Indiana football opened its 2026 season with a 52–16 win over North Texas—and Josh Hoover looked ready to lead the defending national champions.

Rhett Lewis breaks down Hoover’s impressive Hoosiers debut, Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker making plays downfield, Lee Beebe Jr.’s tone-setting kickoff return and the early returns from Indiana’s rebuilt defense. He also examines the offensive line, IU’s developing run game, the injuries at cornerback and the defensive depth Curt Cignetti and Bryant Haines can deploy moving forward.

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Indiana football is finally back, and Big Red Carpet joins forces with CrimsonCast for a full preview of the Hoosiers’ 2026 opener against North Texas. Rhett Lewis leads the conversation with Galen Clavio as they break down Josh Hoover, Curt Cignetti’s year-three roster, the defensive front, the running backs, and what IU fans should watch for Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

This crossover episode starts with the strange new reality of Indiana football: the Hoosiers are coming off a Big Ten championship, a national championship, and a 16-0 season — and yet the roster may still be better in several key areas. Rhett and Galen talk about how different the offseason has felt, why Cignetti seems confident heading into year three, and how Indiana’s talent baseline has changed through both the transfer portal and high school recruiting.

The biggest focus is the quarterback position. Rhett previews his upcoming “Under the Hood” conversation with Cignetti and digs into why Josh Hoover is such an intriguing fit in Mike Shanahan’s offense. The discussion covers Hoover’s experience, the unfair turnover narrative from TCU, his ability to process defenses, the importance of quarterback coaching, and why the combination of Hoover, Indiana’s offensive line, and the Hoosiers’ receiver room could unlock another high-level offense.

The episode also gets into the rest of the roster: a potentially terrifying defensive front with Daniel Ndukwe, Chidi Obiazor, Toby Ndukwe, Joe Yelich, Stephen Daley, and others; the chance for Bryant Haines to create even more pressure and confusion; the running back trio of Turbo Richard, Khobie Martin, and Lee Beebe Jr.; the offensive line transition with Bray Lynch at center; and the tight end battle involving Andrew Barker, Brock Schott, and Parker Elmore.

The final segment turns to North Texas, former IU quarterback Tayven Jackson, and how strange it will be to see him return to Memorial Stadium in a Mean Green uniform. Rhett and Galen explain why this is a difficult opener for Jackson and a rebuilt North Texas roster, why Indiana may still keep things fairly vanilla, and why special teams — including Tyler Morris stepping in at punt returner — remains one of the most important parts of IU’s championship formula.

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Another court ruling has thrown the college football eligibility landscape—and Indiana’s defensive plans—back into uncertainty.

Rhett Lewis explains why the U.S. Court of Appeals’ latest action in Wisne v. NCAA has left Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt temporarily ineligible, what legal options could come next and how Curt Cignetti might manage the continued uncertainty.

Even without Daley and Wyatt, Indiana still possesses one of college football’s deepest defensive fronts. But after injuries ended both players’ 2025 seasons prematurely, Rhett hopes they receive a genuine opportunity to finish what they started.

This episode is brought to you by Big Sandy Superstore. Make an eligible purchase by Labor Day weekend, and it could be free if Indiana goes undefeated and wins the national championship!

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Fall camp is here, and Rhett Lewis is back on The Big Red Carpet to preview the biggest questions facing Indiana football as the Hoosiers begin their title defense.

Rhett opens with the huge news that Stephen Daley is back, adding even more depth and star power to what may already be one of the best defensive fronts in college football. From there, he breaks down the five biggest questions for IU heading into camp: whether Josh Hoover can leave his turnover issues behind, how Bryant Haines’ defense adjusts without D’Angelo Ponds, how the program carries forward its championship culture without the original James Madison core, which players could become breakout stars in 2026, and whether Indiana may actually be better in key areas than last year’s national championship team.

It’s a full Big Red Carpet camp preview as the countdown to North Texas — and another massive Indiana football season — officially begins.

Indiana football’s first five game times are officially set — and the Hoosiers are opening the season in the national spotlight.

On this episode of The Big Red Carpet, Rhett Lewis breaks down Indiana’s early-season schedule, starting with a Big Noon Kickoff opener against North Texas at Memorial Stadium. Rhett looks at the return storyline around former IU quarterback Tayven Jackson, the challenge of facing a rebuilt North Texas team, and what the opening stretch tells us about Indiana’s place in the national college football conversation.

Rhett also previews the rest of IU’s announced schedule windows, including Howard on Big Ten Network, a tricky Peacock matchup with Western Kentucky, a Friday night Big Ten opener against Northwestern, and an October road trip to Rutgers. Plus: Curt Cignetti’s Indy 500 moment, the upcoming Substack film sessions on Joe Brunner and Indiana’s Kansas State defensive line transfers, and a quick look ahead to a difficult October slate featuring Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan and Washington.

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Indiana football just turned a championship season into a historic NFL Draft.

On this episode of The Big Red Carpet, Rhett Lewis recaps a record-setting weekend for the Hoosiers, with eight players selected—breaking a program mark that had stood for nearly 50 years and signaling a new era for IU football.

Rhett takes you pick-by-pick through the class, starting with No. 1 overall selection Fernando Mendoza and what makes him a franchise cornerstone—not just as a quarterback, but as a leader and person.

From there, it’s a deep dive into every Hoosier drafted, including Omar Cooper’s first-round landing spot, D’Angelo Ponds’ perfect scheme fit, and Kaelon Black’s rise into a Day 2 selection.

You’ll also get insight into why teams valued players like Elijah Sarratt, Pat Coogan, and Aiden Fisher, plus a look at undrafted free agents finding their way into NFL camps.More than a recap, this episode closes the book on Indiana’s title run—and shows just how sustainable this program’s rise might be.

It’s a CrimsonCast x The Big Red Carpet crossover as Galen Clavio and Rhett Lewis preview the NFL Draft and break down where Indiana’s championship stars could go — and what a massive draft weekend would mean for the IU football brand moving forward.

They start with the headliner: Fernando Mendoza as the likely No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, then run through the next wave of Hoosiers with real draft momentum — including Omar Cooper Jr., D’Angelo Ponds, Elijah Sarratt, Aidan Fisher, and more. They also discuss why IU’s developmental pipeline under Curt Cignetti and OC Mike Shanahan is now a tangible NFL selling point, and how “you can’t buy that marketing” moments change recruiting, perception, and portal choices.

Rhett Lewis sits down with Indiana center Pat Coogan for an in-depth conversation on The Big Red Carpet. Coogan reflects on his journey from Notre Dame to Indiana, breaking down the Hoosiers’ national championship season, his leadership on the offensive line, and his path to the NFL Draft.

He also shares incredible insight on quarterback Fernando Mendoza, what makes him special, and the moments that defined Indiana’s historic run.

Plus: Pro Day preview, spring football updates, and what’s next for IU football.

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Rhett Lewis sits down with Indiana national champion wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for an in-depth conversation on the latest episode of The Big Red Carpet.

From his legendary Penn State game-winning catch to blazing a 4.42 forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Cooper reflects on his journey from Indiana breakout star to potential first-round NFL Draft pick.

Rhett and Omar dive into the moments that defined Indiana’s championship season, the mindset behind his elite run-after-catch ability, and what he’s learned from playing alongside Fernando Mendoza and under Curt Cignetti.

Topics include:

• Cooper’s mindset entering the NFL Draft process

• His 4.42 Combine 40 time and the reaction afterward

• What teams ask during NFL interviews

• The culture that fueled Indiana’s national championship run

• The story behind that Penn State catch

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most electrifying playmakers in college football and a rising star preparing for the NFL.

Live from Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine, Rhett Lewis and special guest Galen Clavio break down a historic moment for Indiana Hoosiers football.

For the first time in program history, Indiana isn’t just sending players to the Combine — they may have the No. 1 overall pick since the 1930s.

Rhett and Galen dive into:

• Why Fernando Mendoza is QB1 — and why the pre-draft “noise” won’t change that

• The meteoric rise of Omar Cooper as a potential first-round pick

• Draft projections for Elijah Sarratt

• The value and leadership of Pat Coogan

• Why D'Angelo Ponds is one of the most technically sound DBs in this class

• The football IQ that makes Aiden Fisher such a valuable NFL prospect

This episode is part Combine preview, part IU draft celebration, and part inside look at how Indiana has rebuilt a legitimate NFL pipeline.

The Hoosiers aren’t just participating anymore.

They’re setting the tone.