CrimsonCast

Darius Wabbington is an Indiana Hoosier. The five-star 2027 center has committed to Indiana basketball, giving Darian DeVries one of his biggest recruiting wins yet and adding another major piece to IU’s rapidly developing 2027 class.

Galen Clavio is joined by Brian Tonsoni, Ryan Phillips and Mike Wiemuth for an emergency podcast breaking down Wabbington’s commitment, his skill set and why his game fits what DeVries is trying to build. The 6-foot-11 center brings unusual passing and ball-handling ability, developing three-point range, physical size and the versatility to operate both inside and away from the basket.

The crew also looks at Indiana’s 2027 class alongside Chase Branham and Felix Kiehlneker, Wabbington’s NBA potential, how he could be used in DeVries’ offense, and what beating Arizona and Illinois for an elite national recruit says about IU’s recruiting trajectory.

Plus: why Indiana’s roster construction looks increasingly intentional — and how this commitment compares with the program’s history of landing five-star prospects.

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Galen Clavio recaps Indiana’s dominant 47-15 road win over Rutgers, a performance that moves the Hoosiers to 5-0 and restores plenty of confidence after the tighter Northwestern game.

Turbo Richard rushed for 204 yards, Josh Hoover was efficient and turnover-free, and Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker both went over 100 receiving yards. Galen breaks down why Indiana’s combination of backs, receivers and offensive-line play is becoming such a difficult matchup.

The defense continued to shut down opposing rushing attacks, while the episode also examines Indiana’s pass rush, the advanced statistical trends from the last three games and the remarkable fact that IU finished the night without a penalty.

Plus: Recite the Drives, special-teams concerns, a deeper look at the running back room and an early preview of what should be a much more revealing test against Nebraska.

Indiana football takes its 20-game winning streak on the road to Rutgers, and this matchup offers the Hoosiers a chance to answer some of the questions that lingered after Northwestern. Galen Clavio breaks down Indiana’s first road game of 2026, the advanced numbers, Rutgers’ strengths and weaknesses, and the areas IU most needs to sharpen.

The episode compares Indiana’s first four games of 2025 and 2026, showing that this year’s team is much closer statistically to last season’s national champions than the eye test may suggest. The biggest differences are third-down efficiency, sack rate and some passing-defense issues — while Indiana has actually been more explosive offensively and stronger against the run.

Then it’s a full Rutgers scouting report. KJ Duff presents a major challenge for the IU secondary, while Indiana’s offense should have opportunities against a struggling Scarlet Knights defense. Galen also discusses Josh Hoover, the red-zone and goal-line offense, the pass rush, A.J. Harris, Turbo Richard, Lee Beebe Jr., Tyler Morris and what Indiana may still be keeping off film before Nebraska and Ohio State.

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Indiana football heads to Rutgers for its first road game of 2026, and Galen Clavio is joined by Kamady Rudd for a lighter CrimsonCast look at the weekend — plus an important late injury update involving Lee Beebe Jr., Turbo Richard and Indiana’s running back room.

Galen opens with the latest availability news. Beebe and Sean Cuono were listed as questionable, Khobie Martin remained out, and Turbo Richard’s status was still worth watching. With Indiana’s depth suddenly being tested at running back, the episode looks at how the Hoosiers could manage carries against Rutgers.

There’s also a quick IU Athletics update after Indiana volleyball pushed No. 6 Wisconsin to five sets and Indiana men’s soccer prepared for a major matchup with Maryland.

Then Kamady joins the show to talk about the nerves that came with Indiana’s close Northwestern win, how quickly Hoosier fans have adjusted to winning, what IU’s first road trip should feel like, and the essentials for an Indiana football watch party — including an extensive and highly important discussion of dips, Doritos and game-day food.

Plus: another CrimsonCast Dog of the Week and Galen’s Rutgers travel plans.

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Indiana football hits the road for the first time in 2026 as the Hoosiers travel to Rutgers, and Galen Clavio is joined by Andrew Garrison and Brooks White from the Hoosier Network to break down what Indiana needs to clean up after the Northwestern game.

The group starts with the 29-23 win over Northwestern and why the reaction may have been harsher than the performance warranted. Indiana still answered when it needed to, Lee Beebe Jr. delivered a huge second half, and the defense showed both its strengths and its biggest current issue: finishing plays against mobile quarterbacks.

Then it’s on to Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have one of the Big Ten’s most dangerous receivers in KJ Duff, while Antwan Raymond’s status could materially affect their offense. For Indiana, the priorities are clear: get Josh Hoover and the deep passing game fully in sync with Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, generate more pressure up front, and prove the secondary can handle a legitimate vertical threat.

The episode also covers Turbo Richard’s importance, Daniel Ndukwe’s status, Indiana’s defensive line, and why Rutgers represents one final opportunity to sharpen things before Nebraska and Ohio State.

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Indiana hits the road for the first time this season, and Vegas is asking the Hoosiers to lay a lot of points. On this week’s CrimsonCASH, Scott and James break down IU at Rutgers, explain why Indiana has become tougher to bet this season, and work through the best betting spots across the Big Ten. 

🏈 On this episode:

• Indiana at Rutgers — can IU cover 24.5 on the road?
• Why the IU-Rutgers over at 56.5 catches James’ eye
• Has Vegas finally caught up to the Hoosiers?
• Maryland at Nebraska and one of the strongest plays on the board
• Purdue at Illinois
• Washington at USC and questions surrounding the Trojans
• Minnesota getting points at home against Michigan
• Ohio State laying nearly two touchdowns at Kinnick
• Penn State at Northwestern
• This week’s Hot Streak bets
• The latest Keegan’s Slice of the Pie after last week’s USC loss
• An early look at Florida-Missouri
• A Gambling with Grok update after last week’s winning spread bet
• 
  

James’ Hot Streak card starts with IU-Rutgers over 56.5, then adds Nebraska -13.5 on an alternate line. And after two years of finding value betting Indiana, the guys discuss why the defending national champs have become a much different proposition at the window. 

Drop your best bet for the weekend in the comments, and subscribe to the Back Home Network for more CrimsonCASH and Indiana coverage.

CrimsonCASH — a proud podcast of the Back Home Network.

TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS
00:03:53 — Welcome to CrimsonCASH
00:05:51 — Maryland at Nebraska
00:07:06 — Purdue at Illinois
00:08:00 — Washington at USC
00:09:06 — Michigan at Minnesota
00:10:47 — Michigan State at Wisconsin
00:11:36 — Ohio State at Iowa
00:12:55 — Penn State at Northwestern
00:15:28 — Indiana at Rutgers betting preview
00:17:52 — Has Vegas caught up to Indiana?
00:18:43 — Hot Streak: IU-Rutgers over + Nebraska
00:19:18 — Keegan’s Slice of the Pie
00:21:16 — Gambling with Grok update
00:22:11 — Wrap-up

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

Indiana football has won 20 straight games, and a victory at Rutgers would put the Hoosiers alongside Texas and Washington for the longest FBS winning streak of the 21st century. On this Bison Briefing, Galen Clavio looks at just how dramatically Curt Cignetti has changed Indiana football — and whether the 2026 Hoosiers are actually that far behind last year’s championship team statistically.

There’s plenty happening beyond football. No. 2 Indiana men’s soccer hosts No. 4 Maryland in a massive Big Ten matchup, with former Maryland standout Stephane Njike now playing a major role for IU. No. 15 Indiana volleyball takes its 2-0 Big Ten record to No. 6 Wisconsin after getting Avery Tatum back in the lineup.

Galen also compares Indiana’s 2025 and 2026 offensive and defensive numbers, discusses Josh Hoover’s turnover-free start, the pass-rush issues that surfaced against Northwestern, Turbo Richard’s status, Tyler Morris, and the possibility of Bryant Haines or Mike Shanahan drawing head-coaching interest.

What does ESPN FPI actually measure — and why can its rankings look so different from what you see on the field? Galen Clavio breaks down the difference between FPI Power Index and FPI Efficiency, then uses the latest numbers to evaluate Indiana and the rest of the Big Ten.

The key distinction: FPI’s power ranking is forward-looking and predictive, incorporating opponent-adjusted results along with preseason information and priors. The efficiency ratings are different — they focus on what teams have actually done so far, adjusting performance for opponent and game situation across offense, defense and special teams.

That distinction matters for Indiana football. The Hoosiers are seventh in the current FPI power ranking but tenth in overall efficiency, with a top-10 offense, top-20 defense and much weaker special-teams number. Galen also looks at Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Iowa, USC and Purdue to show how the underlying efficiency data can reveal strengths and weaknesses that the headline ranking does not.

Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more CrimsonCast, Indiana football and college football analysis throughout the season.

Indiana football is 4-0 after surviving Northwestern 29-23 under the lights at Memorial Stadium. Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield break down a sloppy but revealing Big Ten opener, including Lee Beebe Jr.’s 200-yard rushing performance, Josh Hoover’s uneven-but-clutch night, Turbo Richard’s injury and a defense that struggled to contain Aidan Chiles in the second half.

The Hoosiers made more mistakes than we are accustomed to seeing under Curt Cignetti — eight penalties, missed tackles, red-zone problems and several missed opportunities. But Indiana also responded when the game tightened. Hoover made plays with both his arm and legs, the offense scored on five of its final seven meaningful possessions, and IU leaned almost entirely on the running game to finish the night.

Galen and Scott also examine the advanced numbers, Indiana’s continuing goal-line problems, the offensive line, the officiating confusion early in the game, and why this performance may ultimately be more correctable than alarming. Plus: game balls, Memorial Stadium observations and a new batch of Scott sidebars.

Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more CrimsonCast coverage of Indiana football, IU Athletics and the Big Ten.

Indiana football opens Big Ten play under the lights against Northwestern, and Galen Clavio is joined by Kamady Rudd to talk about the Friday-night atmosphere, cooler football weather, and what this matchup should reveal about the defending national champion Hoosiers.

After three games Indiana was expected to control, Northwestern represents the first conference test. Galen and Kamady discuss the expectations for Josh Hoover, Charlie Becker, Nick Marsh, Turbo Richard and an Indiana defense that fans are still waiting to see fully flex its muscle.

The conversation also turns to former IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza, whose latest partnership somehow makes fiscal responsibility entertaining. His new “Finance with Fernando” LinkedIn series continues a run of endorsement work that fits his personality remarkably well.

Plus: the eternal Indiana argument over whether fall is actually good, the latest CrimsonCast Dog of the Week, and score predictions for Indiana-Northwestern.

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