Galen Clavio and Grace Ybarra open with a big CrimsonCast announcement — Grace is joining the show as a regular host — then dive into a two-sport update on Indiana basketball and Indiana football.

On the basketball side, they recap IU’s split in L.A.: why the UCLA double-overtime win looms even larger now, what went wrong in the USC loss, and how the Hoosiers’ late-game decision-making and three-point reliance shape the NCAA Tournament ceiling. They also look ahead to the Wisconsin home game and what Indiana needs to do to stay on the right side of the bracket conversation.

After the break, it’s football: Indiana absorbs its first meaningful offseason “losses” as coaches move on, then quickly answers with a familiar name — Tino Sunseri returns to the staff. Galen and Grace discuss why keeping the core intact (including OC Mike Shanahan and DC Bryant Haines) matters, what ESPN-style roster/portal evaluations get right (and wrong), and how Indiana’s talent evaluation under Curt Cignetti continues to challenge the sport’s assumptions. Finally: spring game timing and what could be a massive Little 500 week in Bloomington.

Galen Clavio is joined by Taylor Lehman to put a bow on Indiana football’s national championship run — starting with what actually happened in the title game against Miami, why it got dicey in the third quarter, and the handful of pivotal moments (including the blocked punt TD and the late interception) that slammed the door.

From there, it’s a forward-looking, roster-building deep dive: how Indiana replaces key departures (including Stephen Daley, Aidan Fisher, D’Angelo Ponds, and Lewis Moore), why continuity with Curt Cignetti’s staff matters, and what the portal class says about the program’s “production over potential” strategy heading into 2026 — with detailed talk on Josh Hoover at QB, the tight end depth concern, and why the new wide receiver room could be even nastier.

Presented by Homefield Apparel and Posh Hotel Bloomington.

Galen Clavio breaks down Indiana men’s basketball’s wild 98–97 double-overtime win over UCLA—a huge résumé boost that stabilizes IU’s NCAA Tournament outlook and changes the tone of February.

Galen covers the late-game decision not to foul, the offensive explosion from Nick Dorn, Lamar Wilkerson, and Reed Bailey, and what the efficiency trendlines say about where Indiana is improving (and where the defense still has to tighten up). He also digs into some of the factors that showed up at Pauley Pavilion, updated tournament odds, and what Indiana needs to do over the next month—starting with a late-night trip to USC.

Galen Clavio welcomes Bill Connelly (ESPN) — the creator of SP+ — for a deep, nuts-and-bolts look at Indiana football’s unprecedented rise to the top of college football and what it means going forward.

They discuss why Indiana’s two-year climb under Curt Cignetti is so difficult to comp historically, what the numbers say about how Indiana won (elite down-to-down efficiency, red zone performance, and consistently winning field position), and why “just use the portal” is a lazy explanation that doesn’t match the underlying inputs.

Bill also explains how SP+ balances efficiency vs explosiveness, why special teams are so hard to measure (but can decide championships), where Indiana’s title team fits among recent champions, and how returning production + incoming production help shape early projections for 2026.

Galen Clavio is joined by Olivia Ray to relive Miami during national championship weekend—from the lead-up and media-day vibe to the chaos around the stadium, credentialed access, and what it was like working on the field as Indiana finished the job.

They talk about how Indiana carried itself all week, the strange “everyone-get-inside-early” atmosphere around Hard Rock Stadium, and the surreal postgame sprint when confetti starts falling and everything happens at once. Plus: the ripple effect among IU alumni and longtime program staff, and a big announcement—Olivia is launching a new Back Home Network show, “Raise the Flag.”

Galen Clavio is joined by special guest Grace Ybarra to relive the unforgettable CFP National Championship weekend in Miami—the 48-hour blur of events, fan moments, stadium chaos, and the emotional whiplash of watching Indiana win it all.

They walk through everything from the Homefield events (including the packed night at Mickey Burkes with Straight No Chaser) to the American Social gathering on game day, the tailgating scene outside Hard Rock Stadium, and what it was like inside the building as Indiana pulled off the championship win over Miami.

Most importantly, this episode is about the feeling: what it’s like to experience a once-in-a-lifetime sports moment alongside other Hoosiers, meet strangers who instantly become friends, and realize—slowly, then all at once—that Indiana football really became national champions.

You know Andy Bottoms from Assembly Call, but he’s also a lifelong IU Football fan. For Andy, football—and Memorial Stadium in particular—represents a deep, personal connection shared with his father.

Wanted to get him on to talk about his history with IU Football, and what this season and journey to a National Championship has meant to him.

Join CrimsonCast and the Back Home Network as we talk about IU Football's 2026 schedule release, Indiana's win over Purdue in men's basketball, recruiting news, questions about the football team, and more.

Galen welcomes Alex Paul of Hoosiers Connect fame to the podcast for an in-depth conversation and look back at the "Stampede To Pasadena" --- the cross-country trip that Alex and GC took to see Indiana football play in their first Rose Bowl Game in nearly 60 years.

We discuss the origins of the plan to drive across country, how the drive (and the social media content) slowly took shape as the trip continued, and the culmination of Indiana fans' hopes and dreams in the 38-3 demolition of Alabama in Pasadena. Also included are a variety of images from the stampede, showcasing some of the interesting and fun moments that we found along the way.

For fans of travelogues and for those of you who followed the Stampede as closely as you did, this podcast should answer some questions for you! We appreciate everyone who took part, donated money, and followed along on social media.

You know Coach Tonsoni from Assembly Call, but he has also been a long time IU Football season ticket holder. Wanted to get him on to talk about his history with IU Football, and what this season and journey to a National Championship has meant to him.