Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis gears up for Big Ten football championship, Fan Fest

Published

2 weeks ago

December 4, 2025

Indianapolis gears up for Big Ten football championship, Fan Fest

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Saturday’s Big Ten Championship football game be in Indianapolis as the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

But before the kickoff on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, fans from across the country will get ready for the big game with the Big Ten Fan Fest in the adjacent Indiana Convention Center.

The event will start at 3 p.m. Friday, but organizers on Wednesday gave News 8 a sneak peek of their preparations. In the middle of 200,000 square feet of convention space was a 40-yard football field. Organizers say the field will be used for entertainment including prep rallies and flag football games.

Adam McCaffery, communications coordinator of the Big Ten Conference, said Wednesday, “Everyone involved is really excited. It should be a great match. Two great teams and two programs.”

The Fan Fest will be 3-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday.

Dan Gliot, senior director of marketing communications for the Indiana Sports Corp, said Wednesday, “There are so many cool activations to do around here: If you want to run the 40-yard dash; if you want to catch a ball; if you want to kick a field goal; if you want to do a flag football field clinic. It’s very family-friendly. It’s an awesome way to get excited and get the family together, really get together to experience what college football is about.”

Vendors, games, performances, giveaways, virtual reality games, IndyCar cars and food will be part of the fun.

Plus, for the first time, the Fan Fest will have a wing-eating competition with competitive eater Joey Chestnut.

Fans with a game ticket can attend the Fan Fest for free. Fans without game tickets can pay for the Fan Fest separately at the entrance. Children wearing a jersey will get free admission on Friday.

Paul Kennedy, vice president of sports communications for the Big Ten Conference, said, “There’s so many people that want to feel the energy of game day and be around other fans that may not be lucky enough to be one of the 6,000+ fans in Lucas Oil on Saturday night. This is the absolute best place to do that.”

Indiana University football fans and basketball fans will be taking over downtown Indy, as IU also faces Louisville at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. IU, Ohio State and Louisville all sport red school colors.

Gliot said, “This city is literary going to be painted red. I know it’s a metaphor between IU and Ohio State and the Louisville game. We’re expecting a huge crowd to come out, and we’re expecting tons of college football fans to be downtown to be excited and to experience everything that Indianapolis has to offer.”

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Indianapolis, IN

Philip Rivers fell one throw short of storybook ending in his couch-to-Colts return

Published

12 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Philip Rivers fell one throw short of storybook ending in his couch-to-Colts return

He had one last throw left in that 44-year-old wing of his. For most of the afternoon, he’d been able to fool Father Time and frighten 68,771 Seattle Seahawks fans inside Lumen Field who’d come to bury Philip Rivers and, instead, watched him push their football team to the very brink of an impossible upset.

There had been a moment when it seemed Rivers might actually pull off the damn thing, too. That was with 1 minute and 55 seconds left in the game. The Colts led for so much of the game and were behind Seattle 15-13, but the ball was in the old man’s hands now. All day, he’d been careful and efficient. It got him a 13-3 lead at one point. Now, he needed to make a play.

And damned if he didn’t make a play.

Damned if he didn’t throw a 16-yard back-shoulder special to wide receiver Alec Pierce. Damned if that ball didn’t mean the Seahawks were now going to burn all of their timeouts because, in the NFL in 2025, just making it past midfield — as that throw did — means you’re in field goal range.

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Indianapolis, IN

Philip Rivers comes out of retirement for Indianapolis Colts: NFL world reacts

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Philip Rivers comes out of retirement for Indianapolis Colts: NFL world reacts

The Indianapolis Colts have cooled considerably as the season has progressed, going from the NFL’s best record to out of the playoff picture entering Week 15 action.

But one of today’s notable storylines is the return of quarterback Philip Rivers after five years away from the NFL. He’s on the Colts’ active roster as they prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks.

The 44-year-old was on Lumen Field hours before kickoff, taking mental reps.

Colts QB Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury last week, and backup Riley Leonard suffered a knee injury, though he remains on the active roster. With Brett Rypien the only other QB on their roster and list of available QBs lacking, the Colts called the last signal-caller to lead them in a playoff game (after the 2020 season).

His comeback has piqued the interest of a former Colts coach and players, his former teammates on the Chargers, former NFL quarterbacks and even those from outside football.