IU Insider Zach Osterman checks in with the first installment of this week's Rose Bowl Diaries, tracking all the news and notes as the Hoosiers head west for their date with Alabama in the Rose Bowl, and the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Today, updates and thoughts on Indiana's offensive preparations, with a little bit more on what to expect in the coming days.

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/23/indiana-football-coach-curt-cignetti-alabama-kalen-deboer-career-connections-kane-wommack-nick-saban/87887446007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman cover a lot of ground during a quiet period just before the Hoosiers' Rose Bowl preparations really begin to ramp up. The boys take a look at potential CFP matchups, pending portal needs, early projections for the Rose Bowl and more.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

2:15 -- First look at potential quarterfinal opponents

18:17 -- Early Rose Bowl projections

27:11 -- HeisMendoza, and moving on

31:09 -- The DL after Daley

43:30 -- Projecting roster questions

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/16/indiana-football-cfp-rose-bowl-fernando-mendoza-heisman/87782120007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman pack a lot into this week's show, discussing Indiana basketball so far, the Hoosiers' outlook at Kentucky, the shape of the Heisman Trophy race and how Fernando Mendoza fi

Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek break down a whirlwind 24 hours, after Indiana defeats No. 1 Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship, clinching for the Hoosiers the No. 1 ranking and overall seed in this year's College Football Playoff, as well as a place in this year's Rose Bowl. Zach and Mike recap the game, analyze the Hoosiers' Playoff path and try to make some sense of what all this means for IU fans.

IndyStar's Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek of The Herald-Times break down a whirlwind 24 hours, after Indiana defeats No. 1 Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship, clinching for the Hoosiers the No. 1 ranking and overall seed in this year's College Football Playoff, as well as a place in this year's Rose Bowl. Zach and Mike recap the game, analyze the Hoosiers' Playoff path and try to make some sense of what all this means for IU fans.

Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch joins IndyStar's Zach Osterman for a BuckeyeXtra/Mind Your Banners crossover, previewing Saturday night's Big Ten championship game between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana. Kaufman and Osterman break down everything from the quarterback matchup, to these teams' dominant defense, to what a win would mean for both sides, its effect on the Heisman race and more.

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/02/indiana-football-pat-coogan-leader-proven-winner-motivator-speeches-curt-cignetti-big-ten-cfp/87557306007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman convene for the most anticipated Mind Your Banners in history: The Big Ten championship game preview. Zach and Mike break down the matchup between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana, what the keys are for both sides, who and what might turn the game, what a win means to each side and more.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

1:53 -- Initial thoughts

8:10 -- What this game means

12:11 -- Quarterback battle

17:03 -- Defenses staying fresh all season

26:18 -- Potential x-factors

36:24 -- Most important player each side

41:29 -- Mike's got questions

51:21 -- Potential CFP implications

1:01:01 -- Final thoughts, predictions

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/02/indiana-football-pat-coogan-leader-proven-winner-motivator-speeches-curt-cignetti-big-ten-cfp/87557306007/

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USA Today Co.'s Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss the Hoosiers' forthcoming matchup with Ohio State in this year's Big Ten football championship game, how IU got there, what we learned from the Purdue win and what to expect in Indy.

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss Indiana's quest to complete a perfect 12-0 season with Friday night's Old Oaken Bucket game in West Lafayette. Does Purdue have hope of an upset or will the Hoosiers punch their ticket to the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis?

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman sit down during the bye week to discuss some interesting talking points around Curt Cignetti's team, as the Hoosiers try to rest and recover themselves ahead of the sprint finish to the season now coming into view.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

3:38 -- Will Fernando Mendoza win the Heisman Trophy?

8:32 -- Why this Heisman race has developed this way

21:53 -- One encouraging trend ahead of Purdue

28:19 -- One discouraging trend ahead of Purdue

32:35 -- How well-represented is Indiana on All-Big Ten teams?

37:41 -- Reasonable expectations from here

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/11/17/fernando-mendoza-heisman-odds-indiana-football-stats-julian-sayin-marcel-reed-diego-pavia/87317595007/-defend-effort-shots-miss-darian-devries-incarnate-word/87310163007/

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