CrimsonCast

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Ep 1322 - After the Title: Why IU Won the CFP and How Indiana Reloads for 2026 with Taylor Lehman Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio is joined by Taylor Lehman to put a bow on Indiana football’s national championship run — starting with what actually happened in the title game against Miami, why it got dicey in the third quarter, and the handful of pivotal moments (including the blocked punt TD and the late interception) that slammed the door.

From there, it’s a forward-looking, roster-building deep dive: how Indiana replaces key departures (including Stephen Daley, Aidan Fisher, D’Angelo Ponds, and Lewis Moore), why continuity with Curt Cignetti’s staff matters, and what the portal class says about the program’s “production over potential” strategy heading into 2026 — with detailed talk on Josh Hoover at QB, the tight end depth concern, and why the new wide receiver room could be even nastier.

Presented by Homefield Apparel and Posh Hotel Bloomington.

Ep 1321 - IU Basketball Survives UCLA in 2OT (98–97) + Tournament Outlook & February Path Feb 01, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio breaks down Indiana men’s basketball’s wild 98–97 double-overtime win over UCLA—a huge résumé boost that stabilizes IU’s NCAA Tournament outlook and changes the tone of February.

Galen covers the late-game decision not to foul, the offensive explosion from Nick Dorn, Lamar Wilkerson, and Reed Bailey, and what the efficiency trendlines say about where Indiana is improving (and where the defense still has to tighten up). He also digs into some of the factors that showed up at Pauley Pavilion, updated tournament odds, and what Indiana needs to do over the next month—starting with a late-night trip to USC.

Ep 1320 - How Indiana Won a National Title (and What Comes Next) | Galen Clavio w/ Bill Connelly (ESPN / SP+) | CrimsonCast Feb 01, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio welcomes Bill Connelly (ESPN) — the creator of SP+ — for a deep, nuts-and-bolts look at Indiana football’s unprecedented rise to the top of college football and what it means going forward.

They discuss why Indiana’s two-year climb under Curt Cignetti is so difficult to comp historically, what the numbers say about how Indiana won (elite down-to-down efficiency, red zone performance, and consistently winning field position), and why “just use the portal” is a lazy explanation that doesn’t match the underlying inputs.

Bill also explains how SP+ balances efficiency vs explosiveness, why special teams are so hard to measure (but can decide championships), where Indiana’s title team fits among recent champions, and how returning production + incoming production help shape early projections for 2026.

Ep 1319 - Inside Miami Championship Weekend + “Raise the Flag” Announcement w/ Olivia Ray Jan 31, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio is joined by Olivia Ray to relive Miami during national championship weekend—from the lead-up and media-day vibe to the chaos around the stadium, credentialed access, and what it was like working on the field as Indiana finished the job.

They talk about how Indiana carried itself all week, the strange “everyone-get-inside-early” atmosphere around Hard Rock Stadium, and the surreal postgame sprint when confetti starts falling and everything happens at once. Plus: the ripple effect among IU alumni and longtime program staff, and a big announcement—Olivia is launching a new Back Home Network show, “Raise the Flag.”

Ep 1318 - Miami Championship Weekend Stories: Inside IU’s Title Trip w/ Grace Ybarra | Events, Tailgates, and “We Actually Did It” Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

Galen Clavio is joined by special guest Grace Ybarra to relive the unforgettable CFP National Championship weekend in Miami—the 48-hour blur of events, fan moments, stadium chaos, and the emotional whiplash of watching Indiana win it all.

They walk through everything from the Homefield events (including the packed night at Mickey Burkes with Straight No Chaser) to the American Social gathering on game day, the tailgating scene outside Hard Rock Stadium, and what it was like inside the building as Indiana pulled off the championship win over Miami.

Most importantly, this episode is about the feeling: what it’s like to experience a once-in-a-lifetime sports moment alongside other Hoosiers, meet strangers who instantly become friends, and realize—slowly, then all at once—that Indiana football really became national champions.

Ep 1317 - IUFB Championship Reflections with Andy Bottoms Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

You know Andy Bottoms from Assembly Call, but he’s also a lifelong IU Football fan. For Andy, football—and Memorial Stadium in particular—represents a deep, personal connection shared with his father.

Wanted to get him on to talk about his history with IU Football, and what this season and journey to a National Championship has meant to him.

Ep 1316 - CrimsonCast LIVE - Football Schedule, Indiana Basketball Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Join CrimsonCast and the Back Home Network as we talk about IU Football's 2026 schedule release, Indiana's win over Purdue in men's basketball, recruiting news, questions about the football team, and more.

Ep 1315 - Stampede To Pasadena Recap with Alex Paul Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Galen welcomes Alex Paul of Hoosiers Connect fame to the podcast for an in-depth conversation and look back at the "Stampede To Pasadena" --- the cross-country trip that Alex and GC took to see Indiana football play in their first Rose Bowl Game in nearly 60 years.

We discuss the origins of the plan to drive across country, how the drive (and the social media content) slowly took shape as the trip continued, and the culmination of Indiana fans' hopes and dreams in the 38-3 demolition of Alabama in Pasadena. Also included are a variety of images from the stampede, showcasing some of the interesting and fun moments that we found along the way.

For fans of travelogues and for those of you who followed the Stampede as closely as you did, this podcast should answer some questions for you! We appreciate everyone who took part, donated money, and followed along on social media.

Ep 1314 - IUFB Championship Reflections with Coach Brian Tonsoni Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

You know Coach Tonsoni from Assembly Call, but he has also been a long time IU Football season ticket holder. Wanted to get him on to talk about his history with IU Football, and what this season and journey to a National Championship has meant to him.

Ep 1313 - Season Reflections & How the Hoosiers Changed College Football Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

Indiana football’s historic season officially gets its punctuation mark.

On this episode of CrimsonCast, Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield reflect on Indiana’s championship celebration at Memorial Stadium, what the moment meant for fans and the program, and why holding the event in the stadium mattered — even in brutal weather. From there, the conversation widens into the big picture: roster decisions, NFL calculus for players, national perception shifts, and how Indiana’s run may have fundamentally changed the way college football can be built.

The guys dive deep into why Indiana’s championship matters beyond Bloomington, how Curt Cignetti’s approach challenges long-held assumptions about recruiting and roster construction, and why the Hoosiers’ rise is sending shockwaves through the sport. This is both a celebration of what just happened — and a thoughtful look at what comes next for Indiana football and college football as a whole.

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