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 opened its 2026 season with a 52–16 win over North Texas—and Josh Hoover looked ready to lead the defending national champions.Rhett Lewis breaks down Hoover’s impressive Hoosiers debut, Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker making plays downfield, Lee Beebe Jr.’s tone-setting kickoff return and the early returns from Indiana’s rebuilt defense. He also examines the offensive line, IU’s developing run game, the injuries at cornerback and the defensive depth Curt Cignetti and Bryant Haines can deploy moving forward.Subscribe and follow Big Red Carpet for Indiana football analysis, weekly 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.

Another court ruling has thrown the college football eligibility landscape—and Indiana’s defensive plans—back into uncertainty.Rhett Lewis explains why the U.S. Court of Appeals’ latest action in Wisne v. NCAA has left Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt temporarily ineligible, what legal options could come next and how Curt Cignetti might manage the continued uncertainty.Even without Daley and Wyatt, Indiana still possesses one of college football’s deepest defensive fronts. But after injuries ended both players’ 2025 seasons prematurely, Rhett hopes they receive a genuine opportunity to finish what they started.This episode is brought to you by Big Sandy Superstore. Make an eligible purchase by Labor Day weekend, and it could be free if Indiana goes undefeated and wins the national championship!Join the Big Red Carpet Substack for exclusive IU football analysis, transfer-portal film sessions and additional coverage throughout the 2026 season.

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.