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.”

It’s been an interesting year in real estate, as the frantic pace of properties changing hands has slowed and the average age of first-time buyers hit an all-time high, according to the National Association of Realtors.

That certainly hasn’t stopped everyone from buying, as the number of homes sold in Indiana in October was up 4.1% year over year, according to Redfin.

Last month, we showed you some of the biggest home sales of the year around Indianapolis. Taking a look around the U.S., the average home sale price nationally was just under $513,000 this summer, according to the newest available data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and others.

Take a look below at what that average price buys in four cities around Indiana right now. For comparison, here’s what homes in that same range looked like last December, in the summer of 2024, and going back to the fall of 2023.

Indianapolis – Modern design and a waterfront home

This Indianapolis home for sale has four bedrooms, 2.5 baths and over 4,100 sq. ft. of space. The modern design includes a kitchen with stone countertops and a double oven, a living area with a wall of windows and a fireplace, and a large basement that would be great as a game room and entertaining space.

The backyard is spacious with a paved seating area and plenty of grass, along with views of the woods for added privacy. It’s listed for $515,000 by Shell Wiedenhaupt at eXp Realty, LLC.

Another option in Indy is waterfront living with this 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath tri-level home on Geist Reservoir. Inside you’ll find a fully-updated kitchen, bathrooms and lighting throughout, along with a wet bar and two gas fireplaces. But the biggest draw of this house has to be what you’ll find outside.

Outside is an upper deck with water views and a remote-controlled awning, a lower deck and an included boat slip for easy access to the water. The neighborhood also offers tennis courts, walking trails and a pool. 

It is listed for $517,500 by Jonathan Steinbach at F.C. Tucker Company.

Bloomington – Remodeled modern farmhouse

If the modern farmhouse is more your style, you’ll find it in Bloomington with this fully remodeled home with 20-foot vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. In the 2,900 sq ft of space you’ll find three large bedrooms, three full baths, a gas fireplace and large walk-in closet.

Outside there is a large covered porch and patio with a dedicated gas line for your grill, along with a fully-furnished 900-square-foot 2+ car garage. It’s listed for $519,000 by Sarah Noel at The Stewart Home Group.

Muncie – Historic 1930s build with modern updates

We’ve seen newer construction, waterfront and a modern farmhouse, so let’s look at something historic. This Muncie home was built in 1930 and carefully updated for the best of both worlds. Walking distance from Ball State, this 4,200 sq ft home has an impressive chef’s kitchen, four bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a finished, oversized 2-car garage.

The family room has a gas fireplace and direct access out to the private cobblestone paver patio with another freestanding outdoor fireplace. In the large primary suite, you’ll find yet another fireplace, custom built-ins and a bathroom that will have you excited for the winter with a spa-like bath with jetted tub, waterfall feature, steam shower, and heated tile floors. The home is listed for $530,000 by Austin Rich at NextHome Elite Real Estate.

Fort Wayne – Tree-lined backyard with country club living

Last up on our statewide look is this 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home in the Pine Valley Country Club neighborhood of Fort Wayne. Built in 1974 but carefully renovated, the home has over 2,700 finished sq ft of space and has all-new finishes inside and out. You’ll find features like whole home audio inside and out, a fully updated kitchen, remodeled baths, new cabinetry and more.

Outside, you’ll find the owner’s favorite part of the home – a very spacious, tree-lined backyard with plenty of privacy and space for entertaining. The custom flagstone patio includes a firepit, Edison lighting, and wiring for a TV or projector. The home is listed for $514,999 by the seller.