Mind Your Banners

Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek break down a whirlwind 24 hours, after Indiana defeats No. 1 Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship, clinching for the Hoosiers the No. 1 ranking and overall seed in this year's College Football Playoff, as well as a place in this year's Rose Bowl. Zach and Mike recap the game, analyze the Hoosiers' Playoff path and try to make some sense of what all this means for IU fans.

IndyStar's Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek of The Herald-Times break down a whirlwind 24 hours, after Indiana defeats No. 1 Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship, clinching for the Hoosiers the No. 1 ranking and overall seed in this year's College Football Playoff, as well as a place in this year's Rose Bowl. Zach and Mike recap the game, analyze the Hoosiers' Playoff path and try to make some sense of what all this means for IU fans.

Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch joins IndyStar's Zach Osterman for a BuckeyeXtra/Mind Your Banners crossover, previewing Saturday night's Big Ten championship game between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana. Kaufman and Osterman break down everything from the quarterback matchup, to these teams' dominant defense, to what a win would mean for both sides, its effect on the Heisman race and more. Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/02/indiana-football-pat-coogan-leader-proven-winner-motivator-speeches-curt-cignetti-big-ten-cfp/87557306007/ Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman convene for the most anticipated Mind Your Banners in history: The Big Ten championship game preview. Zach and Mike break down the matchup between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana, what the keys are for both sides, who and what might turn the game, what a win means to each side and more. Chapters: 0:00 -- Intro 1:53 -- Initial thoughts 8:10 -- What this game means 12:11 -- Quarterback battle 17:03 -- Defenses staying fresh all season 26:18 -- Potential x-factors 36:24 -- Most important player each side 41:29 -- Mike's got questions 51:21 -- Potential CFP implications 1:01:01 -- Final thoughts, predictions Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/12/02/indiana-football-pat-coogan-leader-proven-winner-motivator-speeches-curt-cignetti-big-ten-cfp/87557306007/ Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

USA Today Co.'s Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss the Hoosiers' forthcoming matchup with Ohio State in this year's Big Ten football championship game, how IU got there, what we learned from the Purdue win and what to expect in Indy.

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss Indiana's quest to complete a perfect 12-0 season with Friday night's Old Oaken Bucket game in West Lafayette. Does Purdue have hope of an upset or will the Hoosiers punch their ticket to the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis?

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman sit down during the bye week to discuss some interesting talking points around Curt Cignetti's team, as the Hoosiers try to rest and recover themselves ahead of the sprint finish to the season now coming into view. Chapters: 0:00 -- Intro 3:38 -- Will Fernando Mendoza win the Heisman Trophy? 8:32 -- Why this Heisman race has developed this way 21:53 -- One encouraging trend ahead of Purdue 28:19 -- One discouraging trend ahead of Purdue 32:35 -- How well-represented is Indiana on All-Big Ten teams? 37:41 -- Reasonable expectations from here Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/11/17/fernando-mendoza-heisman-odds-indiana-football-stats-julian-sayin-marcel-reed-diego-pavia/87317595007/-defend-effort-shots-miss-darian-devries-incarnate-word/87310163007/ Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

Bloomington Herald-Times' Mike Niziolek and IndyStar's Zach Osterman discuss the ins and outs of Indiana's 31-7 win Saturday over Wisconsin, in the Hoosiers' regular-season home finale.

Mind Your Banners doubles up this week, this time talking about a pair of 3-0 starts over at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek discuss the good and bad in the early returns from both Teri Moren's team, and Darian DeVries' first IU outfit.

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman discuss Indiana's dramatic late win at Penn State, the Hoosiers' upcoming visit from Wisconsin, Fernando Mendoza's Heisman campaign, IU's CFP positioning and more. Chapters: 0:00 -- Intro 1:26 -- Final thoughts on Penn State 4:01 -- What we've learned from IU's close wins 15:50 -- Fernando Mendoza's Heisman campaign 27:19 -- Previewing Wisconsin 34:35 -- Injuries 37:46 -- IU in the CFP Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/11/11/why-indiana-football-ahead-texas-am-cfp-rankings-championship-game-mack-rhoades-college-playoff/87223540007/ Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

Mike Niziolek (in State College) and Zach Osterman (in West Lafayette) gather to discuss one of the most exhilarating wins in Indiana football history Saturday afternoon, a last-minute, come-from-behind victory at Penn State. It marks the first time the Hoosiers have won in State College, and may very well hand Fernando Mendoza his Heisman moment.   Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/11/08/indiana-football-win-penn-state-sets-up-ohio-state-big-ten-championship-game-origin-story-new-era/87166835007/   Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU  

Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek host this week's Mind Your Banners to discuss the Hoosiers' debut at No. 2 in the College Football Playoff top 25, Indiana's forthcoming test at struggling Penn State, Darian DeVries' official IU debut and more. Chapters: 0:00 -- Intro 0:55 -- IU debuts in top two in CFP 10:58 -- Looking at Penn State 20:15 -- Nittany Lions' defensive danger/struggles 22:55 -- How Indiana's injuries intersect with this season 30:31 -- IU's overall road forward from here 38:04 -- Thoughts on DeVries' record-setting debut Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/11/06/indiana-basketball-fun-watch-alabama-am-darian-devries-first-win-score-stats-highlights-dunk/87114751007/ Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

Sean Fitz, Publisher of Blue White Illustrated in the On3Sports network and longtime friend of the show, joins Zach Osterman to discuss Penn State's season so far, what's gone so wrong in State College, where the Nittany Lions can still pose a threat this weekend and more. Chapters: 0:00 -- Intro 1:58 -- Season so far, and what's gone wrong 7:29 -- The vibe around this game in State College 11:22 -- Penn State's talent advantage(?) 17:41 -- Ground game & QB relationship 25:11 -- Jim Knowles' defense 31:31 -- Wrapping up Read: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/11/04/indiana-football-cfp-playoff-rankings-ohio-state-notre-dame-texas-am-cfb-top-25-nd/87096245007/ Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

IU Insider Zach Osterman breaks down the first College Football Playoff Top 25, where the Hoosiers fit, what we learned from the committee's first ballot and more. Get IndyStar's IU coverage sent directly to your inbox with our IU Insider newsletter: https://profile.indystar.com/newsletters/iu-insider/?ipid=NLsignupIU

Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek discuss No. 2 Indiana's demolition job at Maryland on Saturday, 55-10, as Curt Cignetti's team moves one step closer to clinching a place in the Big Ten championship game next month in Indianapolis.