The podcast welcomes Graham Couch, columnist for the Lansing State Journal, to take a look at Indiana's next opponent, Michigan State, ahead of the Hoosiers homecoming rivalry meeting with the Spartans in Bloomington.

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/10/13/curt-cignetti-penn-state-coaching-candidate-firing-james-franklin-indiana-football-nil-pat-kraft/86666741007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman host their weekly live podcast, putting a bow on Oregon before looking at this week's matchup against a struggling Michigan State team. What are Curt Cignetti's keys to this game, what's going on in East Lansing and how it might affect Saturday's Old Brass Spittoon matchup.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

3:06 -- Tying a bow on Oregon

5:57 -- Michigan State's current troubles

9:40 -- IU staying focused out of Oregon

13:21 -- Michigan State scout, game preview

31:15 -- Final thoughts, predictions

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/10/13/curt-cignetti-penn-state-coaching-candidate-firing-james-franklin-indiana-football-nil-pat-kraft/86666741007/

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Mike Niziolek (in Eugene) and Zach Osterman (in Bloomington) huddle to discuss the ins and outs of Indiana's 30-20 road win at Oregon on Saturday. Mike and Zach dive into an excellent defensive performance, what to make of IU offensively, what this win means for this season and beyond.

Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek welcome James Crepea, Oregon beat reporter for The Oregonian, to the podcast to preview Indiana's top-10 showdown with the Ducks in Eugene. Osterman, Niziolek and Crepea dive into a clutch of important topics, including Oregon quarterback Dante Moore's growth, what the Penn State win meant and whether this Oregon team is Dan Lanning's best so far.

(Disclaimer: Podcast recorded before Week 6 games.)

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

2:08 -- Oregon overview

5:53 -- Is this Oregon team Dan Lanning's most talented

10:12 -- How the Ducks built impressive depth

17:17 -- What the Penn State win meant

22:07 -- Dante Moore's growth at quarterback

38:43 -- Thoughts on Indiana, perception of this game from Oregon's side

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Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek pick apart one of the most exciting games of the season, and one of Indiana's toughest tests: No. 7 IU at No. 2 Oregon, on Saturday afternoon in Eugene. What does this game teach us about Indiana? What will the Hoosiers need from Fernando Mendoza? What's at stake, win or lose? Zach and Mike explore that and more, on this week's Mind Your Banners.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

0:46 -- How big is this game for Indiana?

9:07 -- Looking at Oregon

18:34 -- Oregon's Dante Moore

27:25 -- Indiana's defensive strength this season

42:14 -- Fernando Mendoza on the big stage

53:04 -- Final thoughts/predictions

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman sit down for this week's podcast, examining IU football's 5-0 start, where the Hoosiers stand at the bye week and more. Plus, a lengthy look at Darian DeVries' preseason preparations, and why he's bringing his basketball team to his fan base so intentionally and so often this month.

Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek discuss Indiana's 20-15 win Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium, a game won by a late pass from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Sarratt that left Curt Cignetti and his players praising the resilience of a team now heading into its bye week 5-0.

Tyler Tachman from the Des Moines Register joins a special Mind Your Banners to preview Indiana's Saturday trip to Iowa from the Hawkeyes' side. What strengths might Iowa lean on? Do the Hawkeyes have injury concerns? What's the interest in this game from the local side? Tachman and Osterman cover a multitude of topics as they prepare listeners for this weekend's game.

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman huddle to trade final thoughts on IU football's 63-10 win last weekend against Illinois, before turning their attention to the challenge awaiting Curt Cignetti's team this weekend in Iowa City. Will Fernando Mendoza handle his first road test? How do the Hoosiers navigate Kinnick Stadium? What kind of game will this be? All that and more, discussed.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

1:24 -- Wrapping Illinois

7:46 -- What we've learned about IU through four games

20:08 -- Initial thoughts on Iowa

28:30 -- The Hawkeyes' defensive strength

35:50 -- Kinnick Stadium, and Indiana's first road test

41:53 -- Fernando Mendoza so far

47:33 -- Louis Moore eligibility update

50:47 -- Final thoughts and predictions

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman break down the ins and outs of Indiana's dominant 63-10 win Saturday night against Illinois, a blowout victory over a top-10 team. Topics discussed include Fernando Mendoza's performance, IU's wider dominance offensively, the threat of Indiana's pass rush and what all this game means for Curt Cignetti's program moving forward.

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