosiers had to overcome adversity in this game. As well as they’d played through the first four weeks, they had not yet needed to show their mettle. But that changed quickly Saturday, when quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw interceptions — Indiana’s first turnovers of the season — on IU’s first two possessions of the game.
Rourke said he was still able to grip the ball well despite the bad weather. The giveaways were simply uncharacteristic mistakes for the Ohio transfer and his offense. But he didn’t dwell too long on those plays and moved on quickly. Indiana’s defense pitched three-and-outs after both turnovers, and after Maryland’s second punt, Rourke led the offense on a 12-play, 83-yard touchdown drive.
“He responded like I kind of felt like he would. I didn’t think he’d be flustered by the two interceptions, and he wasn’t,” Cignetti said. “He’s a grizzly old vet.”
Indiana committed two more turnovers after the early interceptions, on fumbles by running back Kaelon Black (second quarter) and Rourke (fourth quarter). IU’s defense stepped up in those situations — Maryland didn’t pick up a single first down on its four possessions after turnovers.
The Hoosiers defense played well, on the whole. But they, too, weren’t perfect. Maryland racked up 401 yards of total offense on Saturday — none of IU’s first four opponents topped 260. And Indiana made a few crucial mistakes that could’ve changed the game.
During the second quarter, the Terps faced second and 31 at their own 41-yard-line after three straight penalties and an Indiana tackle for loss. But a clear pass interference on cornerback Jamier Johnson squandered Indiana’s strong positioning and brought Maryland back to first and 10. Two plays later, UMD receiver Kaden Prather blew past IU cornerback D’Angelo Ponds for a 33-yard touchdown that tied the game, 7-7.
Later, during the third quarter, the Terps took over at their 25-yard-line after IU regained a 21-14 lead on a Justice Ellison touchdown run. But their possession didn’t last long. On the first play, Terps running back Roman Hemby took a handoff through a big hole in the Indiana defense and ran, untouched, 75 yards for a touchdown.
Moments like that can swing momentum in games. But IU’s defense regrouped quickly after those mistakes: the next Maryland drives after both touchdowns ended in three-and-outs.
This is how good football teams perform. Perfection is an impossible standard; these players are human, and mistakes happen. Bad teams allow errors to compound and turn into bigger problems. Good teams correct their problems and quickly move on from them.
Plenty of teams have the talent to win, but lack the mentality and attention to detail that winning requires. And plenty of teams do those little things correctly and approach games the right way, but are overpowered and overmatched against superior opponents.
Indiana’s performance against Maryland, with the way it responded to adversity time after time, adds to a growing case that this team has both the talent and mettle to turn this 5-0 start into a special season.
“Everyone kept their heads up on the sideline, people still communicating, no one put their heads down. We responded,” defensive end Mikail Kamara said. “We had turnovers, we had the one-play touchdown and things like that, where that’s usually when losing teams would probably get down on themselves, start arguing, and that’s when the gap opens up. But we handled it really well.”
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Indiana
Severe storm risk into tonight through early Wednesday morning
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — We are monitoring the potential for severe weather into early Wednesday morning.
Tornado Watch in effect until EDT midnight March 10, 2026, for Benton, Newton, and Jasper counties.
Tuesday night: Please make sure you have your safety plan on standby into tonight through pre-dawn Wednesday morning. There is now a level 4/5 severe risk in northwest Indiana. Much of central Indiana remains in a level 2/5 risk.
The risk for significant tornadoes (EF2+) and very large hail (2″+) is greatest north of I-70 with any discrete cell(s) that maintain their-selves into mainly northern Indiana. There is also potential for a max expected intensity of an EF-3+ tornado within much (if not all) of the level 3 & 4 risk zone.
This does not mean that every storm will produce a tornado of that magnitude. It is simply highlighting area of highest concern for the possibility of such occurrence.
Now, given a modestly unstable environment into the pre-dawn hours Wednesday with stronger wind flow aloft, all hazards will remain possible into central Indiana. The significant severe threat here is much lower.
Overall, you need to have multiple ways of being able to get alerts tonight. Do not be scared, be prepared and you will be ok.
Wednesday: Beyond sunrise Wednesday, we will continue to track more in the way of showers and storms. The main area of the strong-severe storm risk looks to shift mainly southeast of Indy with damaging winds the primary concern through the morning into afternoon hours.
Rainfall amounts through Wednesday may amount to 1-2″ with locally higher amounts.
Highs to occur earlier in the day with numbers in the mid to upper 60s. Non-thunderstorm winds will also be quite breezy with gusts up to 30-35 MPH.
Thursday: Be prepared for quite a temperature shift into Thursday. We will start the day off with temperatures in the low 30 with 20s wind chills. Yeah, that will not feel great considering our recent stretch of more mild days. Highs will only get into the upper 40s.
7-Day Forecast: We look to warm back up into this weekend, but it will come with more active weather and breezy winds. Friday will feature highs in the mid to upper 50s with wind gusts up to 25-30 MPH. Highs look to tick back into the low 60s Sunday with more chances for rain. Then, temperatures really take a tumble into next Monday with highs only in the 30s and a chance for a rain/snow mix.
Indiana
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.
“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?”
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.
“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.”
Indiana
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)
“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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