Indiana wins the Rose Bowl with a dominant 38-3 victory over Alabama. We should talk about it!

A late night live podcast on December 30, talking Indiana vs Alabama and answering listener questions.

Galen Clavio delivers a full Indiana vs Alabama preview as the Hoosiers head to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl CFP Quarterfinal.

After a quick update on the Stampede To Pasadena Road Trip and other Rose Bowl events, Galen dives into the matchup using advanced statistics and trendlines—what Alabama has (and hasn’t) been consistently this season, why Indiana’s profile looks so strong across opponent-adjusted metrics, and where the game will swing in the trenches.

He breaks down the schedule/strength-of-record debate, what we learned from Alabama’s win over Oklahoma, and the biggest tactical pressure points: Indiana’s need to establish the run with Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, Alabama’s path to disruption via pressure on Fernando Mendoza, and how Indiana’s defense under Bryant Haines can challenge Ty Simpson and Alabama’s receiving threats (Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton, Ryan Williams, Josh Cuevas)—with D’Angelo Ponds and Louis Moore spotlighted on the back end.

Plus: the latest Rose Bowl weather outlook and what rain could change (and who it might favor).

- Sponsored by Homefield Apparel. Happy 10th anniversary to the Good Brand! Use HOME23 for 15% off your first order.

- The Stampede to Pasadena Road Trip is brought to you in part by Bluegrass Toasted Oak Tournament of Roses bourbon, which was produced in partnership with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses! Indiana residents can get it shipped to them directly via several retailers. Drink Responsibly.

GC brings you the annual Holiday Mailbag episode. Audience questions vary widely (as they always do) but include topics such as:

• Whether basketball's success is impacted by football
• Early bracketology for men's hoops and what they need to do to get to the tournament
• Recent libations that Galen has enjoyed
• The ideal menu for a Christmas tailgate
• Updates on recent cooking escapades
• Advice to Indiana football fans on how to talk with fans of blue blood programs
• Injury updates prior to the Rose Bowl

and much more. Happy Holidays!

On CrimsonCast Ep. 1293, Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield react to Indiana football’s national breakout moment on 60 Minutes and what it says about the program’s new place in the sport — including the small details that made the segment resonate with a broader audience.

Then it’s full Rose Bowl / College Football Playoff quarterfinal mode as Indiana draws Alabama. The guys break down what the Crimson Tide look like right now, including QB Ty Simpson, Alabama’s passing game strengths, questions in the run game, and which personnel Indiana must account for. They also discuss the coaching chess match, including Kalen DeBoer and DC Kane Wommack, and why Indiana’s structure under OC Mike Shanahan and DC Bryant Haines translates well to a neutral-site playoff environment.

Finally, Galen and Scott step back to evaluate the College Football Playoff after another round of lopsided results — debating access, perception, and why “who belongs” conversations often reveal more about bias than football.

It’s a CrimsonCast x The Big Red Carpet crossover as Galen Clavio and Rhett Lewis break down the first three College Football Playoff games—with the deepest focus on Alabama’s 34–24 comeback win at Oklahoma and what it tells us about the Tide heading into the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal vs Indiana.

They discuss what worked (and what still looks vulnerable) for Alabama, how Indiana’s defense under Bryant Haines can create problems, and the biggest chess-match elements—especially with IU adjusting up front without Stephen Daley.

The guys also hit the rest of the bracket: Miami’s 10–3 win over Texas A&M and Ole Miss’ 41–10 win over Tulane (and what those results suggest about the next round).

Plus: live audience questions, injury updates, portal/roster-building discussion, and Pasadena meetup plans leading into Rose Bowl week.

Galen Clavio opens the show with a handful of Indiana football news items as the Hoosiers await their Rose Bowl / CFP quarterfinal opponent — including the wild scene at Memorial Stadium’s rally towel distribution, reflections on Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman win, and why keeping coordinator continuity (including Mike Shanahan’s extension and Bryant Haines on defense) matters for sustaining IU as a national power.

Then Galen is joined by former On3 reporter Andy Wittry for a wide-ranging conversation about the college football landscape: Utah’s groundbreaking private-capital partnership and what it could mean for athletic departments nationally, the Big 12’s reported pursuit of private capital, the growing financial squeeze (including high-profile student-fee debates), and how the CFP is evolving amid ongoing political pressure from major brands like Notre Dame.

Indiana football just added another piece of history: Fernando Mendoza is the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy, and Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield unpack what the moment means for the program, the fan base, and Mendoza’s place in Indiana sports lore. They also dig into the voting results and why Mendoza’s biggest moments (and biggest stage) ultimately separated him from the other finalists.

Then it’s a hard pivot to Indiana basketball: the Hoosiers lose 72–60 at Kentucky, and the conversation turns to the team’s offensive issues, foul trouble, thin margins, and what it means for the Big Ten grind ahead under Darian DeVries.

Indiana just won the Big Ten Championship and is gearing up for the College Football Playoff, but the work isn’t done. Galen Clavio goes solo to break down Indiana football’s week after the conference title, how the Hoosiers adjust defensively without Stephen Daley, and what potential CFP matchups vs Alabama or Oklahoma might look like schematically.

Galen also dives into the national college football drama:

• The Notre Dame–ACC war of words after the Irish were left out of the CFP, including AD Pete Bevacqua’s public shots at the league and calls for format changes.

• ACC commissioner Jim Phillips pushing for immediate CFP expansion after the controversy.

• The Heisman race between Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, who has become the media’s SEC-fueled alternative.

• Michigan’s ugly situation around former coach Sherrone Moore, and what it says about culture, leadership, and how quickly an athletic department can lose control

Plus: bracket talk, how Bryant Haines’ defense solves problems like a Roman legion, why Indiana’s portal strategy is pure Moneyball, and what the sport’s power brokers are really doing with the playoff going forward.

Subscribe for more Indiana football, CFP breakdowns, and Big Ten realignment drama all postseason.

Indiana University football are Big Ten Champions for the first time since 1967 — and Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield break down every emotional, unforgettable moment of IU’s 13–10 win over Ohio State.

From the defensive masterpiece, to Charlie Becker’s iconic championship catch, to Curt Cignetti’s program-defining statement, the guys look at how Indiana out-toughed, out-executed, and out-adjusted one of college football’s modern giants.

They also discuss:
– Why IU’s fans will remember this night forever
– The statistical backbone of the victory
– Key plays that flipped the game
– How this team’s identity has evolved
– What the Big Ten title means for IU’s future and the upcoming CFP

Presented by Homefield Apparel and Posh Hotel Bloomington.
Subscribe for Rose Bowl & CFP previews all week.