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All right, folks, welcome back to Crimson Cast Scott here with
you. I'm excited to get to our guest,
Connor. We'll get to him in one second.
We're going to be quick because he's got a shorter timeline
today and I like to talk, but I definitely want to give a shout
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off your first purchase. Excited to have Connor Onion
from Big 10 Network back on the podcast.
We were kind of being pretty optimistic to start the season.
Last time we talked, we thought there might be an Onion at the
the Northwestern game of a punk going in the water.
That didn't happen. But I would say it's fair to say
IU football has exceeded anybody's expectations for this
year thus far. I I was wondering if that would
come up because we were I I don't want to be the the I told
you so guy here, but I mean it was it was really you being
optimistic too. Didn't didn't we throw around a
nine and 110 and O scenario into this week?
Can we talked in August. That was, that was always that
we joke about. It's my fever dream on the
podcast. Like I, you know, we, I, I
predicted eight wins and I saw a path like I was like, it could
be 10 and O, but it's just, you know, from where we've come from
and just being an IU fan for many years, that that just
seemed like lightning was going to strike me if I said that too
loudly. I, I, I'm totally with you.
There have been so many moments this year just just traveling
around. I'm doing games where people
want to talk Indiana football in places where you wouldn't expect
it. You know, I've, I've had a
chance to jump around in the Big 12 a little bit on top of the
Big 10 stuff this year. And you know, I'm, I'm in, in
Boulder, Co or Tucson, AZ and people just can't stop talking
about Indiana football. And it's it's not just in the
Big 10 cities, which I think is is really, really cool and a
long list of surreal moments for people like yourself, I'm sure
where where you get to talk about your football team.
Oh, it's been a while, but you know, being favored for these
games, having back-to-back weeks of big noon Sunday and game day
just coming in and then there's talk of like, ah, maybe big noon
Sunday will come back for the Michigan game.
It's like the fact that it's coming twice as wild.
Let's start with this. You know, we're we're taping
this right before the Ohio State game last weekend.
Indiana still able to make news on an off week.
They extend signetti, which I think is obviously the right
thing to do. I'm just curious your thoughts
on the extension. But more importantly, do you do
you think from what you've seen and what you've heard around,
you know, around the league, do you think this is something
sustainable or just going to be one of those?
We look back and it's like, oh man, they they jumped on that
too early. I mean, everything that Coach
Signetti has said so far has been true, right?
No matter no matter how unexpected or outlandish it
seemed at the time, whether it was his comments right after he
got hired saying I'm going to be right back here in Indianapolis
leading our team here next year. You're one, you're one win away
from that as we look into this weekend.
I appreciate that. I appreciate you giving no
credence to Purdue. Also, like as an IU fan, I
appreciate you just saying that that one win and like Purdue is
kind of a given. I I.
Appreciate it. Yeah, I mean, it's, it's not a
give. I I didn't mean to frame it that
way, but. I know you're a Big 10 guy,
everyone commit every game but. Highly unlikely, right?
And yeah, you know, tiebreaker scenarios.
Ohio State's game against Michigan, should they win it,
Yes, but. But that's not a given either.
So it it could get really crazy the final two weeks.
But I I'm fairly confident that you win this week.
You're going to the Big 10 championship game if you're
Indiana. Yeah.
I would agree, but but do I think it's sustainable?
Yeah. I I, I really do.
And, and what I wondered my first reaction to the news, the
extension was, OK, this deal gets done now the, the money
sign is big with $8 million. Will this deal have to be
renegotiated in a couple of weeks if certain things happen
That that was my first reaction was you, you, you do this at 10
and O do you have to do it again?
If an Ohio State win happens, then a Purdue win happens, and
then say an Oregon win happens. I love where your head's at.
I don't, I don't think that's out of the question.
And I'm not saying all those things will happen, but the the
scenario is there of it. It might not be the the last
contract talk for Kurt Signetti in in the next month or so.
No, it's true. I mean, he he would have
unbelievable leverage. And then you go into the college
Bowl playoff. It's like, all right, if that
happens there, do you keep, you know, increasing the number?
I mean, I, I said this before on our our kind of reaction pod.
I, I, I, I think everything is sustainable based on what I'm
seeing also. But even if it's not, I think
this is a good contract because it gets Indiana back in the
phylum where it needs to be of paying coaches and assistants a
level that is commensurate with where they want to be.
And so I, I think it's going to work out.
But either way, like you needed someone to drag you across the
four to $8 million line a year. And this is no better person to
do it than Singh Daddy. Sure, sure.
Yeah. And, and I think the, you know,
just in the, the context of the big 10, you, you fear, you know,
some of the contracts that have have gone out from some other
schools in the league. And, and I'm turning out the
same way without, without naming names, I think this is a
different deal. I I really do.
But I love that, he said. You know, I'm, I'm in a budding
superpower. Why would I go anywhere?
I know it's it's the the the amount of hubris, but then the
ability to back it up is is unbelievable.
I'm curious. So you're you're going all over
the place. You said you're talking to
people and it's kind of like I use the the the topic people
want to talk about. You know, what are you hearing
about this? That because again, you know,
we're we're I'm very in intimate.
This is an Indiana podcast like this is my team.
I look at this and you know, I want to get your thoughts on
this. I I view it as very much like
this seems I really can't think of an analogy of where this has
happened somewhere else. You've seen schools like
Wisconsin or Kansas State that have not been, I mean we're
talking Wisconsin pre Barry Alvarez like that.
We're not traditionally football powers and slowly build their
way up, but it's a two or three-year process.
You even see the sometimes in basketball, like what Nate Oates
is doing in Alabama where he takes a program that's kind of
just dead in the water and then turns it into something.
But it doesn't happen in one year.
Like it just doesn't happen in one year.
And especially not in football. Football while things are
changing and I know it's a new world out there, you still look
at the top 25. It's still the majority of the
blue blood powers. I'm just curious if you know,
you're hearing people talk about just how unusual this is, if
they're able to parse, is it literally just signeti?
Is this just unbelievable flash in the pan?
Like what what you're hearing with that and if there's any
explanation outside of just the guy's a hell of a coach and has
a lot of diamonds in the rough that was able to make this
happen. Yeah, I mean, I, I think the
swings are greater. Like that's a conversation I've
had a lot throughout the season. It's just, you know, being at
Washington this past week, I, I had their Friday night game
against UCLA and that was a big topic of conversation with Jed
Fish is just that, you know, he, he's got to be one of the only
people that's ever taken over an O and 12 program like you did at
Arizona and then taken over a 12 and O program like you did at
Washington. And in just the, the, the, the
mood swings and the, the ability to, you know, like Kurt Signetti
has done bringing a new roster right away.
You know, I, I don't know if I'm adding anything new to that
conversation. I think a lot of your fans
understand that, but that's that's what's kind of cool and
also unfortunate. And in some ways, like in
Washington's case where they lost basically their entire
team, only three starters came back and they go from, you know,
national championship game to to six and five, which I think is
still a big accomplishment for all that they lost.
But but I I think that's just kind of where we're at.
And it it leads to, you know, a lesser known brand in the
football space like Indiana being able to do this.
But yeah, yeah. I mean, it's, it's, it's been
talked about a ton. This is just kind of what Kurt
Signetti has done, right? Yeah, I don't.
Think it's, I don't think it's been it's, it hasn't been in the
mainstream, but but now it is. And there's no secret about it,
Yeah. I'm, I'm, I'm assuming this is
the case like for for the big 10 network of which you you work.
So I'll ask this kind of gingerly.
You you got, I mean, there's always the thought like in the
NBA, it's like, oh, they want to have the Lakers and the Celtics.
They want to have their brands in there.
And like, it's always kind of a wink, wink, like, all right,
Like when the Pacers were playing this the Knicks this
last year in the playoffs, like, man, they got to beat the rest
too because the the NBA wants the Knicks in the Eastern
Conference finals. Whether it's true or not.
Is this something where, you know, the is the Big 10 overall
like happy with something like this as a media piece?
Or is it like, we just rather continue to have Ohio State,
Penn State year over year? Is do you think there's like
actual excitement of like, hey, we we're excited to the idea of
like a budding superpower, as insane as that sounds, We'll
come to that in our preview next year.
But it it is this something that, you know, as a Big 10
network from the media perspective, it's like this is
this is good because it's more storylines or would they rather
just continue to have, you know, the same blue bloods going at it
year in, year out? Yeah, obviously not a, this is
not a reflection of anything internal with the conference,
you know, because I'm not in those meetings.
But personally, I I think it's a really good thing just from
telling the story of the league. You know, you have the
traditional powers of Ohio State and Penn State that are in
playoff contention, are in the top five as of this past week's
College Football Playoff rankings and should be again
this week. You know, having 4/4 of the five
top 4/4 of the top five teams is a really good thing.
But the variety of those teams, you have one of the new members,
Oregon, you have two of the traditional powers in the
league, Penn State and Ohio State.
And then you have this budding story of Indiana.
I think it's it's something that me as a member of the media, I
mean, I'm, I'm eating it up getting to cover the league
because you have you have kind of three or four different
stories of these teams and how they got to this place with the
recent history. We're we're we're our next game
is Ohio State that there's two ways to look at this.
I'm curious how you would frame it because for me, I've been
saying for a while, like I'm, I'm slightly annoyed that it
does feel like the perception is, you know, Indiana's played a
soft schedule, which I have my thoughts on that.
But whatever it's it's, you know, for the most part we've
had we haven't played, you know, the top five teams in the
country. That's fine, But it does feel a
little bit unfair to be like, all right, well, this is our
test to see if we're good, if we can keep up with Ohio State.
It's like we won three games last year, we've won nine games
over the last three years. Like how the hell is it our bar
to go to Columbus and keep up with Ohio State?
Like they've had year over? That's Penn State's job, that's
Michigan, that's not our job, that's not our bar to cross.
Like why is that our Rubicon that we got to go over?
On the flip side, I do also understand the argument if they
go in there and just if we get boat raced, there is a world
where it's like, well, this is you're trying to make the
College Football Playoff. Like this is the big boys and
the big boys can't go and lay a complete dud on the road in
Columbus. So I I see both sides, but I
come into it a little bit defensive.
Like how on earth do do we have to compete and or beat Ohio
State to to somehow legitimize what we've done this year?
It's it's got to be confusing as a fan, right, Right.
Like that's that's kind of what you're getting at is you're, I
mean, you're not used to this. No, you're not.
But but the reality is, I mean, I mean, first go win the game
and you're in the playoff and. I mean, go win the game.
We've, I hate to say that cuz I mean, we just, we don't go into
Ohio State when it's not something we've ever done.
You win that game, You're not just in the playoff.
You, I think you have a real conversation to be like, we're
the number one team in the country.
Cuz two teams have a win over Ohio State at that point, Oregon
and us and ours is on the road. I would say we're the number one
team in the country. But anyway, go ahead.
I can't, I can't go that far down the rabbit hole of of
happiness, I don't think. Yes, yeah, I, I just had this
top of mind. By the way, I'm, I'm actually
covering the Indiana basketball game on Thursday.
So I have Indiana football and basketball crossover in my mind.
But 1987, last time that Indiana beat Ohio State in football,
yes, Mike Woodson was in the NBA as a player.
So I mean, like you said it, it just doesn't happen.
I think it's, what is it, 29 in a row that that the Buckeyes
have won against Indiana. And I think I I should pull.
I think it's like 68 was the last time we won in Columbus,
and it's been quite a while because 87 was a memorial state
also the last time IU won a national championship in
basketball. So you have a lot of a lot of
connections there. But yeah.
Yeah, I, I think I want to say it was Earl.
Bruce was the head coach at Ohio State at that time.
He said it was the darkest day that he's been a part of.
But Ryan Day might get fired if they lose the Indiana and then
they go to lose the Michigan. Like he will get fired.
That'll be it. Yeah, I but, but they if they if
they lose, yeah, if they, if they lose this game, I don't
think they're they're out. But if they if they did lose
this game and the next game, then then yeah.
It'd get really hot. It'd get hot on the sea.
Anyway you would, yes. How, how do you how do you frame
this game for Indiana going into it?
You know, I the, the biggest comparison piece for me is what
Ohio State did against Penn State, right?
So you look at that game, I think Curtis Rourke will take
more chances than Drew Aller did the Penn State quarterback.
And you also look at Ohio State's game against Oregon and
kind of try to piece it together with matchups and, and I think
Elijah Sarat and Omar Cooper can beat you in the deep passing
game more than anyone Penn State has.
And when you look at that parallel to the Oregon game, Tez
Johnson and Evan Stewart had a great night for Oregon.
I mean, those guys combined for over 200 yards against Ohio
State secondary. Stewart was especially good.
And it might have been a third guy, Tray, Sean Holden, We'll
never know because he got ejected for spitting.
But I'm really interested to see that match up.
I think if Indiana can can make will Howard a thrower, you got a
really good chance. I thought Howard did a really
good job against Penn State. The number, the number wasn't
big, but he unlocked some things with the quarterback run.
And again, that the net number wasn't huge as far as his
rushing yards because of sacks, but some some timely runs in
that game. So I think if you can make him
one-dimensional, you you can load up a little bit more on the
running backs for Ohio State and, and you, you got a really
good shot to stay in this game and have a chance at the end.
Yeah, I mean, it is funny. I saw Ohio State send out some
some funny things about like they they had a funny tweet or
the Instagram post about like they they showed the stadium at
night with the lights on, like, hey, we we can do this too.
I think they're getting tired of noon games, which does vague
like this seems like this would be a great night time NBC game.
It I'm, I'm curious why it's at noon because I think, you know,
you guys bid on the game like they they get together every
week and kind of bid on it. That's where the time come from.
I guess it's just because you have USC and UCLA and that has
to be a night slot and maybe that's going to kind of muck
things up. But it does feel like this could
have been, you know, the the CBS game.
I don't know. It's just, it's an odd noon
game, but it is on Fox, which is, you know, one of the major
partners of the Big 10. Yeah, yeah.
The, the, the big news slide will be Gus, Gus, Joel and Jenny
and I, I think it's going to feel big.
I, I really do. And if if we were looking at the
schedule, like if we could go back when you and I had our
conversation in August and pick out the biggest game of this
week in college football, I, I think we would have probably bet
on Alabama, Oklahoma, yeah, maybe Texas, Auburn.
Wisconsin, northern Nebraska or USUCLA could have been like the
biggest game in the Big 10. Yeah.
Right, right, or even in the Big 12, maybe like Iowa State, Utah,
but this this is the one, this is the one.
And I think I, I think our crew at Fox is going to put on a
really good show and I think the the game will, will kind of
match what, what is a top five match up?
I, I, I really, really can't wait.
I, I have I have a Friday night game.
I'm actually doubling up and have a Saturday game, but not
till till 7:00 Eastern Time. So I get to kind of kick back,
get it kind of get to kick back and and just enjoy this one as
as a college football fan. So it's I got.
To ask you like as a broadcaster, if you're if you're
doing this game, like if you're Gus Johnson, do you do you load
up a couple of like, all right, I'm going to, I'm going to have
a if Indiana wins line, like do do you load some things in your
head ready to go? So you're like Indiana, do you
do you load stuff up? Because I felt like when, when
we beat Nebraska and he was on the call, he had a couple of
those. Like they one was like, you
know, he said, they said they haven't played anybody.
Well, they're playing someone today or something like, so do
do you load stuff into your head like that?
Like for both ways. I mean, you, you have, you have
thoughts going in with him obviously of, you know, here's a
theme, here's a theme, you know, here's kind of what's being said
externally and internally about Indiana and Ohio State.
But I'm, this is just my personal preference.
I don't, I don't really like to script much even even like our,
our opens, like our two minutes where we come on camera to start
the game. I have bullet points and stuff
to kind of set the scene, but I don't know, I I feel like it's
just more natural and I'm one with the game.
Yeah, you, you the fan. If if I'm just kind of reacting.
So I don't know that's that's a really good question.
Like if you were to sit me in the seat right now and say
Indiana wins in overtime on Curtis Rourke, run to the pylon
where he reaches and happens to touch the pylon.
Oh. That's got to be a Penix
throwback, yeah. You, you got, you got what I was
getting at like like if something like that happens, of
course you got to you got to reference the Penix play from a
couple years ago, but that would be.
I mean, I got it. I hope it happens.
I hope, I hope we look back on this podcast in like 140 hours
and be like, Oh my God, Connor, you called it.
That would be, I mean that that's the thing, the thing that
I do love about Signeti is, and I've, I've wondered this before
and I forget his name, there's the, the high school coach in
Oklahoma who just doesn't punt. Like he's goes for it on 4th.
All this is, this is like 12 years old now, but he won like 3
or 4 state titles in a row. And I, I'm also a basketball
fan. I, I think basketball has become
very progressive and like, hey, let's just try a bunch of new
ideas. What if we shoot a bunch of
threes? Like let's just go to the
corners, like in a fast break, let's give up, not do the layup
and shoot for a three. It it does feel like football
has never had that as kind of a mentality.
It's always very, hey, you punt 4th and 1:00.
You got to punt, you got to give up the ball like a minute to go
in the the end of the second-half.
Like, yeah, we're just going to go to go to halftime and you
don't want to risk it. It it does.
I really enjoy what Signeti does where he just he's always going
for it. Like he's going to go for it on
4th. He go for it goes around 4th and
like 4th and seven on his own 32.
You know, to your point, if it's an overtime game and we have the
ball first, I think there's a world where, I mean, I think no
matter when we get the ball, I think we're going for 2:00 on
that first try. It's and I, I love that
aggressiveness and I think it always, I think it does help us
to put the other team on their heels.
And I think it helps our defense because the other team's offense
is always struggling because they're like, we got to score
every single time because Indiana is just going to keep
pushing and keep going for it all the time.
Yeah, yeah, it's, it's an interesting parallel, right,
'cause the Detroit Lions have become known for that with Dan
Campbell the past couple years and they have a similar story to
tell that Indiana does. So it's, it's interesting to
see, you know, franchise that hasn't won in a while, Indiana
hasn't won in a while. You have these aggressive head
coaches and and I think the the challenge, I don't know if I'm
sure Kurt Signetti wouldn't say it this way, but I I think the
challenge will be say you win this game, how long can you kind
of keep that house money mentality of we haven't been
here before. Let's keep being the team that
goes for it. 4th and two and minus territory.
Yeah, and, and I I would expect that to continue because Kurt
Zignetti is is shown that he's willing to do that over and over
again. But I think it also helps that,
you know, you've you've got the best run defense in the Big 10.
Yeah. So you can you know, there's
there's also the strategy of that.
It's not just a pay house money thing.
It's we can trust those guys to go stop the run.
So. One of the things of Signetti
that I've, I've been really impressed with is, you know,
throughout this year, you hear Urban Meyer on the Big Noon
Sunday show or Saturday show, like just glowing, talking about
like, I love watching film on this guy.
Like, I love what he's doing. Obviously Saban has a lot of
nice things to say about him. He was on Saban's staff.
So I I would kind of expect that.
But still, Saban also isn't like the Super, you know, kissing
coach's ass kind of guy. Like Saban keeps it close to the
vest. I'm I'm curious, are you
obviously when you're going into other games, you know, you're,
you're talking to coaches, you're not like, hey, let's talk
about signetti. When you're doing like a
Washington game, you're not doing that.
But have you heard any of that just in your circles pop up of,
you know, when teams have watched Indiana on tape and what
coaches are saying? Because to me, that's the part
that makes me the the happiest and makes me feel like it's the
most replicatable is this isn't just, you know, we've got a
couple good breaks or things are going good on vibes or we have
things kind of rolling. There's a lot of coaches out
there that I respect as good coaches who continually say,
man, when I watch tape, this team is is something different.
I'm curious you've heard the same thing in your circles.
Yeah, yeah. I mean, side conversations and
some of our meetings when we've covered the Big 10 this year of
a lot of comments of these guys are real.
You know, we we usually get time with head coach, offensive
coordinator, defensive coordinator and as as the the
bigger wins have started to stack up for Indiana, there's
there's there's been more of that in our meetings.
Not nothing crazy, I would say because you know how coaches
right in in tunnel vision. But like when there's there's
been some crossover film, it's definitely come up of, you know,
hey, this isn't just some nice cute story like they are are
substantively impressive. And it's it's not just winning
the PR game with Indiana. It's you know, you you don't
just randomly hold Michigan State to 30 negative 36 yards
rushing like that. That doesn't just, yeah, that
doesn't just randomly happened with doing a couple of good
interviews and beating up on teams you should beat non
conference. Like there's there's substance
and legitimacy to what we're seeing.
I'll get you out of here on this.
I'm curious what I don't know how to ask this the right way.
Like I, I've been saying this for a while, but I think maybe
the question is like, you know what, at what point total does
Indiana really put themselves in trouble with the College
Football Playoff? Like, I think they can lose at
Ohio State, beat Purdue and they're in the College Football
Playoff no matter what. But I think there does come a
point like if they lose, you know, 56 to nothing at Ohio
State, I think it gets a little bit more perilous.
But I, I still look at it as you know, and I, I, I will say these
things so you don't have to, but like, it is a business, you
know, this is run by the Big 10 in the SEC.
And so if the, if Indiana doesn't get in, there's not
another Big 10 school that's going to get in.
And it's not like the Big 10 of the SEC is super excited about
bringing other conferences. Like they want to stack this
playoff with as many teams as they can from their conference.
It's also a conference football committee that's led by a
Michigan AD. So it's like there is politics
at play here where if Indiana does get in, you're talking
about like a, you know, is it Georgia?
Is it Tennessee? Like it's another SEC school or
an ACC school. So I and I also just think, you
know, even if the schedule is soft and they played an
underbelly of the Big 10, I, I think you're setting a really,
really interesting president to be like, Hey, A1 loss team in
the big 10 of the SEC that's not good enough to get into our
playoff. But other two or three loss
teams is. I I just, I, I think there's a
lot at play, but I'm just curious asking you like, is
there a way that Indiana loses at Ohio State?
If it's, you know, is there a point total?
Is there a an eye test that it's so bad it would invalidate them,
even though everything I laid out there makes me feel like I
think they're getting in either way?
Yeah, I don't know if a number necessarily.
I mean it, it can't be 56 to nothing like I would and and I
would be shocked if it was 56 to nothing.
The the score will matter. I will say they're there have
been a couple of things nationally that have helped
Indiana's case if they are a one loss team and then and they do
look respectable in this game, which I think they will.
The Big 12 the last couple weeks has helped BYU's loss this past
weekend to Kansas. I think that means that the Big
12's probably going to be one team into the playoff.
You know, Iowa State had been inside the top ten but lost two
games. So that takes away a potential
bid steal. The SEC one is interesting.
I've, I've kind of mapped this out in my head of if you're not
you fan, you're, you're rooting as hard as you can for Texas.
I think because if, if Texas at 9:00 and 1:00, they beat A&M in
their final game, that's three losses for A&M.
They'd probably play another two loss team in the SEC title, give
them a third loss. And then you're, you're looking
at probably 2 SEC teams that you're comparing yourself
against, which will probably be, I would, I would guess Tennessee
or Alabama or, or Ole Miss who's still in that mix.
But, but I, I think if it's close, you, you look at the one
loss versus the two loss. And there, there's your tie
break. But obviously it's not as simple
as that with what we saw at Florida State last year.
And, and that's the, that's the thing.
If I were an IU fan, that would have me but a little bit nervous
because the committee did that last year and then we got a
great game at the Rose Bowl with Michigan and Alabama, the one
lost team that they let in. And that was kind of proof of
concept of see, we made the right choice.
We got a good game out of the selection we made.
But no. I agree.
And I think for Indiana, what's playing in their favor is, I
mean, if they if they beat Ohio State, this is all moot.
Like they're in that's, that's a huge win.
If they lose to Ohio State, I think what's playing in their
favor is they're kind of boxed out of getting into the Big 10
title game, which I think helps them because I've said this for
a while, personal IU fan, it's like if they get in the Big 10
title game with one loss and they lose, they're probably out.
Although I think that's BS because I think with a soft
schedule, Penn State could have the exact same profile and they
would be in. But that's just my personal
opinion on that. But I, I think that it puts them
in a good spot with a one loss. If they were to go to the Big 10
title game and play Oregon and lose their I, I think that would
people be like, all right, well, there we go.
They played two teams. They can't win.
I'm not sure it'll be a valid, but it would be hard to to stop
that. So I, I think this is also
playing in Indiana's favor. But I also, you know, I, I think
I still think Indiana's really good.
I'm not sure they could go through a gauntlet in the
College Football Playoff beating Alabama and Georgia and Ohio
State and Oregon. You know, I know they don't play
that many games. Like they can't play that many.
They're going to need some breaking to happen, right?
And I, I think this weekend is huge for them because I do think
to get out of that first round, the, the types of teams are
looking to play, whether it's Tennessee or Alabama or Georgia,
those teams that are in that first round, I think Indiana has
a shot if they play them in Bloomington.
I don't think they have a shot if they play them on the road.
I think going to Tennessee or Alabama or Georgia would be a
bridge too far or that that's just, that's a really tough ask.
And I think that if they lose at Ohio State, how they lose is
going to dictate whether they probably are hosting a game or
not hosting a game, right? Right.
Yeah, yeah. No, that's that's a really good
point because latest projection, right, would be the 710 game in
Bloomington with Alabama. Yeah, and I'm, I'm with you
going to going to an SEC Rd. environment.
It's going to be a big ask. But also, Indiana's done a
million things this year where it's like, oh, they really did
that. That's that's totally fair.
And if they beat Ohio State, it's it's off the table.
Last thing, are you, are you scheduled to do any of those,
those College Football Playoff games?
I'm not. No, no, I'll.
I'll be full on basketball in December.
OK. I, I'll obviously be following
very, very closely. So if if you want to chat during
that time I'm I've always got an open line.
OK, yeah, no, if we make the College Football Playoff and we
are hosting a game or we get to the next level, I will we'll
reach out and have you back on because I think and and if I'm
telling you right now, clear your schedule, my friend.
If we win in overtime on any kind of a Curtis work roll out,
I'm having you on Monday morning.
I don't care what your schedule is, even just 5 minutes like
we're having you on and you're going to tell us every week
we're having you on so you can tell us what's going to happen.
Because if that happens, it's like it's this is the Connor
Onion play. We're just you are now the good
luck charm for Crimson cast. I'm in and and by the way, if
Indiana is hosting a home playoff game and and I don't
have basketball or something that day, I'm going to do
everything I can to be there because let's go.
As as you know, I did a ton of Hoosier games last year when
when times weren't as good. Yep.
And then I was I was in town actually calling volleyball
right before the Washington game.
And just to see the stadium in the area around the stadium
transform just felt and looked like a totally different place
as it has on TV and for some of your fans that have have been
there for sold out crowds. So I I will do everything I can
if there's there's a home playoff game to get down there.
And if there is, you got to come.
We'll get together. We have a couple tailgates.
You're you are all invited or you are invited to all of them.
It has been one of the coolest things seeing you know, going to
being, you know, growing up in Bloomington start.
You went to games in the 80's, the 90s moved away for a couple
years. That season ticket since O 9,
seeing that stadium full for an entire game against, you know,
Washington against Michigan is just unbelievable.
And and and and it's full with IU fans because we've had full
games where you know, it's a lot of Ohio State fans or a lot of
Michigan fans. They'll come down just seeing
the excitement and the people and they're there and they're
loud. It it's been so awesome.
And as I've said multiple times, you know, it's not like Michigan
is freaked out coming into Memorial Stadium with 55,000
people. Like they play at the Horseshoe,
They've won there. They played a national
championship game last year. Like it's not so much that it's
that I do think that our crowd buoys our team like for for us,
it builds us up. It's not that I think, again,
Alabama coming in is going to be like, Oh my God, they play in
the SEC. This is going to be a small
arena for their small stadium for them.
They're not going to be freaked out, but I do think it's
something that that you can see the attachment with the players.
They win games. They immediately run over the
student section. It is it has been my favorite
thing. And it's what I've been telling
people is like, you only get one right up the mountain.
Because in future years it'll be it'll be the expectation or
they'll be something different. Like this is a such a unique
season because you, you, you only get one chance to go up the
mountain and then you're there and then things do change.
Yeah, it's not to compare Indiana football to The Beatles,
but but, but, you know, those guys always said like I was the
happiest time of my life was when we were creating and kind
of building what The Beatles were.
And I I think you got a really good point.
You only get one ride up the mountain.
And this is this has been really, really cool to watch.
So and. It could be even cooler on on
Saturday, but we'll we'll hopefully we'll be having maybe
some more highs coming up. Connor, it's been awesome having
you this season. Thanks for giving us your
thoughts thus far. And catch him on the the IU game
on Thursday, right? Yeah, I've got IU basketball on
Thursday and. You and humble.
Yeah, yeah. Me and Robbie Humble.
Let's go, all right, And then at some point we can do a
basketball preview as well, 'cause it looks like maybe we
can shoot, We'll see. Maybe, maybe we can get some
shooting. We'll see.
It's fun team to watch. Well, Connor, I appreciate it.
Catch him on Big 10 on Fox. I want to thank everybody for
listening. And as always for Crimson Cast,
this is Scott signing off.