The Big Red Carpet

No. 15 Indiana welcomes top-ranked and undefeated Nebraska to a sold-out Wilkinson Hall for one of the biggest matches in program history.Rhett Lewis sits down with Indiana head coach Steve Aird to discuss the remarkable growth of IU volleyball, the energy surrounding Hoosier athletics and what his team must do to challenge the deepest roster in the country. Aird also explains how Curt Cignetti’s football program has influenced his own approach, why Indiana chose Wilkinson Hall over Assembly Hall and the aggressive strategy that could give the Hoosiers a chance to pull off the upset.

Indiana football faced its first real test of the season and responded with a physical Big Ten victory over Northwestern. Rhett Lewis breaks down the toughness and relentless effort that moved the Hoosiers to 4–0, led by a remarkable 200-yard performance from Lee Beebe Jr.Indiana piled up 293 rushing yards, with Josh Hoover, Nick Marsh and the offensive line all contributing to a defining second-half effort. Rhett also examines Hoover’s growth, IU’s pass-protection and red-zone concerns, the defensive problems created by Aidan Chiles and the areas that must improve before the Hoosiers travel to Rutgers.Subscribe for more Indiana football analysis, film study and reaction from The Big Red Carpet.

Indiana football overwhelmed Howard 55–0 behind an explosive passing attack, two 100-yard rushers and a suffocating defensive performance.Rhett Lewis breaks down Josh Hoover’s unusual four-touchdown, six-completion performance; Charlie Becker scoring on all three of his catches; and the continued emergence of Shazz Preston and Nick Marsh. He also examines the improved blocking that helped Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard surpass 100 rushing yards apiece.Defensively, the Hoosiers allowed only 57 total yards as Josh Burnham, Rolijah Hardy, Mario Landino, Stephen Daley and Indiana’s deep defensive front took control. Rhett closes with Big Ten observations on Oregon’s upset loss, Ohio State’s collapse against Texas and USC’s talented freshman class.Subscribe and follow Big Red Carpet for Indiana football analysis, postgame reactions and subscriber-exclusive film breakdowns throughout the season.

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.Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more Big Red Carpet, CrimsonCast, Indiana football, Curt Cignetti, IU athletics, Big Ten football, and 2026 Hoosiers coverage all season long.

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 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.

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.🔔 Subscribe for more Indiana football coverage, interviews, and film breakdowns every week.

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 thatThe meteoric rise of Omar Cooper as a potential first-round pickDraft projections for Elijah SarrattThe value and leadership of Pat CooganWhy D'Angelo Ponds is one of the most technically sound DBs in this classThe football IQ that makes Aiden Fisher such a valuable NFL prospectThis 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.

Live from Miami, Rhett Lewis delivers the most comprehensive Big Red Carpet preview yet as Indiana Hoosiers prepare for the national championship game.After media day and direct conversations with Indiana players and coaches—as well as key voices around the sport—Rhett breaks down exactly how this game will be decided. From the battle at the line of scrimmage, to Fernando Mendoza’s historic heater, to the defensive matchups that could tilt the outcome, this is a full, no-paywall championship preview for Hoosier fans everywhere.You’ll hear:Why the trenches will decide Indiana vs MiamiHow Indiana can neutralize Miami’s elite defensive frontWhy Fernando Mendoza is built for this moment—mentally and physicallyThe defensive keys against Miami’s run-first approachRhett’s final prediction—and why he believes Indiana finishes the jobThis episode also gives previews of the exclusive Substack interviews with Todd McShay, Sage Steele, and Bill Musgrave, giving fans a taste of the deeper analysis available to subscribers.If you want to understand why Indiana is here—and how they can win it all—this is the must-watch preview before kickoff.

Live from Atlanta, Rhett Lewis is joined by former Oregon offensive lineman and NFL veteran Geoff Schwartz for a deep, honest breakdown of the Indiana–Oregon Peach Bowl rematch.The two dive into why Indiana won the first meeting in Eugene, how pressure and discipline defined the game, and what Oregon must change to flip the outcome. They also compare Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore, discuss Oregon’s shift toward 12-personnel, Indiana’s linebacker-heavy defensive identity, and why this Hoosiers team keeps winning the biggest moments despite not being built like a traditional powerhouse.This is film-level insight, trench talk, and postseason chess-match analysis — exactly what Big Red Carpet does best.👇 Comment below: What’s the single biggest key to this rematch?

On this special edition of BRC, Rhett Lewis recaps an amazing day for Indiana football as the Hoosiers defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 to win the Rose Bowl and move on to the CFP Semifinals.

Rhett Lewis dives into Indiana’s upcoming Rose Bowl showdown with Alabama, breaking down what the tape shows from the Crimson Tide’s win over Oklahoma and where the Hoosiers can find advantages on both sides of the ball. Rhett analyzes Alabama’s defensive structure, coverage tendencies, and pressure looks — and explains how Fernando Mendoza’s processing and poise will be tested on college football’s biggest stage.Plus: a look at Indiana players headed to the NFL all-star circuit, including Elijah Sarratt’s Senior Bowl invite, Roman Hemby and Aiden Fisher heading to the East-West Shrine Bowl, and what these opportunities mean for IU’s national profile.Check out FutureFans, the fun way to welcome young fans to sports fandom: http://FutureFans.com/BigRedCarpet 🎄 A holiday edition of Big Red Carpet as Indiana marches toward Pasadena.👇 Comment below: What’s the biggest matchup advantage for IU vs Alabama?