@iugradman IU is 27-2 over the last 2 years, went 16-0. A lot of the "dismissing" of IU is so that some of these outlets have stuff to say when there is not enough content for 24/7 coverage.
IU has nothing to prove anymore, and nothing that happens in 2026 has any relevance to what happened in 2025. If IU goes 9-3 or 8-4, how does it take away from last season?
Because it provides fuel to the naysayers who can then claim IU’s title was a fluke. Tom Fornelli, Josh Pate, Paul Finebaum, Nick Saban, and Kirk Herbstreit among others can’t wait to no longer have to acknowledge IU football.
No one serious is calling a 16-0 +479 point diff team a fluke.
I know Fornelli isn’t. I don’t listen to the others on your list, but I don’t trust you to represent their views accurately. And frankly I don’t care what they think.
The 2025 team won everything. They’re permanently in the record books. No one can take a single thing away from them.
Fornelli has predicted IU to go 8-4 and 9-3 the last two seasons. He is a bitter Illinois fan. Pate, Saban, Herbstreit, and Finebaum have repeatedly downplayed IU’s success and picked against them in almost every big game last year. Finebaum has an almost pathological hatred of IU. I am misrepresenting nothing.
Fornelli has predicted IU to go 8-4 and 9-3 the last two seasons. He is a bitter Illinois fan. Pate, Saban, Herbstreit, and Finebaum have repeatedly downplayed IU’s success and picked against them in almost every big game last year. Finebaum has an almost pathological hatred of IU. I am misrepresenting nothing.
That has nothing to do with your claim they’re calling 2025 IUFB a fluke.
These guys, like almost everyone else, predicted wrong. And they gave IU credit in the end.
In the world of sports, you’re never going to have 100% of talking heads on your side. Get over it.
You’re just inventing stuff to be miserable about.
Fornelli has predicted IU to go 8-4 and 9-3 the last two seasons. He is a bitter Illinois fan. Pate, Saban, Herbstreit, and Finebaum have repeatedly downplayed IU’s success and picked against them in almost every big game last year. Finebaum has an almost pathological hatred of IU. I am misrepresenting nothing.
That has nothing to do with your claim they’re calling 2025 IUFB a fluke.
These guys, like almost everyone else, predicted wrong. And they gave IU credit in the end.
In the world of sports, you’re never going to have 100% of talking heads on your side. Get over it.
You’re just inventing stuff to be miserable about.
And they predicted wrong because they never have taken IU seriously. Saban clearly has a stick up his ass when it comes to Cignetti. Finebaum eventually gave a public apology and looked as if he was being forced to at gunpoint.
@iugradman IU is 27-2 over the last 2 years, went 16-0. A lot of the "dismissing" of IU is so that some of these outlets have stuff to say when there is not enough content for 24/7 coverage.
IU has nothing to prove anymore, and nothing that happens in 2026 has any relevance to what happened in 2025. If IU goes 9-3 or 8-4, how does it take away from last season?
Because it provides fuel to the naysayers who can then claim IU’s title was a fluke. Tom Fornelli, Josh Pate, Paul Finebaum, Nick Saban, and Kirk Herbstreit among others can’t wait to no longer have to acknowledge IU football.
Who cares
I assumed you were joking.Broad swathes of the college football media and opposing fanbases dismiss IU as a one hit wonder and can’t wait to pounce when IU eventually loses a game. A second title makes IU’s dominance indisputable.
Because that is not true at all. A few guys here and there for clicks because their bread is covered in SEC butter.
But lets get another one. But who gives a shit about one or two click whores.
,
They predicted wrong because they never have taken IU seriously. Saban clearly has a stick up his ass when it comes to Cignetti. Finebaum eventually gave a public apology and looked as if he was being forced to at gunpoint.
Yep, a lot of these guys were dead wrong and after 16-0 +479 point diff they had to cry uncle and it was amazing. We'll never get more than that.
Nothing lasts long in sports. UGA won two titles in a row, and nowadays many of the talking heads are questioning Kirby over two playoff losses. It's just how it is.
And you do know the media's job is to entertain? Pawl plays a character, IT'S AN ACT, to get views and clicks. They're not paid to be right, they're paid to get people to listen/watch/read so they can sell ads. Their opinions don't matter, but if you get sucked into caring about them that's your problem.
2025 IUFB won everything and they're permanently in the record books. Ain't nothing flukey about 16-0 +479 point diff. '26 is a new team and doesn't have an impact on what '25 did.
Hoover did not look good but his pass protection was comically awful. I will reserve judgment until the season starts. I thought Mendoza stunk in the spring game last year as well. He threw a pick six.
Do us a favor and keep your bad judgment reserved. You lost your mind in the non-con last season.
Did you even listen to what Paul Finebaum said? He apologized for dismissing Indiana, he stated several times about how wrong he was. He was extremely complimentary. You need to lighten up a little.Fornelli has predicted IU to go 8-4 and 9-3 the last two seasons. He is a bitter Illinois fan. Pate, Saban, Herbstreit, and Finebaum have repeatedly downplayed IU’s success and picked against them in almost every big game last year. Finebaum has an almost pathological hatred of IU. I am misrepresenting nothing.
That has nothing to do with your claim they’re calling 2025 IUFB a fluke.
These guys, like almost everyone else, predicted wrong. And they gave IU credit in the end.
In the world of sports, you’re never going to have 100% of talking heads on your side. Get over it.
You’re just inventing stuff to be miserable about.
And they predicted wrong because they never have taken IU seriously. Saban clearly has a stick up his ass when it comes to Cignetti. Finebaum eventually gave a public apology and looked as if he was being forced to at gunpoint.
These guys are just trying to sell themselves. They will say whatever they think will sell ad clicks. Don’t take it so seriously.
Just a couple observations from me.
I noticed that Brunner was playing RT last night. Putting him there and Ajani at RG would be interesting.
During warmups I noticed that no. 3 freshman Kortez Rupert was a real burner. Excited to see what that kid can do in the future.
I noticed Rupert's speed as well.......looked a lot like Chandler physically.
Did you even listen to what Paul Finebaum said? He apologized for dismissing Indiana, he stated several times about how wrong he was. He was extremely complimentary. You need to lighten up a little.Fornelli has predicted IU to go 8-4 and 9-3 the last two seasons. He is a bitter Illinois fan. Pate, Saban, Herbstreit, and Finebaum have repeatedly downplayed IU’s success and picked against them in almost every big game last year. Finebaum has an almost pathological hatred of IU. I am misrepresenting nothing.
That has nothing to do with your claim they’re calling 2025 IUFB a fluke.
These guys, like almost everyone else, predicted wrong. And they gave IU credit in the end.
In the world of sports, you’re never going to have 100% of talking heads on your side. Get over it.
You’re just inventing stuff to be miserable about.
And they predicted wrong because they never have taken IU seriously. Saban clearly has a stick up his ass when it comes to Cignetti. Finebaum eventually gave a public apology and looked as if he was being forced to at gunpoint.
These guys are just trying to sell themselves. They will say whatever they think will sell ad clicks. Don’t take it so seriously.
Finebaum, Herbstreiht & Saban were all butt hurt over IU for various reasons. And add Desmond Howard to that list. But it's all good for me as they looked like asses in the end.
They predicted wrong because they never have taken IU seriously. Saban clearly has a stick up his ass when it comes to Cignetti. Finebaum eventually gave a public apology and looked as if he was being forced to at gunpoint.
Yep, a lot of these guys were dead wrong and after 16-0 +479 point diff they had to cry uncle and it was amazing. We'll never get more than that.
Nothing lasts long in sports. UGA won two titles in a row, and nowadays many of the talking heads are questioning Kirby over two playoff losses. It's just how it is.
And you do know the media's job is to entertain? Pawl plays a character, IT'S AN ACT, to get views and clicks. They're not paid to be right, they're paid to get people to listen/watch/read so they can sell ads. Their opinions don't matter, but if you get sucked into caring about them that's your problem.
2025 IUFB won everything and they're permanently in the record books. Ain't nothing flukey about 16-0 +479 point diff. '26 is a new team and doesn't have an impact on what '25 did.
Not the greatest team ever, imo, but the team that accomplished the most of any college team in history, of any sport, imo:
--16 and 0
--Coach of the Year
--Asst Coach of the year
--Broke Oregon's home win streak
--Beat OSU for first time since '88
--Routed Oregon & Alabama on neutral sies
--Heisman winner
--No. 1 NFL draft pick
--Won a conference title game, two bowl games, and the NC game
--1 lost fumble all year, led country in TO margin, fewest penalties(?)
--top 3 in most O & D stats nationally
--Two of the most iconic plays ever in Omar's catch and Mendoza's dive
all done with a roster with possibly 2-3 guys who had offers from the NDs, Ohio State's of the word, in front one of the previously lethargic fans bases in the country dominating the scene, while sticking to Saban, Herbie, Desmond, Finebaum and dozens of podcasters.
@mushroomgod Second fewest penalty yards per game behind Army and top 6 in fewest penalties per game.
They predicted wrong because they never have taken IU seriously. Saban clearly has a stick up his ass when it comes to Cignetti. Finebaum eventually gave a public apology and looked as if he was being forced to at gunpoint.
Yep, a lot of these guys were dead wrong and after 16-0 +479 point diff they had to cry uncle and it was amazing. We'll never get more than that.
Nothing lasts long in sports. UGA won two titles in a row, and nowadays many of the talking heads are questioning Kirby over two playoff losses. It's just how it is.
And you do know the media's job is to entertain? Pawl plays a character, IT'S AN ACT, to get views and clicks. They're not paid to be right, they're paid to get people to listen/watch/read so they can sell ads. Their opinions don't matter, but if you get sucked into caring about them that's your problem.
2025 IUFB won everything and they're permanently in the record books. Ain't nothing flukey about 16-0 +479 point diff. '26 is a new team and doesn't have an impact on what '25 did.
Not the greatest team ever, imo, but the team that accomplished the most of any college team in history, of any sport, imo:
--16 and 0
--Coach of the Year
--Asst Coach of the year
--Broke Oregon's home win streak
--Beat OSU for first time since '88
--Routed Oregon & Alabama on neutral sies
--Heisman winner
--No. 1 NFL draft pick
--Won a conference title game, two bowl games, and the NC game
--1 lost fumble all year, led country in TO margin, fewest penalties(?)
--top 3 in most O & D stats nationally
--Two of the most iconic plays ever in Omar's catch and Mendoza's dive
all done with a roster with possibly 2-3 guys who had offers from the NDs, Ohio State's of the word, in front one of the previously lethargic fans bases in the country dominating the scene, while sticking to Saban, Herbie, Desmond, Finebaum and dozens of podcasters.
Left out: Won the NC game on the opponents' home field....hahahahaha
Not the greatest team ever, imo, but the team that accomplished the most of any college team in history, of any sport, imo:
--16 and 0
--Coach of the Year
--Asst Coach of the year
--Broke Oregon's home win streak
--Beat OSU for first time since '88
--Routed Oregon & Alabama on neutral sies
--Heisman winner
--No. 1 NFL draft pick
--Won a conference title game, two bowl games, and the NC game
--1 lost fumble all year, led country in TO margin, fewest penalties(?)
--top 3 in most O & D stats nationally
--Two of the most iconic plays ever in Omar's catch and Mendoza's dive
all done with a roster with possibly 2-3 guys who had offers from the NDs, Ohio State's of the word, in front one of the previously lethargic fans bases in the country dominating the scene, while sticking to Saban, Herbie, Desmond, Finebaum and dozens of podcasters.
Agree. Imo, the best team ever thing is kinda tricky because the super stacked teams aren't really possible in the NIL era. It's nuts that we launched into that discussion though.
But yea, most accomplished for sure, plus it's probably the best story in CFB history.
I've never seen it stuck to the "haters" more than it was by '25 IUFB. Cracks me up.
It was so much fun. What a team.
Hoover did not look good but his pass protection was comically awful. I will reserve judgment until the season starts. I thought Mendoza stunk in the spring game last year as well. He threw a pick six.
Do us a favor and keep your bad judgment reserved. You lost your mind in the non-con last season.
This is a message board. I can express my views freely. Move to Russia if you want censorship.
I criticized Mendoza during the ODU game. He himself said he stunk in that game. There were fans booing. Go whine to them.