Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss the fallout from Indiana's upset loss to Northwestern, where it leaves the Hoosiers' tournament chances, how it blends into the wider discourse around this program and more. Plus, discussion of IU football's record representation at the NFL Combine.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

0:51 -- IU at the Combine

11:33 -- The importance of this week for IU football

15:25 -- Unpacking the Northwestern lose

21:35 -- Indiana's offensive outages

26:14 -- The wider program malaise

34:44 -- Ryan Carr's hire, and the reset it must signal

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/02/25/indiana-basketball-loss-northwestern-coach-darian-devries-faces-rebuild-ryan-carr/88850849007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss the fallout from Indiana's upset loss to Northwestern, where it leaves the Hoosiers' tournament chances, how it blends into the wider discourse around this program and more. Plus, discussion of IU football's record representation at the NFL Combine.
Chapters:
0:00 -- Intro
0:51 -- IU at the Combine
11:33 -- The importance of this week for IU football
15:25 -- Unpacking the Northwestern lose
21:35 -- Indiana's offensive outages
26:14 -- The wider program malaise
34:44 -- Ryan Carr's hire, and the reset it must signal
Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Findiana%2F2026%2F02%2F25%2Findiana-basketball-loss-northwestern-coach-darian-devries-faces-rebuild-ryan-carr%2F88850849007%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClark.Wade%40indystar.com%7Cd1979b5011b34fdcab6c08de74ac2944%7Cbc924c8d3e164e88bf26d7fcfb14f2d5%7C0%7C0%7C639076479937866849%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Jb2SJ5rONpcPfmOQ1g995qefDeBAsLB4m4aC2f5IBow%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/02/25/indiana-basketball-loss-northwestern-coach-darian-devries-faces-rebuild-ryan-carr/88850849007/</a>
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Mind Your Banners:  A bad time for a bad loss

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman catch up on football's offseason reset, storylines for Curt Cignetti's team heading toward spring, Darian DeVries' bubbling resume and more.

Chapters:

0:00 -- Intro

0:53 -- Checking in with football

7:30 -- Offseason storylines

21:46 -- Hoops heading into February

32:30 -- What makes a successful first DeVries season?

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/02/03/indiana-football-roster-khobie-martin-future-players-step-up-returning-win-coach-curt-cignetti/88478021007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman catch up on football's offseason reset, storylines for Curt Cignetti's team heading toward spring, Darian DeVries' bubbling resume and more.
Chapters:
0:00 -- Intro
0:53 -- Checking in with football
7:30 -- Offseason storylines
21:46 -- Hoops heading into February
32:30 -- What makes a successful first DeVries season?
Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/02/03/indiana-football-roster-khobie-martin-future-players-step-up-returning-win-coach-curt-cignetti/88478021007/" data-ogsc="" data-linkindex="0">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/02/03/indiana-football-roster-khobie-martin-future-players-step-up-returning-win-coach-curt-cignetti/88478021007/</a>
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Mind Your Banners: Life on the bubble

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss IU football's off ramp from winning a CFP national championship into preparations for 2026, plus an important win for Darian DeVries' team over Purdue that might just have put the Hoosiers back on a path to the NCAA tournament.

Chapters: 0:00 -- Intro

1:15 -- Football finally settling down

9:01 -- How Cignetti's Hoosiers move on

12:58 -- Thoughts on how IU's roster settled out

24:03 -- Shifting to basketball, big Purdue win

33:11 -- Nick Dorn's emergence, and what IU needs from LA trip

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/29/indiana-basketball-nick-dorn-stats-potential-coach-darian-devries-ncaa-tournament-hopes/88399661007/

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<hr>
Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss IU football's off ramp from winning a CFP national championship into preparations for 2026, plus an important win for Darian DeVries' team over Purdue that might just have put the Hoosiers back on a path to the NCAA tournament.
Chapters: 0:00 -- Intro
1:15 -- Football finally settling down
9:01 -- How Cignetti's Hoosiers move on
12:58 -- Thoughts on how IU's roster settled out
24:03 -- Shifting to basketball, big Purdue win
33:11 -- Nick Dorn's emergence, and what IU needs from LA trip
Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Findiana%2F2026%2F01%2F29%2Findiana-basketball-nick-dorn-stats-potential-coach-darian-devries-ncaa-tournament-hopes%2F88399661007%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClark.Wade%40indystar.com%7Ca2988a570a944a62885808de602d611d%7Cbc924c8d3e164e88bf26d7fcfb14f2d5%7C0%7C0%7C639053945182762286%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=0VsOkLJsar40Ey02bLQoY4LL0bxU4rqlhvGQNjOlQfg%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/29/indiana-basketball-nick-dorn-stats-potential-coach-darian-devries-ncaa-tournament-hopes/88399661007/</a>
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Mind Your Banners: IU basketball back in the swing, as football finally settles down

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman check in from Miami to try and capture what Monday night's 27-21 win over the Hurricanes, clinching the 2026 CFP national championship, means to both this team and this program.

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/20/indiana-football-national-championship-vs-miami-curt-cignetti-jamari-sharpe-fernando-mendoza/88261018007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman check in from Miami to try and capture what Monday night's 27-21 win over the Hurricanes, clinching the 2026 CFP national championship, means to both this team and this program.
Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Findiana%2F2026%2F01%2F20%2Findiana-football-national-championship-vs-miami-curt-cignetti-jamari-sharpe-fernando-mendoza%2F88261018007%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClark.Wade%40indystar.com%7C6b9f85fcc1944ec71ab208de5844f510%7Cbc924c8d3e164e88bf26d7fcfb14f2d5%7C0%7C0%7C639045250351154226%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=lFg4MekXvFj8ik0mp%2Fp7IiWjifKSoqw0I4k5Q2j5qJ4%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/20/indiana-football-national-championship-vs-miami-curt-cignetti-jamari-sharpe-fernando-mendoza/88261018007/</a>
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Mind Your Banners: The Indiana Hoosiers, national champions

On the final pregame Mind Your Banners of the Indiana football season, Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss the build-up to the CFP national title game, the matchup between Indiana and Miami, predictions for Monday night and what this season means for the Hoosiers.

 

On the final pregame Mind Your Banners of the Indiana football season, Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss the build-up to the CFP national title game, the matchup between Indiana and Miami, predictions for Monday night and what this season means for the Hoosiers.
&nbsp;

Mind Your Banners, an Indiana football podcast: Previewing the College Football Playoff national title game

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman, road-weary but returned to Indiana after a riveting Peach Bowl, to recap the Hoosiers' College Football Playoff semifinal win against Oregon, setting up a national-title bout with Miami next Monday night.

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/10/indiana-football-historic-season-national-championship-fans-mark-cuban-pam-whitten-scott-dolson/88109670007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman, road-weary but returned to Indiana after a riveting Peach Bowl, to recap the Hoosiers' College Football Playoff semifinal win against Oregon, setting up a national-title bout with Miami next Monday night.
Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Findiana%2F2026%2F01%2F10%2Findiana-football-historic-season-national-championship-fans-mark-cuban-pam-whitten-scott-dolson%2F88109670007%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClark.Wade%40indystar.com%7C0206c9a1e45e44b7d21f08de50c00998%7Cbc924c8d3e164e88bf26d7fcfb14f2d5%7C0%7C0%7C639036982878886586%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=c2XlDOh4Wv1QxQp4oVgi5t4J6sSNYUSvPTFt1AS3ivI%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/10/indiana-football-historic-season-national-championship-fans-mark-cuban-pam-whitten-scott-dolson/88109670007/</a>
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Mind Your Banners After Dark: IU is heading to the national title game

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman break down Friday night's Peach Bowl matchup between No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon, a rematch from the Big Ten regular season now playing out in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

 

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/08/indiana-football-news-preview-oregon-peach-bowl-2026-big-ten-sec-dominance-cfb-playoff-atlanta/88057622007/

 

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman break down Friday night's Peach Bowl matchup between No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon, a rematch from the Big Ten regular season now playing out in a College Football Playoff semifinal.
&nbsp;
Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Findiana%2F2026%2F01%2F08%2Findiana-football-news-preview-oregon-peach-bowl-2026-big-ten-sec-dominance-cfb-playoff-atlanta%2F88057622007%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClark.Wade%40indystar.com%7C6b92be240b7d45d12e1a08de4eff72cc%7Cbc924c8d3e164e88bf26d7fcfb14f2d5%7C0%7C0%7C639035056207440675%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=xVa6zu06EIinPx9NvDj6THTFzM5akvUJ%2BhNR4%2F2h%2F20%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/08/indiana-football-news-preview-oregon-peach-bowl-2026-big-ten-sec-dominance-cfb-playoff-atlanta/88057622007/</a>
&nbsp;
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Mind Your Banners: It’s (almost) showtime in Atlanta

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman sit down to discuss Indiana's remarkable start to the 2026 transfer portal, as Curt Cignetti balances Peach Bowl preparations with setting his roster up for another College Football Playoff run next season.

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/01/who-won-indiana-alabama-game-rose-bowl-college-football-great-story-curt-cignetti-fernando-mendoza/87984031007/

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Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman sit down to discuss Indiana's remarkable start to the 2026 transfer portal, as Curt Cignetti balances Peach Bowl preparations with setting his roster up for another College Football Playoff run next season.
Read: <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Findiana%2F2026%2F01%2F01%2Fwho-won-indiana-alabama-game-rose-bowl-college-football-great-story-curt-cignetti-fernando-mendoza%2F87984031007%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClark.Wade%40indystar.com%7Cb2786dfd43624f407ac508de4d65b083%7Cbc924c8d3e164e88bf26d7fcfb14f2d5%7C0%7C0%7C639033296313688374%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=sAXxFNDlCx1y985WqgZiy4KkLyb8HsWKxBVNxAQc9Oo%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/01/01/who-won-indiana-alabama-game-rose-bowl-college-football-great-story-curt-cignetti-fernando-mendoza/87984031007/</a>
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Mind Your Banners Special: IU football moving mad in the transfer portal

Insiders Zach Osterman and Michael Niziolek unpack IU's win, holding tradition-rich Alabama without a touchdown, and snapping a lengthy bowl win drought to advance to the CFP semifinal at the Peach Bowl.

Read all coverage at IndyStar.com and get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

Insiders Zach Osterman and Michael Niziolek unpack IU's win, holding tradition-rich Alabama without a touchdown, and snapping a lengthy bowl win drought to advance to the CFP semifinal at the Peach Bowl.
Read all coverage at IndyStar.com and get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: <a href="https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU" data-linkindex="1">https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU</a>

Indiana football is Rose Bowl champions after dominating Alabama

IU Insider Zach Osterman checks in from downtown Los Angeles after Rose Bowl media day. Both the Hoosiers and Crimson Tide spent time speaking with reporters about Thursday's College Football Playoff quarterfinal in Pasadena.

 

Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/30/mikail-kamara-injury-health-indiana-football-rose-bowl-alabama-stats-daniel-ndukwe-stephen-daley/87961803007/

 

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IU Insider Zach Osterman checks in from downtown Los Angeles after Rose Bowl media day. Both the Hoosiers and Crimson Tide spent time speaking with reporters about Thursday's College Football Playoff quarterfinal in Pasadena.
&nbsp;
Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Findiana%2F2025%2F12%2F30%2Fmikail-kamara-injury-health-indiana-football-rose-bowl-alabama-stats-daniel-ndukwe-stephen-daley%2F87961803007%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClark.Wade%40indystar.com%7C5f93a8665ef244ddcb0808de47dbeccd%7Cbc924c8d3e164e88bf26d7fcfb14f2d5%7C0%7C0%7C639027207055690688%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Zn71cE2b74Ih8MD2NqwW0s%2FLf3jT4bUMbMSUJ6esZZQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/30/mikail-kamara-injury-health-indiana-football-rose-bowl-alabama-stats-daniel-ndukwe-stephen-daley/87961803007/</a>
&nbsp;
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Rose Bowl Diaries, Dec. 30: Rose Bowl media day

Indiana Hoosiers coverage from the IndyStar and Bloomington Herald-Times.

Indiana Hoosiers coverage from the IndyStar and Bloomington Herald-Times.

Mind Your Banners

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