CrimsonCast

CrimsonCast
  • 4.7 (137)
  • SPORTS
  • UPDATED DAILY

CrimsonCast is the longest-running podcast focused on IU Athletics. Founded in 2008, the podcast provides regular discussion about Indiana football, Indiana basketball, and interesting things related to being an IU fan. We regularly cover Indiana University culture, Bloomington / Indianapolis / state of Indiana culture, college sports business, and a ton of other things. CrimsonCast is a proud member of the Back Home Network, the place where Hoosiers across the country gather to talk about their favorite teams.

  1. 11H AGO

    Ep 1328 - IU Downs Oregon + Lamar Wilkerson’s Scoring Tear, Sam Alexis Breakout & Illinois Preview

    Galen Clavio and Grace Ybarra are back with a midweek IU athletics update — and this one is all about Indiana men’s basketball finding traction. They open with the Hoosiers’ 92–74 win over Oregon, highlighted by another monster scoring night from Lamar Wilkerson and a huge efficiency game from Sam Alexis. The conversation then turns to what’s changing under head coach Darian DeVries (including how he’s adjusting Alexis’ usage), why Indiana’s offense is beginning to feel more sustainable, and the one looming concern: a defensive trendline that’s drifting the wrong way even as the wins pile up. From there, it’s a forward look at Illinois—matchup strengths/weaknesses, injury questions, and what Indiana needs to do to steal one on the road—before zooming out to bracketology and the Big Ten Tournament seeding mess (yes, including the dreaded 11 a.m. tips).

    56 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Ep 1327 - Championship Reflections with Ken Bikoff

    Welcome back to CrimsonCast\! In this episode, host Scott Caulfield sits down with Bloomington local and media veteran Ken Bikoff to reflect on Indiana University's "dream season" and national championship run. Having hosted postgame call-in shows for years, Ken has felt the pain of IU fans more than most and joins the show to discuss the surreal reality of reaching the top of the mountain. **Episode Highlights** * **\[00:25\] Welcome & News:** Scott opens the show with updates on finding CrimsonCast on YouTube and Substack. * **\[01:37\] Meet Ken Bikoff:** Scott introduces the man who has been a voice for IU fans through football and basketball postgame shows since 2011. * **\[02:51\] The Surreal Reality:** Ken shares the feeling of being an IU alum holding a "perfection" shirt and realizing the national championship actually happened. * **\[05:32\] Dreaming Big:** Ken reflects on Scott’s past idealism for the program, questioning "why not us?" when others were just hoping for a bowl game. * **\[08:12\] Coaching History:** A journey through the program's evolution, from the Mallerie and Cam Cameron eras to the pivotal hard reset under Kevin Wilson. * **\[13:42\] Facility Breakthroughs:** Recalling how Terry Hepner served as the catalyst for stadium improvements and facilities that moved the program forward. * **\[15:43\] The Cignetti Era:** Analyzing Coach Curt Cignetti’s matter-of-fact approach and the "unbelievably quick turnaround" that made the program sustainable. * **\[25:01\] Sliding Door Moments:** Revisiting the 2021 Cincinnati game as a turning point that signaled the "beginning of the end" for the previous coaching regime. * **\[29:34\] Season Pivot Points:** Reflections on the statement win at UCLA and the rainy Maryland game where fans stayed to witness something special. * **\[36:09\] Overcoming Scar Tissue:** The emotional breakthrough of the Ohio State game, realizing IU could beat anyone and didn't have to wait for the other shoe to drop. * **\[42:30\] IU Takes Over:** Discussing the positive energy of the fan base and the incredible atmosphere in Atlanta and Miami during the championship run. * **\[47:34\] Memorializing the Season:** A debate on how to honor this achievement in Memorial Stadium, from flags and statues to permanent design improvements. * **\[55:01\] Championship Gear & Final Thoughts:** Scott and Ken compare their growing collections of national championship mini-helmets and memorabilia.

    1h 1m

  3. 1D AGO

    Ep 1326 - The “Extended Highlights” Creator Speaks: Eddie Koton on IU Football, Going Viral on X, and the Creative Process

    Galen Clavio sits down with Eddie Koton, the mind behind the now-infamous “Extended Highlights” series on X/Twitter — the chaotic, brilliant, internet-lunatic companion pieces that became required viewing during Indiana football’s championship season. Eddie explains how the series started (and why he felt IU football needed its own brand of online insanity), how the bits and recurring characters evolved over the course of the season, and what his actual workflow looks like when he’s building an episode in Premiere from highlights, bookmarks, and whatever his brain decides is funny that day. They also talk about what it’s like when the content escapes the IU bubble — including the surreal moment Mark Cuban quote-tweeted the final episode — and zoom out into a broader conversation about creativity, editing, and why certain ideas land when you don’t even fully understand why.

    32 min

  4. 4D AGO

    Ep 1325 - Indiana Beats Wisconsin in OT (78–77) | What It Means for IU’s Tourney Path + Big Ten Seeding Math

    Galen Clavio and Scott Caulfield recap Indiana’s gritty 78–77 overtime win over Wisconsin at Assembly Hall — a résumé-building victory that keeps IU trending in the right direction and puts real shape around the Hoosiers’ NCAA Tournament path. They break down the game’s wild arc (IU’s early surge, the familiar mid-game wobble, and the late-game execution that finally held up), plus the performances that carried Indiana despite major no-shows from key rotation pieces. Lamar Wilkerson stays scorching, Sam Alexis delivers a monster, trajectory-altering game, and Connor Enright continues to be the engine that keeps the offense functioning — including a pair of late whistles that ignited plenty of debate. Then the conversation zooms out: what this win means for Indiana’s remaining schedule, why holding serve at home matters so much, and where Indiana could realistically land in the Big Ten Tournament bracket (and why those byes are as confusing as ever).

    1h 17m

  5. 6D AGO

    Ep 1324 - Indiana’s CFP Title Run + The “National Champions” Jacket Story (with Connor Hitchcock, Homefield Apparel)

    Galen Clavio is joined by Connor Hitchcock (Homefield Apparel) for a wide-ranging conversation about Indiana’s unforgettable playoff run and what it’s felt like to experience it as an IU football fan — from the once-in-a-lifetime crowds in Pasadena, Atlanta, and Miami to the emotional whiplash of finally watching the Hoosiers finish the job. Connor also shares the behind-the-scenes story of one of the coolest moments of championship weekend: how Homefield pulled off the in-stadium “National Champions 2025” jacket reveal after Jamari Sharpe’s late interception of Carson Beck, including the inside-out-jacket trick to get past stadium bag rules. It’s part fandom therapy session, part business/CFB culture discussion, and part “how is this real life?” reflection — and it captures exactly what this season has meant to Indiana fans.

    46 min

  6. FEB 5

    Ep 1323 - Grace Ybarra Joins CrimsonCast + IU Hoops Trip Split (UCLA Win, USC Loss) & IU Football Staff Moves (Sunseri Returns)

    Galen Clavio and Grace Ybarra open with a big CrimsonCast announcement — Grace is joining the show as a regular host — then dive into a two-sport update on Indiana basketball and Indiana football. On the basketball side, they recap IU’s split in L.A.: why the UCLA double-overtime win looms even larger now, what went wrong in the USC loss, and how the Hoosiers’ late-game decision-making and three-point reliance shape the NCAA Tournament ceiling. They also look ahead to the Wisconsin home game and what Indiana needs to do to stay on the right side of the bracket conversation. After the break, it’s football: Indiana absorbs its first meaningful offseason “losses” as coaches move on, then quickly answers with a familiar name — Tino Sunseri returns to the staff. Galen and Grace discuss why keeping the core intact (including OC Mike Shanahan and DC Bryant Haines) matters, what ESPN-style roster/portal evaluations get right (and wrong), and how Indiana’s talent evaluation under Curt Cignetti continues to challenge the sport’s assumptions. Finally: spring game timing and what could be a massive Little 500 week in Bloomington.

    55 min

  7. FEB 2

    Ep 1322 - After the Title: Why IU Won the CFP and How Indiana Reloads for 2026 with Taylor Lehman

    Galen Clavio is joined by Taylor Lehman to put a bow on Indiana football’s national championship run — starting with what actually happened in the title game against Miami, why it got dicey in the third quarter, and the handful of pivotal moments (including the blocked punt TD and the late interception) that slammed the door. From there, it’s a forward-looking, roster-building deep dive: how Indiana replaces key departures (including Stephen Daley, Aidan Fisher, D’Angelo Ponds, and Lewis Moore), why continuity with Curt Cignetti’s staff matters, and what the portal class says about the program’s “production over potential” strategy heading into 2026 — with detailed talk on Josh Hoover at QB, the tight end depth concern, and why the new wide receiver room could be even nastier. Presented by Homefield Apparel and Posh Hotel Bloomington.

    1 hr

  8. FEB 1

    Ep 1321 - IU Basketball Survives UCLA in 2OT (98–97) + Tournament Outlook & February Path

    Galen Clavio breaks down Indiana men’s basketball’s wild 98–97 double-overtime win over UCLA—a huge résumé boost that stabilizes IU’s NCAA Tournament outlook and changes the tone of February. Galen covers the late-game decision not to foul, the offensive explosion from Nick Dorn, Lamar Wilkerson, and Reed Bailey, and what the efficiency trendlines say about where Indiana is improving (and where the defense still has to tighten up). He also digs into some of the factors that showed up at Pauley Pavilion, updated tournament odds, and what Indiana needs to do over the next month—starting with a late-night trip to USC.

    29 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
137 Ratings

About

CrimsonCast is the longest-running podcast focused on IU Athletics. Founded in 2008, the podcast provides regular discussion about Indiana football, Indiana basketball, and interesting things related to being an IU fan. We regularly cover Indiana University culture, Bloomington / Indianapolis / state of Indiana culture, college sports business, and a ton of other things. CrimsonCast is a proud member of the Back Home Network, the place where Hoosiers across the country gather to talk about their favorite teams.

Information

  • Creator
    CrimsonCast
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2026
  • Episodes
    675
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © CrimsonCast
  • Show Website
    CrimsonCast

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