CrimsonCast

CrimsonCast
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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. 1D AGO

    Ep 1332 - IU Hoops Reality Check, Broyles Award for Bryant Haines, and Upgrading Memorial Stadium

    Grace Ybarra and Galen Clavio are back with a packed Hoosiers episode that starts on the hardwood and ends… in the Max Mendoza Cinematic Universe. They open with Indiana men’s basketball’s rough loss at Illinois—why the game got away from IU, what the run problems and rebounding issues reveal, and why the margin for error gets tiny fast when the supporting scoring disappears. Then it’s a forward look at the toughest test on the schedule: Purdue at Mackey, what Indiana must do to have a chance, and why this matchup is especially unforgiving given Purdue’s offensive efficiency profile. After that, it’s football: Bryant Haines winning the Broyles Award (and what it signals for Indiana’s defensive brand), plus a staff update with Bryson Bonds joining as a special teams assistant and what it says about the program’s culture. Finally, the show turns into a brainstorming session on how to upgrade the Memorial Stadium experience (bathrooms, concourses, audio/visual, lights, premium areas, and where the “National Champions” banner/trophies should live)… and then pivots to the must-follow phenomenon: The Max Mendoza Show—including clips, commentary, and a ridiculous over/under game about X follower counts.

    1h 13m

  2. 3D AGO

    The 24 Team Playoff Makes More Sense Than You Think - CrimsonCast Perspectives

    On this episode of CrimsonCast Perspectives, GC tests out some new lighting in the studio while talking about why the Big Ten's recently leaked 24 team playoff proposal makes a lot more sense than people are giving it credit. Too much emphasis is being placed on a regular season that no longer tells us very much about who the best teams in the country are --- and we're not changing that anytime soon. It's time to stop fighting playoff expansion and embrace it instead. Leave your comments below with thoughts and opinions about a 24 team playoff in college football

    13 min

  3. 4D AGO

    Ep 1331 - Championship Recap with Connor Onion

    On this episode of CrimsonCast Scott is joined by special guest Connor Onion from the Big Ten Network! Episode Highlights The Ultimate Glow-Up: A look back at the wild ride from a three-and-nine team to a 16-0 national champion.When Belief Set In: Connor and the host discuss the exact moment they realized this wasn't a fluke—the Big 10 Championship game against Ohio State.The Heisman Warrior: A breakdown of Fernando Mendoza's incredible season, balancing his "warrior" mentality on the field with his "goofy" social media persona.Breaking College Football: How Indiana’s success is confusing the national media and why Big Ten rivals are now celebrating when they don't have to play the Hoosiers.The Cignetti Factor: Why Curt Cignetti is the perfect coach for Bloomington and how he’s building a legacy that might eventually include multiple statues.Behind the FOX Curtain: Connor takes us inside the network's preseason "referee boot camp" where announcers get quizzed on targeting and new rules.The Transformation of the Rock: Celebrating the new, electric atmosphere at Memorial Stadium and how it finally became a legitimate home-field advantage.00:25 – Welcome to the show: We are national champions!01:31 – Connor Onion on following the journey from 3-9 to 16-002:54 – The turning point: Winning over the skeptics in the Big 10 title game04:52 – Remembering the ominous start vs. Old Dominion09:20 – Media shifts: Preparing for early morning "Big Noon" kickoffs14:18 – A sidebar on the "dumbest T-shirt ever"15:52 – Can anyone replicate the Indiana model?19:43 – Fernando Mendoza: Heisman winner and on-field warrior22:52 – FOX Sports referee boot camp and the mystery of the pivot foot34:55 – Five-year outlook: Is this level of success sustainable?37:51 – The legacy of Curt Cignetti48:58 – From empty tailgates to a sold-out Memorial Stadium51:43 – Closing thoughts and basketball tournament hopes

    52 min

  4. FEB 13

    Ep 1330 - Griffin Gonzalez on IU Football’s Transformation, Hoosier the Bison & Leaving for Boston

    Galen Clavio sits down with Griffin Gonzalez for an “exit interview” that turns into a perfect snapshot of what the last few years of Indiana football have felt like from inside Memorial Stadium. Griffin shares what it was like serving as IU football’s on-field mic personality through the program’s lowest moments — and then watching the place transform into a full-blown destination as the wins (and the crowds) exploded. They talk about the unseen work that goes into fan experience, the pressure of “being the ambassador of fun” even on brutal Saturdays, and the upgrades that changed the in-stadium production along the way. Plus: Griffin explains why he’s leaving Indiana for a new on-air opportunity in Boston, tells the behind-the-scenes story of Hoosier the Bison’s return (and the stress of introducing him), and reflects on the playoff run as a lifelong IU fan who never really let himself believe something like this could happen.

    46 min

  5. FEB 13

    Ep 1329 - Haines Wins the Broyles Award; Men's Basketball Statistical Trends

    Galen Clavio drops a quick Friday “mini episode” with updates on Indiana football and a deep dive into what’s happening with Indiana men’s basketball under the hood. First: IU football news, including Broyles Award winner Bryant Haines and what it says about the credibility (and sustainability) of Indiana’s defensive identity. Then Galen pivots to hoops with a detailed look at the advanced numbers—why IU’s season has essentially become two different teams: an early stretch powered by defense, followed by a January run where the offense has become elite while the defense has slipped. Finally, Galen explains why those trendlines matter with Illinois and Purdue looming, what Indiana can realistically change late in the year, and how Big Ten Tournament seeding (and avoiding Wednesday) should shape the stretch-run mindset.

    29 min

  6. FEB 12

    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

  7. FEB 11

    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

  8. FEB 11

    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
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
138 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
    680
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © CrimsonCast
  • Show Website
    CrimsonCast

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