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6-Banner Sunday: IU football dominates Alabama in Rose Bowl to advance to CFP semifinals

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Omar Cooper catches a touchdown in the Rose Bowl.

Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.

Football’s long-awaited Rose Bowl appearance took place this week. It was a rousing success as the Hoosiers ran Alabama off the field.

Men’s basketball returns to Big Ten play tonight and women’s basketball struggled this past week. We will conclude with weekly shows and a look at the rest of the Indiana sports in action.

Here is what is in this week’s edition:

• Football dominates Alabama in the Rose Bowl
• IU basketball returns to Big Ten play against Washington tonight
• IU basketball non-conference player reviews
• Women’s basketball dominated at home by Minnesota and Michigan State
• Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup

Banner #1 – Football dominates Alabama in the Rose Bowl

After its first Big Ten Championship since 1967, the No. 1 Hoosiers played in their first Rose Bowl since that same season. This turned into a rousing success as IU fans packed the famous venue in Pasadena and turned it into Memorial Stadium West.

Indiana rolled from the beginning after a three-and-out on their first offensive series. On their next drive, IU went to work methodically and managed a field goal. After that, the defense dominated, forcing a turnover on downs and a fumble, leading to quarterback Fernando Mendoza tossing two pretty touchdown passes and a 17-0 lead into the locker room.

The second half was no different as Mendoza threw another touchdown and running backs Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby each ran for another. In the end, the Hoosiers were putting in backups and rolled over the longtime college football power Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3.

Indiana is now 14-0 overall and will face a rematch with Big Ten rival Oregon at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. IU is now just two wins from its first national title in the program’s history and is looking to be the first college football squad ever to go a perfect 16-0.

Banner #2 – IU basketball returns to Big Ten play against Washington tonight

IU basketball returns to conference play tonight against Washington at 8 p.m. ET on BTN. This will be the first matchup during a busy stretch, which also includes a game at Maryland and a home game against Nebraska later in the week.

At 10-3, their NET sits around 30 overall. While they have no signature victories, they have kept their losses to close margins and victories (except Incarnate Word) have come by large amounts. However, how they perform in the conference will decide if they make their first March Madness since 2023, as they currently sit on the bubble.

Banner #3 – IU basketball non-conference player reviews

Inside the Hall put together a non-conference review of more of IU’s roster.

This included Sam Alexis, Reed Bailey, Nick Dorn, Conor Enright and Trent Sisley.

Banner #4 – Women’s basketball dominated at home by Minnesota and Michigan State

While women’s basketball avoided any bad losses during non-conference play, several of the contests against mid-majors were much closer than expected. This has led to poor metrics and a NET in the 50’s.

Indiana making a seventh straight NCAA Tourney seems like a pipe dream at this point. This is because they have limited scoring options outside guards Shay Ciezki and Lenee Beaumont.

These concerns were validated as IU returned to league play at home against Minnesota and Michigan State, and were dominated by both.

Things are unlikely to get better this week. This is because they face former Hoosier Yarden Garzon and a top-10 Maryland squad today in College Park before heading to Lincoln to play Nebraska on Thursday.

Banner #5 – Back Home Network shows

The Back Home Network has several new shows. As a result, it was on air many times this week with programming.

Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup

• Wrestling competed at the Midlands Championship.

• Field Hockey signed a player.

• Volleyball has an incoming freshman in the Under Armour All-American Game.

Now go enjoy yourself a 6-Banner Sunday.

Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor

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(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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