The Big Red Carpet

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 finished nonconference play 3–0 with a 38–0 win over Western Kentucky—and Rhett Lewis explains why the criticism of quarterback Josh Hoover is missing the larger picture.Hoover continued to operate IU’s offense efficiently, while the Hoosiers recorded their second straight shutout behind a decisive goal-line stand, 21 pressures and three fourth-down stops. Rhett also breaks down Indiana’s dominant second-half rushing attack, big performances from Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker, the upcoming Northwestern matchup and the latest results around the Big Ten.Subscribe for more Indiana football film study, analysis 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 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.