Indiana
Michigan and Washington share ties to historic Indiana football run
HOUSTON — The coaching profession is a nomadic lifestyle. Coaches and their families bounce around from town to town amid changing jobs. Sometimes you buy a house, sometimes you rent. Sometimes you don’t need all your furniture.
That’s why Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer’s old kitchen table is currently in Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart’s house, a transaction made in Bloomington, Indiana.
“My wife bought it from him when they were moving out to Fresno,” Hart said with a laugh on Saturday.
Much has been made of the Indiana reunion between DeBoer and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in Seattle, but the roots from IU connect through both Michigan and Washington ahead of Monday’s national championship.
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The 2019 and 2020 Hoosiers under Tom Allen produced the program’s best two-year stretch in three decades: 8-5 in 2019 and 6-2 in 2020. Seven people from that staff and roster are involved in this championship.
• Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer (IU offensive coordinator in 2019)
• Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart (assistant from 2017-20)
• Washington co-defensive coordinator William Inge (assistant from 2013-19)
• Washington tight ends coach Nick Sheridan (assistant from 2017-21)
• Washington starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (QB from 2018-21)
• Michigan reserve tight end A.J. Barner (TE from 2020-22)
• Michigan reserve quarterback Jack Tuttle (QB from 2019-22)
“There were great people there,” DeBoer said. “It made it enjoyable and that led to a lot of work getting done and the work led to success. When you have fun doing your job and you have fun coming to practice every day as a player, that’s what we had there. That’s why you see so many successful people and guys doing the things that they’re doing.”
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Coaches explain the secret to Kalen DeBoer’s success: ‘He has so much humility’
Allen had a lot of familiarity with DeBoer, both as a fellow NAIA coach in the mid-2000s and then on recommendation of the Eastern Michigan staff, where DeBoer previously coached.
“He’s very calm and creates vision for what he wants,” Allen said. “He just had the ability to make the right calls at the right times.”
After consecutive 5-7 seasons, Allen found his breakout year. The 2019 Hoosiers reached the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1994. All four regular-season losses came to ranked opponents, including one at Michigan State where Penix completed 20 consecutive passes at one point.
“Me being at Indiana allowed me to get here,” Penix said. “If I didn’t go to Indiana, I wouldn’t have met Coach DeBoer and probably wouldn’t be here. My whole path, I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
After one successful year in Bloomington, DeBoer became the head coach at Fresno State, where he’d served as an assistant from 2017-18. He took Inge with him to be his defensive coordinator. Sheridan was promoted to offensive coordinator at Indiana and continued to work with Hart — his former Michigan teammate. The momentum continued.
The 2020 Hoosiers beat Michigan for the first time since 1987, ending a 24-game losing streak in the series. They reached as high as No. 7 in the AP poll and finished 12th, their highest finish since 1967.
“That staff Coach Allen put together was a good group of guys,” Sheridan said. “Most credit goes to the players. They believed in the vision and committed to it. It was a special run. Everyone that was a part of that looks back on those times fondly.”
Michael Penix Jr. is no stranger to the Wolverines 👀
Throwback to when he led Indiana to victory over Michigan in 2020- will he do it again in the CFP National Championship with the Huskies? 🔮 pic.twitter.com/DuKqcvCfGi
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 3, 2024
Those 2020 Hoosiers nearly played in the Big Ten Championship Game after the Ohio State-Michigan game was canceled due to COVID. But the Big Ten changed its championship criteria, putting Ohio State in the game due to the Buckeyes’ 42-35 win over the Hoosiers.
“We thought that we got screwed a little bit,” Hart said. “But it doesn’t matter now. I always thought we should have beat Ohio State that year if we wanted to go.”
The successful run changed the future of multiple schools. Michigan’s loss to Indiana was the low point of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure in Ann Arbor. He overhauled his staff in the offseason and hired Hart back to Ann Arbor. Indiana’s subsequent downturn coincided with the loss of those coaches and players. Highly-touted defensive coordinator Kane Wommack became the head coach at South Alabama after 2020. When the oft-injured Penix entered the transfer portal after the 2021 season, reuniting with DeBoer was an easy decision. The pair are 25-2 together in Seattle. Indiana, meanwhile, went 9-27 from 2021-23, and Allen was fired in November.
GO DEEPER
Michael Penix Jr.’s portal path to UW and what it means for the Huskies’ next QB
Allen, who became Penn State defensive coordinator last month, now sees many of those Indiana building blocks in the national championship.
“You’re happy for everyone,” Allen said. “You’d love to still have all those coaches. We were hard-pressed to replace Kalen and Kane. That’s the challenge about being at a place like Indiana. When you have success, you can lose your players and your coaches now and it’s hard to replace. But I’m happy for them, without question. It gives you pride that you picked the right guys.”
The group remains close, and not just because of a kitchen table.
Penix and Tuttle have remained in contact and wished each other luck. DeBoer and the Washington staff invited Wommack to the Sugar Bowl last week. Allen saw the pictures. He texts them all regularly to congratulate them on the success. Either way, at least one of his former coaches and players will win the national championship.
“I told them all to go win it,” Allen said. “Only one (side) can, but you’re really just happy they’re all doing well.”
(Photo of Kalen DeBoer: Jeffrey Brown / Getty Images)
Indiana
How Purdue Fans Can Watch Isaiah Hill vs. Luke Ertel in Indiana All-Star Game
Two future Boilermakers are taking the floor and will go head-to-head during Indiana All-Star Week. 2026 signee Luke Ertel and 2027 commit Isaiah Hill are battling it out on Wednesday, June 3, as the Indiana All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars.
Wednesday will be the third time Ertel and Hill have played against each other this season. During the IHSAA basketball season, Ertel’s Mt. Vernon team took on Hill’s Pike squad twice.
Hill led the Red Devils to an 84-81 overtime victory during the regular season. In the Regional of the Class 4A IHSAA Basketball Tournament, Ertel guided Mt. Vernon to a 57-54 overtime victory. The Marauders went on to win the state championship.
Who will win the third and decisive battle between the future Boilermakers on Wednesday? Here’s the information necessary to watch the game.
How to watch the Indiana All-Star Game
- What — Indiana Junior All-Stars vs. Indiana All-Stars
- When — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Where — Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
- Tipoff time — 8 p.m. ET (approx.)
- Ticket price — $15
- Stream — ISC Indiana Sports Network YouTube Channel
Hill participated in Indiana-Kentucky Jr. All-Star Game
Wednesday night’s Junior-Senior All-Star Game will be the second time Hill has competed during Indiana All-Star Week. The Pike star and five-star center also played in Sunday’s Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game.
Hill put together a solid performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and recording three blocks. His efforts helped lead Indiana to a 109-99 victory over Kentucky.
Ertel and the Indiana All-Stars have not yet played during Indiana All-Star Week, with their first game scheduled for Wednesday against the Junior All-Stars. Then, to close out the week, Ertel will participate in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, with games being played in Lexington and Indianapolis.
Ertel, Hill highly rated recruits in respective classes
There’s already plenty of hype surrounding Ertel and Hill, both players who are highly-ranked recruits in their respective classes.
Ertel is the top-ranked player from Indiana in the 2026 recruiting class and is considered a top-50 prospect by 247Sports. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in his senior season at Mt. Vernon.
Hill is a year younger, but became the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to play at Purdue. The 2027 product was a star at Pike High School during his junior season, averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. He is a five-star prospect and ranked as the No. 10 player in the class, per ESPN.
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Indiana
Indiana man charged with rape after allegedly assaulting 18-year-old woman in barn
GASTON, Ind. (WKRC) – An Indiana man was accused of sexually assaulting a young homeless woman in a barn.
According to WXIN, 34-year-old Dale E. Bosworth was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a homeless 18-year-old woman in a barn after the two connected through social media.
WXIN reported that Bosworth picked up the woman on May 24 while visiting Kokomo, Indiana, and brought her back to his home after seeing a Facebook post in which she said she had no money and nowhere to stay.
Court documents obtained and reviewed by WXIN state that Bosworth and his wife picked up the woman in a truck around 10 p.m. and drove her to their home. The woman stayed the night and was later offered $100 to perform work in a barn in Delaware County.
According to WXIN, Bosworth drove the woman to a friend’s barn in Gaston, Indiana. While the two were alone, Bosworth allegedly asked if she wanted to “fool around.” The woman told law enforcement she did not respond to the question. Bosworth then allegedly began rubbing her back and unzipped his overalls.
WXIN reported that Bosworth is accused of sexually assaulting the woman until he heard a noise near the barn. He later allegedly told his friend that the woman was refusing to work and that he needed to take her back to his home.
During the drive back to Marion, Indiana, the woman used the “Texty” app to contact Grant County 911 and reported that she had been raped, according to WXIN.
Authorities in Grant County then contacted the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies later located and stopped Bosworth’s vehicle, per the report.
While being questioned by investigators, Bosworth reportedly admitted that the woman had stayed at his home. Court documents reviewed by WXIN state that he spent “well over 20 minutes” explaining how he came to be alone with the alleged victim while denying any sexual contact.
When asked whether his DNA would be found on the woman’s body, Bosworth allegedly admitted to certain sexual acts. According to WXIN, he told investigators that the woman “did not say yes or no” when he asked her to undress and engage in sexual intercourse, but claimed she “looked at him” when he asked.
Authorities said Bosworth later admitted to portions of the assault after initially providing false statements and reportedly told investigators that “cops freak him out,” according to the report.
Bosworth was arrested and charged with the following, per WXIN:
According to WXIN, investigators determined that Bosworth knowingly and intentionally caused the woman to submit to sexual conduct, which constitutes rape under Indiana law.
He is being held without bond at the Delaware County Jail, WXIN reported.
Indiana
Jeffrey Kessler Questions NCAA Consistency Using Indiana Coach Betting Case
During closing arguments in Brendan Sorsby’s injunction hearing on Monday, Sorsby’s attorney Jeffrey Kessler pointed to a recent NCAA gambling case involving former Indiana assistant volleyball coach Brett Agne. Kessler argued it demonstrated a stark contrast in how the NCAA has handled gambling-related violations with different cases.
Details in Agne Case
Kessler referenced Agne, who, according to NCAA findings, placed more than 700 sports wagers totaling over $327,000 during a five-month period while employed by Indiana. NCAA investigators determined that 27 of those wagers involved Indiana football and men’s basketball games.
Despite Agne admitting he knowingly engaged in prohibited sports wagering activity after receiving NCAA gambling education, the NCAA’s negotiated resolution stopped short of a lengthy suspension. Instead, the penalties included a two-year show-cause order with a mandatory sports betting education, a requirement that he provide gambling education to his peers, and a suspension of only 10 regular-season matches, roughly 30 percent of Indiana’s volleyball season.
“A two-year show-cause order for Agne, in which any employing member school must require Agne to complete meaningful sports betting education and provide sports betting education to his peers,” the NCAA’s penalty summary stated.
How It Compares/Differs from Sorsby’s Case
Kessler used the case to argue that the NCAA has previously treated gambling violations as opportunities for education and rehabilitation rather than imposing season-long competitive penalties.
The comparison was particularly notable given Brendan Sorsby’s circumstances. The Texas Tech quarterback recently completed a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction and has publicly detailed his recovery efforts since completing the program. Kessler argued that while Agne’s case resulted in educational requirements and a limited suspension despite hundreds of wagers and more than $327,000 in betting activity, Sorsby faces the possibility of losing the rest of his collegiate eligibility.
The comparison became even more notable when examining how the NCAA described Agne’s defense. According to the NCAA report, Agne stated that he used an unregulated computer program that automatically placed wagers based on an algorithm and claimed he was unaware of which games were being bet on, including the Indiana contests. Agne did not bet on his own team as Sorsby did, but Agne also did not acknowledge knowing which bets he was placing — a key distinction from Sorsby.
“Agne stated that he used an unregulated computer program to place bets on games automatically based on an algorithm, and as a result, he was not aware of which games he was betting on, including the Indiana games,” the NCAA’s report stated.
Also on Monday, Kessler emphasized Sorsby’s treatment efforts, revealing during the hearing that a Level-1 gambling treatment specialist diagnosed the Texas Tech quarterback with both a gambling addiction and an anxiety disorder while he was receiving residential care. Kessler argued that Sorsby’s case should be viewed through the lens of treatment and recovery, noting that Sorsby has acknowledged his mistakes rather than attempting to distance himself from them.
Closing
Whether Judge Ken Curry ultimately agrees with Kessler’s comparison remains to be seen, but the Indiana case served as a centerpiece of Kessler’s closing argument on Monday. A decision on Brendan Sorsby’s request for injunctive relief is expected in the coming days, with the ruling potentially determining whether the Texas Tech quarterback will be able to continue his collegiate career.
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