JabbaNoBargain

While true they have no high school 5 stars, this isn’t homegrown, farm boy talent they magically developed. They’re loaded with highly desired transfers that were developed by other schools, with a lot of experience…and a QB that wildly exceeded expectations. Hats off to them for putting the pieces together, but these are not scrubs or anything. Check out their 2025 list, a lot of .85+ rated dudes from big programs. https://247sports.com/college/indiana/season/2025-football/transferportal/?institutionkey=24040

And Indiana has “zero 5 stars”. With the Wild West of the portal, the high school ratings start to become less and less impactful I think. How many of USCs mega 2026 class will still be there in a year or two if they go 9-3 next year? Means nearly nothing to get em if you don’t keep em…very few true frosh really move the needle.

Indiana just completely punked Alabama and Oregon, I’d expect more of the same.

I saw us lose to Pacific at home, so I qualify I think. That being said, seeing Indiana waltz in and achieve in 2 years what we’ve failed at for so long is testing me.

I’m off to Kauai and seriously rethinking how much time I’m dedicating to this sport in the future. A program like Indiana can achieve our decades long goal in 2 years, I’m might be done.

Indeed. I thought we’d be 10-2 with a home playoff win, so this is all gravy to me. That being said, we’re a very talented team being told we can’t win. Shades of Colorado “playing for clicks” type of focus? I can hope.

Exactly. Love the narrative out there that Indiana has “zero 5 stars on the roster” that seems to imply they’re purely some kind of “built not bought” roster. The Indiana story is relatively cool, but let’s not pretend it’s a bunch of farm boys that have been toiling away in the culture of Indiana football the last 5 years. IMO HS recruiting is still foundational, but won’t deliver on its own…I’m looking at you 2026 USC.

Seems unlikely it would be in-conference to me.

Top college QBs might be getting over $5m this year…not sure the $$’s supersede all other considerations at this point. I get that it’s a lot less than a top 10 pick gets (Cam Ward 4 year, $12m/year I believe), but it’s really not a no brainer any more to jump at the money.

“It just means more (when we win)” only applies when they win turkey shoots. Those are now meaningless bowl games against their JV teams.

Just to throw it into the mix. Now that Austin N. is in the portal, he is listed as the 36th best QB in the portal (just a couple days in mind you) give or take. Not sure how exact of a science that is, but that would seem to, at best, place him as a backup at a P2 after 3 years of development at a premiere P2. Is that a developmental problem, or a problem with the HS rating system creating false expectations with fans? Incidentally, there are currently at least 3 (and should increase to 4) QBs that started at least one game for Beavis in their career, that are rated ahead of Austin in the portal.

Leavitt or Hoover yes. Riola no thanks, seems like a nutcase.

My reaction is problem for who? Selfishly, I want us to attract/develop the best college QB that will lead us to be good enough to make the playoff. Mission accomplished. If he translates to the NFL, that’s cool, but I also really don’t care that much if he doesn’t. Really doesn’t keep me up at night seeing Marcus make a career out of being a backup, or Joey not becoming a hall of famer.

Wildcats going full retro chic!

Based on a 1916 look, pretty traditional technically!

Interesting theories abound! I love the green and yellow, but can name plenty of games throughout time where we wore green and yellow and got completely boat raced. The changing uniforms are our trademark and have been for 25 years give or take. That’s us, I embrace it.

I think it’s assuming a bit much to think that he’s going to Kentucky. Guessing the transfer was happening with or without WS leaving…he might not be good enough to start in the SEC. I hope he is and that he kicks butt.

If they keep bowl games, this is the model.

I guess we’ll more or less find out what was happening this year based upon the level of who is interested in him. I’m not personally invested in someone with 99 yards of passing in 3 years with us, but certainly wish him luck.

It’s about to be 2026 and that was almost 20 years ago. In the modern era the right coach can get a terrible program into the playoff inside of 12 months of hire. Can Whit operate in 2026 from scratch? Will UM tolerate him going 8-4, but doing it the right way? Very far from a sure thing here imo.

He developed an amazing culture at Utah. Will he have time for a culture to take root at a place like UM in 2026? Is he really a bridge guy to infuse a program on the ropes? Guess we might find out. Whit has had a great career no doubt about it. He also finished the last 2 seasons (2025-26 pending) unranked. I wish him luck if it happens…but not too much luck 😂

Love when 🤡 emphatically states things 😂 Impossible to imagine a contract at UM being worth a tad more than free in-state tuition for grandchildren. It’s a weird choice if it happens. If Michigan is really interested in changing their ways (I don’t think they are) this would be about as clean of a dude as they could hire. That being said, the solution is a 66 year old coach that is NIL/Portal reluctant and known for non-explosive offense?

Give it another 6-6 year and we’ll see where he lands. Cal actually wasn’t far off from having a good year and they still fired the coach because being close has been Wilcox’s theme almost every year he’s been there. I could totally see Sag playing it out to see if this change gets them over the hump.

I had a joyous Festivus on Tuesday

Enjoy!