CrimsonCast

Latest Episodes:

The Indy 500’s Historic Finish, IMS Revival, and Curt Cignetti’s Pace Car Moment May 25, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio is joined by Scott Caulfield and Bob Moats for a Back Home Network crossover episode reacting to a remarkable 2026 Indy 500. The conversation starts with the spectacle of race day itself — the sellout crowd, the improved IMS fan experience, the changing audience, and why Indianapolis Motor Speedway feels healthier than it has in years.

Then the guys break down the race: Felix Rosenqvist’s unforgettable final lap, David Malukas’s brutal near-miss, Pato O’Ward, Marcus Armstrong, Scott McLaughlin, late-race strategy, cautions, crashes, and the bigger picture for IndyCar as a driver-driven series with real momentum.

And because this is CrimsonCast, there’s plenty of Indiana flavor: Curt Cignetti in the pace car, IU football’s growing cultural presence, Jim Cornelison, the Purdue band, and what the Indy 500’s balance of tradition and modernization might teach the rest of Indiana sports.

College Sports Is A Mess Right Now: Ben Portnoy on NIL, SEC Breakaway & CFP Expansion May 23, 2026

Show notes

Ben Portnoy of Sports Business Journal joins Galen Clavio for a wide-ranging CrimsonCast conversation about the unstable future of college sports.

They break down the latest fights over NIL, athlete compensation, federal legislation, the College Sports Commission, SEC and Big Ten power plays, possible conference self-governance, and why the College Football Playoff expansion debate is as much about media money as it is about access. They also get into how the transfer portal has changed roster building, why Big Ten programs have found different paths to national success, and what college football might learn from pro sports models like the NFL, MLB, and even open-wheel racing.

The 1992 IU-Duke Final Four Heartbreaker That Still Haunts Indiana Fans May 23, 2026

Show notes

What if Indiana had finished the job in 1992?

On this episode of The Crimson Era, Coach Tonsoni and Scott go back to one of the most painful “what ifs” in IU basketball history — Indiana’s legendary 1992 Final Four battle with Duke. From the controversial foul trouble to Todd Leary catching absolute fire late, the guys break down the game that still has Hoosier fans talking more than 30 years later.

Could this have been Bob Knight’s last great championship team? Did the officiating change the game? And would Indiana have beaten Michigan for the national title?

This one is a full-on trip through classic IU basketball history. 🏀

Topics include:

Indiana vs Duke in the 1992 Final Four
Bob Knight vs Coach K
Calbert Cheaney, Damon Bailey & Todd Leary memories
The controversial officiating and foul disparity
Duke’s run to another national title
Whether IU would’ve beaten Michigan’s Fab Five
Why 1992 may have been Indiana’s last true title window under Knight
How the game still impacts IU basketball history today

Whether you lived through it or only know the highlights, this is one of the defining games of the Crimson Era.

Drop your memories from the 1992 Final Four in the comments 👇
Did Indiana get robbed… or did Duke simply survive?

Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more IU basketball and football coverage all offseason long.

#IndianaBasketball #IUBB #Hoosiers #BobKnight #FinalFour #DukeBasketball #CalbertCheaney #DamonBailey #BackHomeNetwork

Hoosier the Bison Revealed, Sam Sarver Goes Viral, and an Indy 500 Preview May 21, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio and Grace Ybarra are back with a packed CrimsonCast episode covering Hoosier the Bison, the reveal of Abbey Armstrong, and why Indiana’s mascot moment has landed so well with IU fans.

They also talk through the latest debate over College Football Playoff expansion, the move toward a larger NCAA Tournament, and a great week for IU men’s soccer after Sam Sarver turned a late FC Dallas goal into one of the most viral MLS celebrations of the year.

Then it’s full Indy 500 mode: qualifying, weather worries, race-day traditions, Grace’s memories from the track, and winner picks for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Colin McMahon on Indiana Football’s Title Aftermath, 2026 Roster, and Recruiting Surge May 19, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio welcomes Colin McMahon of The Hoosier/On3 to talk through the new reality of Indiana football after a national championship season. They discuss how quickly the program’s culture has changed, what it was like to cover the title run as both a student and reporter, and why the Hoosiers remain a serious national contender heading into 2026.

The conversation also covers spring football takeaways, Josh Hoover, Tyler Morris, Indiana’s running back room, defensive reload, and the recruiting momentum building around Curt Cignetti’s program after another big weekend in Bloomington.

Indy 500 Preview: Palou, Malukas, Rossi, Race Picks, and Broadcast Notes May 19, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield shift gears for one of the best weeks on the Indiana sports calendar: Indy 500 week. They break down the 2026 Indianapolis 500 starting grid, Alex Palou’s pole run, David Malukas and Alexander Rossi on the front row, and why this year’s field feels unusually balanced.

The conversation covers Penske, Ganassi, Andretti, Pato O’Ward, Santino Ferrucci, Josef Newgarden starting deeper in the field, possible race-day surprises, and the storylines that would make for the biggest wins locally, nationally, and internationally. They also react to FOX’s qualifying broadcast and the quirks of watching the 500 as longtime Indiana sports fans.

NOTE: We recorded this on Monday, before the Rossi / O'Ward / Grosjean accident happened. We hope everyone is okay!

IU Basketball Roster Talk, Big Ten Schedule, Tournament Expansion & May in Indiana May 15, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield are back on CrimsonCast with a wide-ranging mid-May episode. They open with Indy 500 season, IMS nostalgia, Homefield gear, and a very important Purdue Chipotle achievement before turning to Indiana basketball’s latest roster additions.

The guys discuss Justin Munden, Clemens Sokolov, how Darren DeVries’ roster is coming together, why continuity matters after last year’s reset, and what IU’s Big Ten schedule looks like on paper. They also talk about the importance of reconnecting Indiana basketball with fans around the state, Curt Cignetti’s White House visit with IU football, Scott’s new Crimson Era history series, and the pros and cons of expanding the NCAA Tournament to 76 teams.

Indiana Football Spring Buzz, Friday Night Northwestern & CFP Expansion Debate May 14, 2026

Show notes

Grace Ybarra and Galen Clavio are back on CrimsonCast for a wide-ranging offseason IU football conversation. They start with travel stories, mascots, and the long-awaited Homefield Rose Bowl jacket before getting into Indiana’s spring game, Josh Hoover, Carter Smith, the wide receiver room, and the overall vibe around a program trying to defend its spot at the top.

They also talk about the Northwestern game moving to Friday night, IU’s White House visit, Charlie Becker’s growing fan-favorite status, and the debate over a possible 24-team College Football Playoff. Naturally, it all ends with a serious discussion of Pop-Tart Bowl flavor possibilities.

What If Indiana Beat Ohio State in 2024? The Alternate History of IU Football May 10, 2026

Show notes

What if Indiana finished the job in Columbus? 🤔

On this episode of The Crimson Era, Scott and Coach dive into Indiana football’s heartbreaking 2024 loss at Ohio State — and unpack the massive “what if” hanging over that game.

Could IU have made the Big Ten Championship? Hosted a College Football Playoff game? Changed the entire trajectory of the program even sooner?

The guys break down how close the Hoosiers really were, why the final score was misleading, and how that loss may have fueled Indiana’s rise into a national power under Curt Cignetti.

Topics include:

The special teams mistakes that swung the Ohio State game
Why Indiana was closer than people remember
Alternate CFP scenarios if IU wins in Columbus
Could the Hoosiers have beaten Oregon?
How the 2024 losses helped shape the 2025 championship run
Lessons Curt Cignetti and IU learned from hostile road environments
Why Indiana football now has a target on its back

Plus:
🏀 Previewing future Crimson Era episodes on the 1992 Final Four run and Jay Edwards

Drop your own IU “what if” scenarios in the comments and let us know what Crimson Era topic we should tackle next.

Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more Indiana football and basketball coverage.

#iufb #IndianaHoosiers #CollegeFootball #BigTen #CurtCignetti #CFP #IndianaFootball

TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro + sponsor shoutouts
01:30 The “What If Indiana Beat Ohio State?” premise
03:00 Why the game felt closer than the final score
06:45 Reimagining Indiana’s CFP path
09:00 Would IU have beaten Oregon?
14:00 How the Ohio State loss helped fuel 2025
18:00 Lessons learned from Ohio State & Notre Dame
23:00 Could Indiana have sustained a title run in 2024?
26:00 How Cignetti is building long-term success
31:30 Previewing future Crimson Era episodes

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

Curt Cignetti, Stewart Mandel's piece in The Athletic, and How Indiana Football Maintains the Edge May 05, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio reacts to Stewart Mandel’s profile of Curt Cignetti and uses it as a jumping-off point for a bigger conversation about Indiana football’s stunning rise, the confidence driving the program, and the challenge of sustaining success after a national championship season.

This episode looks at Cignetti’s process, the idea of “controlled arrogance,” the parallels to Bob Knight-era Indiana basketball, and why IU’s next challenge may be even harder than the climb itself. Galen also reflects on how far CrimsonCast — and Indiana football fans — have come from the low point of 2023 to the top of the sport.

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