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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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.
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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
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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