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Mr. Marsh, I have saved you for last because you write the articles that gets everyone thinking. And your comments the past few hours really dialed in on some key themes that will play out in this game on Friday. That isn't anything against what has been some excellent dialogue. I had to write notes down for your comments more than others tonight. I do believe Lanning short circuited the aggressive play calling in the second half. It was obvious OBD were going to win. Stein was simply tasked with winding the game down. But it was so frustrating. Tech's Front 7 was rearranging our OL, and their LBs were filling gaps so quickly it was difficult to run anywhere. They are probably the best group of defensive lineman and linebacker in the country this year. They presented challenges that were tough to overcome. STILL... I also believe Lanning was aggressive in a destructive manner. While I didn't mind any of the 3rd and 4th down calls that were less than 3 yards, I did mind the type of plays that were called. That 4th and Goal pass was similar to that disaster in Seattle. That was Stein's/Lannings worst play choice of that group in Seattle. It was open, but for the wrong reason. It was not open in Miami. It was going to be an Interception as well. OBD got lucky. How much Davison plays will be key. I totally like your thoughts on using a 13 set (1 RB, 3 TEs). And using it to run roughshod. The most important aspect of your thoughts is Indiana will have to chose between attacking a run play or laying off to cover those TEs. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about that concept. In my eyes, these are the concepts that should be worked on starting in January. Its the stuff I would expect the analysts to work on, hashed out between that group and Lanning/Stein. Re-hashed every practice for at least 20 minutes. I'd put every kind of scenario on the table. I'd make it a one quarter challenge between coordinators and their analysts, with Steak Dinner or Oatmeal at stake. Every week. 10 months. Drill that ability to recognize and counter strategies, philosophies, and every play known to the football world. Spy versus Spy. So much so that it is routine to handle in any kind of game. Now I do believe that has been happening this year-the adjustments that is. But my dream world as a HC would be to drill my entire staff on going at each other play by play, series by series. So when they are scouting other teams, they are crafting counter strikes automatically. Street ball. In as organized a fashion possible. I want those guys as loose as a goose. I think I have seen some of that this year. Because I am having a difficult time determining what Stein is designing for this game-and I now believe Lupoi has his unit seeing the whole field. I am still studying this year in review for both teams. And I can't wait to figure out what we have been looking at this past six weeks.

You know the wild thing about that astute assessment is nobody knows what is going to happen next on offense. We keep waiting for this nuclear explosion to unveil itself, and it "never comes". I will say this, I am sure Indiana is very concerned it will drop in Atlanta on Friday. What truly isn't working? And that isn't a disagreement about your premise. I see too many missed assignments". But they look like horrible play calls-especially for certain situations. What truly IS working? That is a serious question as well. Stein is killing us. But I do believe his opponents have been saying, "man, Indiana (Penn State, Iowa, Washington, USC ) really lucked out". That's the conundrum. When will we see that Montana State, Oklahoma State performance? Will we see that Oklahoma State, Montana State performance? I sure hope Stein uses that Action-play of yours (is it also called a Draw Play). It works. And again, it pulls the Back 7 back to the LOS. We want that group up close and personal because they will not win those battles. Very, very good observation on this team as a whole trusting themselves. That is an intangible that has been a constant theme. Brandon Finney is the one young gun that has brought swagger all year. But I saw a lot of that on defense last week. Like you have consistently said: Dante Moore needs to read properly. He needs to trust himself more than anyone else when he is under duress. I believe he completely realizes he doesn't have the experience yet to dismantle a havoc clad Front 7. You hit the bullseye-he needs to Yoda this baby (I wonder how much Lanning has grilled him, and Stein has drilled him on just throwing the damn ball to a guy he is staring at).

Sometimes I really wonder what Stein is up to in the middle of all the chaos. It was frustrating last week to see Tech escape so many times.

This game is going to be the ultimate chess match. I LOVE your thoughts on drawing Indiana inside. Our Tackles will probably need help. But some NFL style checkdowns would really work here. Not sure Stein would dial them up (I'll have to show them in the offseason), but forcing the Back 7 closer to LOS will open up massive space for the TEs, or whomever runs the seam, curl and dig routes. Turnovers are always key, but I see a clean game from both teams. Moore has thrown 3 Interceptions so far. None of them really hurt the team, and only one of them was a questionable decision on his part. I sure hope Stein dials up a October 2024 surprise again. Not sure yet what he and Lanning want to do this game.

This: That’s the nature of that intangible called motivation. I believe Curt Cignetti is the best in the business at present. His staff is awesome at developing precision level performance. I'm talking German Craftmanship here. With a Formula One style of play. He does have a very mature group of players-they're mostly 22 or older. That takes nothing away from the preparation and performance his players have dialed up this year. I also happen to believe Lupoi and Stein in particular are growing on the daily. I have seen more adjustments, and more precision in their ability to spot key plays to attack and defend. But they are not Jedi yet. Sometimes they have to unlearn what they have learned. What they plan to do, and how they adjust during this game will say a whole lot about their futures. So, which Dante Moore will

Boy do I hope they have a set of sequential/constraint plays in store for the Hoosiers based on that play. Everyone seems to blow up that play because it is so easy to read pre snap. Sometimes it is a blown block, but every time I have seen that play, every secondary zooms in on the designated receiver like a guided missile. Stein is ultimately responsible for the unit's performance. Even if the players aren't executing. What will it take to maximize their performance? That has to be on the staff's radar. Four excellent defenses, four games of missed opportunities left on the plate. We as fans are starving, and this unit is throwing away more than scraps. We're talking about a course or two from a five course meal.

Excellent Post! This Forum of Decorum brings out the best in us. I agree Indiana is less prone to change much. I do wonder if they will throw more wrinkles as it appears they brought out more of their arsenal against both Ohio State and Alabama. And they looked scary against Bama ( Bama pulled that disappearing act again. I am beginning to believe they are more scared of themselves than teams and programs fear them now). I'm not sure how OBD waltzed into the IU game. But I am more prone to believe your premise that they strode in with a Business as Usual approach-thinking they had hurdled the most daunting task they had ahead of the CCG in December. Last year, Indiana wasn't so physical at the Line of Scrimmage (LOS). Boy did that change this year. Cignetti's crew outcoached Lanning's, and that has been the case in every game of theirs but the close call in Happy Valley (and its too bad Penn State collapsed, because that hurt our reputation). You hit is dead on: Lanning and crew must demonstrate even more growth than they already have this year. In my opinion, the disjointed efforts on one side of the ball in numerous games makes everyone wonder if Lanning has put it all together yet. This really is Lanning's most significant game.

That thought reminds me of the 2 point conversion in the 2011 Natty. The play flowed to the right and Lance Allworth's stunt double (jeff Maehl) gracefully snatches Darin Thomas' backside heave.

Great comparison, Alabama is Illinois!

Looking forward to all the replays of Indiana’s winning touchdown in Autzen with the receiver blatantly pushing off to create space.

I would love to see the play start that way but you put Dierre Hill in motion going the other way after the snap. Anyone in charge of covering him gets wrapped up in the chaos of the shift and then then QB turns around and throws a lateral pass backwards to him. Loads of risk involved with that and could still backfire in if the reverse runner is covered but I hate limiting the play like that on a 4th down especially.

I had the same flashback. I can’t think of a more worthless scheme, especially against a team with incredible lateral speed. The longer the play extends, the smaller the box gets.

Barking dogs. It’s gotten to the point where it’s almost kind of cute, if it weren’t for the constant noise. Somebody give them a bone.

It’s a form of shrieking panic since the only thing they have over OBD is a half paper championship. If Oregon wins a CFP title then the Ducks can claim a far more legit (and more difficult to obtain) national championship status that can be lorded over them for potentially decades.

As if we didn't have enough motivation to root for the Ducks!

I'm so surprised! They are not cheering for a fellow NW Big-10 team? (From a Husky pay site) "Anyone but the Ucks." "I can honestly say I detest Oregon so much that at this point I am a huge Cignetti fan. I don’t need to like him to root against Oregon!" "I’m in the anybody’s but Oregon camp." "I’m ok with any final the doesn’t include Phil Knight." "Don’t even want to see a remote chance that Nike gets their Natty." "Miami beating Oregon in the championship does two things. 1) It shows Oregon they had the guy that could get them there, and they couldn't keep him. 2) It cements their place as the Buffalo Bills of college football. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. But I'm a sick twist. I hope for things like this." "Chris Peterson was the antithesis of Oregon and Mario who openly cheated for many years while Pete was all about educating and winning according to the rules at the time." "Indiana better win vs UO, because I don’t have a lot of confidence anyone left if going to beat them. OSU was the insurance policy…" "Oregon is currently as close as I want them to a NC."

USA Today's Look at the Peach Bowl - https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/02/peach-bowl-indiana-vs-oregon-rematch-in-cfp-semifinal-college-football-playoff/87993782007/

I read somewhere that the semi-final officials crews will be: Peach: SEC Fiesta: Big10 The Big Ten could not work either of the semifinals last year (Penn St in one, Ohio St in the other), so I think it’s safe to say that they will get the Miami vs. Ole Miss game in the Fiesta Bowl. With two B1Gs in the Peach, they will not be assigned that game. The Big 12 has the second-longest NCG drought (last time was 2020-21) and will not have a team in the semifinals, so I’ll predict that they will get the championship game this year. It will be B1G vs ACC/SEC in the championship. Thus, the Big12 officiating crew will likely get the call for the championship game. The Big Ten has gone the longest without an officiating crew in the championship. With the Big Ten in the Fiesta, and Big 12 crew in the championship, that leaves either the SEC or ACC for the Peach semi-final. Since the ACC had the Oregon vs Tex Tech game, it is more likely the SEC will get the Peach Bowl assignment.

USA Today calls out Bama and the SEC https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2026/01/02/alabama-football-embarrassed-kalen-deboer-indiana-rose-bowl-sec-big-ten-record/87939308007/

Yahoo for this Final 4! https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/college-football-playoff-finally-being-settled-on-field-instead-of-behind-closed-doors-and-the-results-are-glorious-164734764.html

No surprise here. Iowa State QB Rocco Becht transfers to Penn State. https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/former-iowa-state-quarterback-rocco-becht-transfers-to-penn-state-214500388.html

Cig signs his 2026 season QB - Hoover goes from the Horned Frogs to the Hoosiers SIIndiana Lands Fernando Mendoza's Likely Replacement in Tr...Curt Cignetti and Indiana have found Fernando Mendoza’s replacement.

Honestly I don't see the PI in the photos. Maybe his right arm was being held down but I don't see that in the photos of Benson's left side. I do see the db is not looking back, so there is definitely no excuse of I was trying to make a play on the ball. I certainly prefer refs that don't call PI with our DBs as handsy as they are.

Orange Bowl refs: https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/a-rarity-texas-tech-coach-joey-mcguire-praises-21271828.php