CrimsonCast

Ben Portnoy of Sports Business Journal joins Galen Clavio for a wide-ranging CrimsonCast conversation about the unstable future of college sports.

They break down the latest fights over NIL, athlete compensation, federal legislation, the College Sports Commission, SEC and Big Ten power plays, possible conference self-governance, and why the College Football Playoff expansion debate is as much about media money as it is about access. They also get into how the transfer portal has changed roster building, why Big Ten programs have found different paths to national success, and what college football might learn from pro sports models like the NFL, MLB, and even open-wheel racing.

What if Indiana had finished the job in 1992?

On this episode of The Crimson Era, Coach Tonsoni and Scott go back to one of the most painful “what ifs” in IU basketball history — Indiana’s legendary 1992 Final Four battle with Duke. From the controversial foul trouble to Todd Leary catching absolute fire late, the guys break down the game that still has Hoosier fans talking more than 30 years later.

Could this have been Bob Knight’s last great championship team? Did the officiating change the game? And would Indiana have beaten Michigan for the national title?

This one is a full-on trip through classic IU basketball history. 🏀

Topics include:

• Indiana vs Duke in the 1992 Final Four
• Bob Knight vs Coach K
• Calbert Cheaney, Damon Bailey & Todd Leary memories
• The controversial officiating and foul disparity
• Duke’s run to another national title
• Whether IU would’ve beaten Michigan’s Fab Five
• Why 1992 may have been Indiana’s last true title window under Knight
• How the game still impacts IU basketball history today

Whether you lived through it or only know the highlights, this is one of the defining games of the Crimson Era.

Drop your memories from the 1992 Final Four in the comments 👇
Did Indiana get robbed… or did Duke simply survive?

Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more IU basketball and football coverage all offseason long.

#IndianaBasketball #IUBB #Hoosiers #BobKnight #FinalFour #DukeBasketball #CalbertCheaney #DamonBailey #BackHomeNetwork

Galen Clavio and Grace Ybarra are back with a packed CrimsonCast episode covering Hoosier the Bison, the reveal of Abbey Armstrong, and why Indiana’s mascot moment has landed so well with IU fans.

They also talk through the latest debate over College Football Playoff expansion, the move toward a larger NCAA Tournament, and a great week for IU men’s soccer after Sam Sarver turned a late FC Dallas goal into one of the most viral MLS celebrations of the year.

Then it’s full Indy 500 mode: qualifying, weather worries, race-day traditions, Grace’s memories from the track, and winner picks for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Galen Clavio welcomes Colin McMahon of The Hoosier/On3 to talk through the new reality of Indiana football after a national championship season. They discuss how quickly the program’s culture has changed, what it was like to cover the title run as both a student and reporter, and why the Hoosiers remain a serious national contender heading into 2026.

The conversation also covers spring football takeaways, Josh Hoover, Tyler Morris, Indiana’s running back room, defensive reload, and the recruiting momentum building around Curt Cignetti’s program after another big weekend in Bloomington.

Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield shift gears for one of the best weeks on the Indiana sports calendar: Indy 500 week. They break down the 2026 Indianapolis 500 starting grid, Alex Palou’s pole run, David Malukas and Alexander Rossi on the front row, and why this year’s field feels unusually balanced.

The conversation covers Penske, Ganassi, Andretti, Pato O’Ward, Santino Ferrucci, Josef Newgarden starting deeper in the field, possible race-day surprises, and the storylines that would make for the biggest wins locally, nationally, and internationally. They also react to FOX’s qualifying broadcast and the quirks of watching the 500 as longtime Indiana sports fans.

NOTE: We recorded this on Monday, before the Rossi / O'Ward / Grosjean accident happened. We hope everyone is okay!

Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield are back on CrimsonCast with a wide-ranging mid-May episode. They open with Indy 500 season, IMS nostalgia, Homefield gear, and a very important Purdue Chipotle achievement before turning to Indiana basketball’s latest roster additions.

The guys discuss Justin Munden, Clemens Sokolov, how Darren DeVries’ roster is coming together, why continuity matters after last year’s reset, and what IU’s Big Ten schedule looks like on paper. They also talk about the importance of reconnecting Indiana basketball with fans around the state, Curt Cignetti’s White House visit with IU football, Scott’s new Crimson Era history series, and the pros and cons of expanding the NCAA Tournament to 76 teams.

Grace Ybarra and Galen Clavio are back on CrimsonCast for a wide-ranging offseason IU football conversation. They start with travel stories, mascots, and the long-awaited Homefield Rose Bowl jacket before getting into Indiana’s spring game, Josh Hoover, Carter Smith, the wide receiver room, and the overall vibe around a program trying to defend its spot at the top.

They also talk about the Northwestern game moving to Friday night, IU’s White House visit, Charlie Becker’s growing fan-favorite status, and the debate over a possible 24-team College Football Playoff. Naturally, it all ends with a serious discussion of Pop-Tart Bowl flavor possibilities.

What if Indiana finished the job in Columbus? 🤔

On this episode of The Crimson Era, Scott and Coach dive into Indiana football’s heartbreaking 2024 loss at Ohio State — and unpack the massive “what if” hanging over that game.

Could IU have made the Big Ten Championship? Hosted a College Football Playoff game? Changed the entire trajectory of the program even sooner?

The guys break down how close the Hoosiers really were, why the final score was misleading, and how that loss may have fueled Indiana’s rise into a national power under Curt Cignetti.

Topics include:

• The special teams mistakes that swung the Ohio State game
• Why Indiana was closer than people remember
• Alternate CFP scenarios if IU wins in Columbus
• Could the Hoosiers have beaten Oregon?
• How the 2024 losses helped shape the 2025 championship run
• Lessons Curt Cignetti and IU learned from hostile road environments
• Why Indiana football now has a target on its back

Plus:
🏀 Previewing future Crimson Era episodes on the 1992 Final Four run and Jay Edwards

Drop your own IU “what if” scenarios in the comments and let us know what Crimson Era topic we should tackle next.

Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more Indiana football and basketball coverage.

#iufb #IndianaHoosiers #CollegeFootball #BigTen #CurtCignetti #CFP #IndianaFootball

TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro + sponsor shoutouts
01:30 The “What If Indiana Beat Ohio State?” premise
03:00 Why the game felt closer than the final score
06:45 Reimagining Indiana’s CFP path
09:00 Would IU have beaten Oregon?
14:00 How the Ohio State loss helped fuel 2025
18:00 Lessons learned from Ohio State & Notre Dame
23:00 Could Indiana have sustained a title run in 2024?
26:00 How Cignetti is building long-term success
31:30 Previewing future Crimson Era episodes

Note: timestamps may not appear as clickable links for every listener depending on platform/app.

Galen Clavio reacts to Stewart Mandel’s profile of Curt Cignetti and uses it as a jumping-off point for a bigger conversation about Indiana football’s stunning rise, the confidence driving the program, and the challenge of sustaining success after a national championship season.

This episode looks at Cignetti’s process, the idea of “controlled arrogance,” the parallels to Bob Knight-era Indiana basketball, and why IU’s next challenge may be even harder than the climb itself. Galen also reflects on how far CrimsonCast — and Indiana football fans — have come from the low point of 2023 to the top of the sport.

The Crimson Era is officially underway—and we’re starting with the stories that define IU.

Coach Brian Tonsoni and Scott Caulfield kick off a new show dedicated to Indiana athletics history—diving into the moments, teams, and eras that shaped IU basketball and football. This is about legacy, perspective, and the conversations Hoosier fans love to have.

If you’ve ever debated the greatest IU teams, relived iconic moments, or wondered “what if?”—this show is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• The vision behind The Crimson Era
• Why IU basketball and football history deserve a deeper look
• Memorable teams, turning points, and defining eras
• How the past connects to where IU stands today
• The kinds of debates and stories we’ll tackle moving forward

And we’re making this interactive 👇

👉 Next episode topic:
What if the 2024 IU Football team beat Ohio State in Columbus?
What changes? How does the season—and maybe the program—shift from there?

Send us your questions, takes, and theories—we’ll feature the best ones on the show.

👉 Hit us on X:
@CrimsonCast317
@Soni42

Drop your favorite IU memories and your “what if” scenarios in the comments, subscribe, and help us build The Crimson Era.

Presented by the Back Home Network.