Today we settle the first-round matchups in the Cream Region, which features some of the best coaches in Indiana history as well as some of the highest-impact players to don the cream and crimson.

Cream Region

1. Bill Mallory vs. 16. John Tavener (Cream Region)

Bill Mallory, Coach, 1984-1996

- Indiana’s all-time leader in wins as coach (69)

- Led IU to six bowl games

- Two bowl wins

- Finished the season with a winning record six times

- Finished the season ranked in the final Coaches Poll twice

- Two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year

- 2002 Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee

- Last coach to beat Michigan and Ohio State at Indiana

- Finished with seven wins in the Old Oaken Bucket Game

- Finished with three wins in the Old Brass Spittoon Game

- Finished with five wins against Kentucky

- Three top-25 wins

John Travener, Center, 1941-44

- 1990 College Football Hall of Fame inductee

- First-Team All-American Selection in 1944

- Two-time Anthony Thompson Team MVP winner (1943-44)

- First-Team All-Big Ten Selection in 1944

- Participated in the 1943 East-West Shrine Game

- Participated in the 1944 Blue-Gray Game

- Three-time selection to the College All-Star Game

- Fourth-Round NFL Draft Pick (Chicago Cardinals)

- Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee

2. Pete Pihos vs. 15. Jordan Howard (Cream Region)

Pete Pihos, FB/End, 1942-43, 1945-47

- 1966 College Football Hall of Fame inductee

- 1970 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

- Led Indiana to the 1945 Big Ten title

- His 23 career touchdowns still rank 10th on IU’s all-time list

- Two-time First-Team All-American (1943&45)

- Two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection

- Two-time selection to the East-West Shrine Game

- Participant in the 1943 College All-Star Game

- Assistant Coach in the College All-Star Game (1958-60)

- Anthony Thompson Team MVP winner in 1946

- Fifth-Round NFL Draft Pick in 1945 (Philadelphia Eagles)

Jordan Howard, RB, 2015

- 12th most rushing yards in a single-season at IU (1,213)

- 10th most rushing yards in a single-game at IU (238 vs. Michigan ’15)

- Tied for eighth most points scored in a single game in IU history (20 vs. Michigan in ’15)

- First-Team All-Big Ten selection

- Fifth-Round NFL Draft Pick (Chicago Bears)

3. Harry Gonzo vs. 14. Rashard Fant (Cream Region)

Harry Gonso, QB, 1967-69

- Led Indiana to a Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl Berth in 1967

- Led the Hoosiers in total offense in 1968 and 1969

- First-Team All-Big Ten Selection in 1967

- Two-Time Academic All-Big Ten selection

- Participant in the 1969 East-West Shrine Game and Hula Bowl

- Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame inductee

Rashard Fant, DB, 2014-17

- Indiana’s all-time leader in passes defended (58)

- 132 career tackles

- Helped lead Indiana to two bowl games

- Five career interceptions

- Two-time Second-Team All-Big Ten selection (2016-17)

- 2017 Academic All-Big Ten selection

4. Cody Latimer vs. 13. Duane Gunn (Cream Region)

Cody Latimer, WR, 2011-13

- Ninth in IU history for most career receiving yards (2,042)

- Fourth-most receptions in a single season in IU history (72)

- Second-Team All-Big Ten Selection (2013)

- 2013 Anthony Thompson Team MVP

- Second-Round NFL Draft Pick in 2014 (Denver Broncos)

Duane Gunn. WR, 1981-83

- Indiana’s fifth all-time leading receiver in yards (2,235)

- Led the Hoosiers in receiving in 1982 and 1983

- Eighth most receiving yards in a single game by an Indiana receiver (197 at Iowa in 1981)

- 16 career touchdowns

- Two-time First-team All-Big Ten selection

- Seventh longest kick return in IU history (97 yards)

- Third most kick return yards in a game (174)

- Participated in the 1983 Blue-Gray All-Star Game

5. Van Waiters vs. 12. Willie Bates (Cream Region)

Van Waiters, LB, 1983, 1985-87

- Fourth All-Time for career tackles for loss in IU history (44)

- Most tackles for loss in a single season in IU history (24)

- Most tackles for loss in a single game in IU history (5)

- Second in IU history for career sacks (25)

- Second in IU history for most sacks in a single season (14)

- Tied for the most sacks in a single game in IU history (4)

- Two-time Third-Team All-American selection

- Two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection

- Participated in the 1987 Hula Bowl

- 1986 Anthony Thompson Team MVP

- Third-Round NFL Draft Pick in 1988 (Cleveland Browns)

Willie Bates, LB, 1985-88

- Second All-Time for career tackles in IU history (384)

- First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 1988

- Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 1987

6. Zora Clevenger vs. 11. Lonnie Johnson (Cream Region)

Zora Clevenger, HB/Center, 1900-03

- 1968 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee

- Founder of the East-West Shrine Game

- 1903 First-Second Team All-American Selection

- Designed the ‘Straight-T’ Formation

- Athletic Director at IU for 23 years

Lonnie Johnson, RB, 1978-80

- Led the Hoosiers in rushing in 1980

- 16th on IU’s list for most rushing yards in a season (1,075)

- 11th most rushing yards in a single game in IU history (237)

- 10th all-time in IU history for career rushing touchdowns (20)

- Led the Hoosiers in points scored in 1979 and 1980

- 1980 Blue-Gray Game Participant

7. Tracy Porter vs. 10. Kevin Wilson

Tracy Porter, DB, 2004-07

- Second in IU history for career interceptions (16)

- Third most interceptions in a single season (six)

- IU’s all-time leader in career interception return yards (413)

- Fourth longest interception return in IU history (96 yards)

- Sixth in IU history for career punt return yards (477)

- First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2007

- Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2006

- 2008 Senior Bowl Participant

- Second-Round NFL Draft Pick in 2008 (New Orleans Saints)

- Nine-year NFL career

Kevin Wilson, Coach, 2011-16

- 26 career wins at IU (7th all-time)

- Led some of the best offenses in Indiana history

- Four-straight wins against Purdue

- Two-bowl berths

- Two top-25 wins

- Won 2016 Brass Spittoon Game

- Three First-Team All-Americans

- 50 All-Big Ten selections

- 28 players moved on to the NFL or had camp invites

8. Terry Hoeppner vs. 9. Lee Corso (Cream Region)

Terry Hoeppner, Coach, 2005-06

- Breathed new life into IU football

- Won the 2006 Old Brass Spittoon Game

- Knocked off No. 13 Iowa

- Impact still felt today

- Passed away before the 2007 season

Lee Corso, Coach, 1973-82

- Third most wins as a coach in Indiana history (41)

- Led IU to the 1979 Holiday Bowl (win over BYU)

- Finished 1979 season ranked 16th nationally

- Four wins against Kentucky

- Four wins against Purdue

- Four Top-25 wins

- Coached in the All-American Bowl and Japan Bowl while at IU