Rise and shine Tailgaters; it’s Gameday! Welcome to Hoosier Huddle’s newest weekly column: Tidbits for the Tailgate. Each week I’ll break down what you need to know before you head to the lots at Memorial Stadium: from players to watch to what’s happening in other games to tips for a successful tailgate.

What You Missed Last Week

Bill Belichick Victorious in Ireland

Is Bill back? The most controversial coach in college football notched a big Week Zero win with UNC’s 15-10 victory over TCU in Ireland.

North Dakota State Makes History

The NDSU Bison have long been the premier FCS program, winning 10 FCS National Championships between 2011 and 2024. The Bison made the leap to the FBS level this offseason and just got their first FBS win in dominant fashion: beating Jacksonville State 33-7.

Alberto Gets His First Start

It was a bittersweet moment to watch Alberto Mendoza make his first start. As an Indiana fan, the Mendoza family will always have a special place in my heart, yet watching Alberto don the Gold and Blue of Georgia Tech instead of the Cream and Crimson was heartbreaking. Regardless, Alberto went 17-23 for 237 yards and looked to be putting together a game-winning drive before the Georgia Tech kicker had the game-winning kick blocked. 

UMass Upsets the Scarlet Knights

Rutgers, what happened??? The Scarlet Knights were a 29.5-point favorite at home facing a UMass team that had not beaten an FBS team in 4 years and had NEVER beaten a Power Four opponent. Despite this, the Minutemen shocked the world on Thursday, beating Rutgers 37-21. It was one of the worst losses in college football history (and that’s coming from someone who watched Michigan lose to App State in person). 

Legal Battles Galore

Welcome to the modern landscape of college athletics. A court case in Colorado produced an injunction that made certain NFL players eligible to return to college before an appeal reversed that decision. Not to be deterred, a Louisiana judge granted two LSU players a fresh eligibility injunction, which prompted Clemson to threaten to sue for breach of the game contract if the ex-pros play on Saturday. Hoosiers in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, though, as an Indiana judge just granted Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley an injunction to play on Saturday.

Hoosiers’ Matchup

North Texas Mean Green

Campus: Denton, Texas

Mascot: Mean Green/Scrappy the Eagle

2025 Record: 12-2 (Won New Mexico Bowl 49-47)

Series Record: Tied 1-1 (North Texas won in 2011, Indiana won in 2014)

Head Coach: Neal Brown (First Year at North Texas)

Conference: American

What to Watch For

Amare Ferrell’s Pick Streak

Indiana defensive back Amare Ferrell has had an interception in each of the past two season openers against FIU and ODU, respectively. The Florida native looks to keep this streak alive against North Texas on Saturday.

Another New Face Under Center

It’s the third year of the Curt Cignetti era, and each year has brought a new veteran transfer quarterback to the Hoosiers’ offense. It was Kurtis Rourke in 2024, Fernando Mendoza in 2025, and now it will be Josh Hoover in 2026. The TCU transfer has big shoes to fill as he takes over for Fernando Mendoza on Saturday.

National Championship Sign

2025 was the greatest season in Indiana Football history. 16-0. National Champions. Now that season will be forever immortalized in Memorial Stadium as IU will unveil a new “2025 National Champions” sign during the pregame festivities on Saturday.

Tailgate Tip of the Week

Water, Water, & More Water

As someone who has spent countless hours filming “Pulse on the Pregame” in the lots surrounding Memorial Stadium, I can tell you that there is no hotter place on earth than the RV lots before the season opener. It’s going to get up to 90 degrees on Saturday, so be sure to stay hydrated. Maybe mix some waters in between your Upland Hoosier Gameday Lagers. Fans are allowed to bring an empty reusable water bottle into the stadium, and there will be water filling stations in the concourse. 

Big Noon Kickoff

Big Noon Kickoff returns to Bloomington on Saturday, as both Barstool CFB and Fox’s Pregame shows will be filming on the South Lawn outside of Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Fan Pit opens at 7:30am, with Barstool CFB going live at 9:00am and Big Noon Kickoff going live at 10:00am. There will be giveaways and prizes, so be sure to get there early and get on TV!