Indiana
Indiana players: This was the ‘difference-maker’ in dominant Alabama win
With the Rose Bowl already well in-hand for Indiana on Jan. 1, the stadium DJ played a crowd favorite. The Hoosiers were going to beat Alabama football, and nearly entire crowd sang along to John Mellencamp’s “Hurt So Good.”
The Indiana fan advantage was extremely obvious all game. Most of the Hoosier faithful stuck around the entire time too, not letting the non-competitive nature of the contest dim their happiness.
Ahead of their appearance in the national championship game, scheduled for Monday against Miami, IU players expressed appreciation for
“The Alabama game in specific, we knew we were going against one of the most prestigious universities, when it comes to football especially,” linebacker Aiden Fisher said Saturday. “We all had that chip on our shoulder that we get another opportunity to go out there and prove it. I think we did a great job executing. And, honestly, our fans in that game were the difference-maker. That stadium felt like a home game and it was special to play in front of them.”
Star wide receiver Elijah Sarratt told reporters the gusto from America’s largest alumni base was helpful.
“I see it as soon as I go into the arena,” Sarratt said. “Last week, seeing all the red, it makes a great impact on us. Our fans give us confidence and want us to go out and play our best for them. Without them, it would be tough being here right now. All season, they’ve shown up and shown out. I appreciate them a lot for that.”
Indiana fans have shown a unique willingness to travel during their favorite team’s current playoff run. After years of bringing up the rear in the Big Ten, and in some years the entire FBS, the Hoosiers are on a cathartic journey, entering the national championship as the No. 1 team.
Linebacker Isaiah Jones shared his thoughts on the trend, noting the Indiana fans also took over Mercedes-Benz Stadium for IU’s Peach Bowl win over Oregon last time out.
This fan base, this is a long time coming for them,” Jones said. “There might be fans that have had season tickets for 40 years. I think just being at this opportunity where we are now, I don’t think anyone would miss it for the world. Having them at the Rose Bowl where it felt like a home game, I didn’t know it could get better than that. The Peach Bowl is the loudest stadium I ever played in in my life. Being out there on defense my helmet was shaking, they were so loud.”
Indiana might not have needed the crowd to beat Alabama. The Crimson Tide was clearly overmatched by the No. 1 Hoosiers.
However, the noise certainly didn’t hurt. It’s an advantage that IU likely won’t have on Monday, when it plays the national championship on Miami’s home field at Hard Rock Stadium.
But IU players didn’t sound like they expected their fans to be completely absent. And head coach Curt Cignetti had a message for those on the fence.
“If you’re not sure you can make it down,” the coach said, addressing Indiana fans directly. “Find a ride.”
Fernando Mendoza did not attend Indiana University’s visit to the White House commemorating the Hoosiers’ college football national championship on Monday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback said earlier this month that he would not attend if it interfered with any activities with his new team.
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza said following a rookie minicamp practice. “I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
According to the team’s official offseason schedule, the Raiders did not have any formal practices or workouts on Monday. The team’s next organized activity is May 18, its first OTA workout.
“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders,” President Donald Trump said in his address. “Let’s see how good of a team they have, and I think he’s gonna do great. He’s a winner.”
Mendoza wasn’t the only absence. Center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds were among the other Hoosiers not in attendance for the event due to NFL obligations. Indiana had a program-record eight players selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Trump highlighted Mendoza’s accomplishments and contributions to the school’s first football national title. He celebrated Mendoza as Indiana’s inaugural Heisman Trophy winner and praised his fourth-quarter touchdown run in the championship game against Miami.
“He’s gonna be a good one,” Trump said.
Indiana was well-represented by returning members of the team. Charlie Becker, one of Mendoza’s go-to receivers during the College Football Playoffs, and Jamari Sharpe, whose late interception secured the title-game victory, both spoke on behalf of the school, as did head coach Curt Cignetti.
Mendoza is one of four members of the national champion Hoosiers who joined the Raiders this offseason. Running back Roman Hemby and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. signed as undrafted free agents in the days following the draft. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady earned a contract after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp.
MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.
According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.
Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.
Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.
Police did not provide any additional information.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.
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Sports Seriously
The Indiana Pacers lost 63 games this season for a chance at a franchise-changing lottery pick. On Sunday, May 10, they lost that chance, too.
All Pacers president Kevin Pritchard could do was apologize for taking the risk.
Indiana’s pick landed at No. 5 in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, one spot outside the top four protections attached to a midseason trade. The selection now belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers .
Shortly after the results were announced, Pritchard took social media and apologized.
“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”
The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick after finishing 19-63, the second-worst record in the NBA. It wasn’t enough.
Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick to Los Angeles in the midseason deal for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, along with the conditional 2026 first-rounder. The pick was theirs to keep only if it landed in the top four.
Zubac appeared in just five games for Indiana after the trade because of a fractured rib.
“This team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year,” Pritchard wrote. “We have always been resillient.”
Pritchard will have to be resilient if he looks at the replies to his statement. About half of the Pacers fans’ comments were not happy, and fans of other teams called him out for “tanking.”
There were also a large number of fans who were supportive of Pritchard taking that risk.
Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return next season after tearing his Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals. The Pacers will have him Pascal Siakam and a roster they think is built to compete. They just won’t have that first-round pick to add to it.
The 2026 NBA Draft begins June 23 in Brooklyn.
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