Semi Excitement

I had the privilege of attending the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, GA Friday night for the College Football Playoff semifinal between Indiana and Oregon. It honestly felt like the game was already over when I boarded my connecting flight in Denver on Thursday, as the majority of my plane was adorned in Indiana crimson, with only one lone Duck fan in sight. More of the same when I landed at Hartsfield International — and again at my hotel.

On Friday, while making my way to our tailgate near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the whole town was wearing red. Our tailgate was easily 10-to-1 Indiana fans, and as you may have seen on TV, the stadium was at least 90% Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers.

Let’s put things in perspective. Prior to the 2024 season, Indiana had the most losses of any Division I program in the history of college football and an all-time winning percentage of just .420, perennially fighting for the bottom of the Big Ten. Heck it was just last year that they brought back their mascot after a 55 year absence. Indiana has long been known as a basketball school, largely thanks to the late, great Coach Bobby Knight. In fact, save for Notre Dame, the entire state of Indiana is known for basketball — the Pacers, IU, Purdue, Butler, Larry Bird and of course, Hickory High.

IU fans clearly don’t know how to react to these newfound riches after the remarkable run of the past two seasons under head coach Curt Cignetti. The guy wins — just Google him. Many IU fans I spoke with admitted they had little to no interest in the football program prior to last year. Now, they are the nouveau riche of college football, trying to balance euphoria with not becoming too annoying.

Before kickoff, I attended and helped check guests in at our Tailgate Connect–affiliated tailgate in ATL, The Tailgate Party Committee, run by Big Lee, LaRonda, and a staff of awesome people. For $70, guests were treated to fresh-smoked meats, sides, an open bar, and great music from DJ Erock. There was a giant screen for the pregame show and a slew of other activities.

Tailgate Party Committee Tailgate with the Brothers Lusk

More action at the gate!

At one point, Erock played ABBA’s Fernando, which took me a few seconds to figure out why he was killing the upbeat vibe (think Heisman Boy), then it hit me. There was a lot of attention being paid to the Indiana contingent, who were clearly in the majority.

After finishing my duties at check-in, I joined my friends — the Lusk Bros from Minnesota — along with our good friend Evan Williams. After a solid number of rounds with Evan and some seriously righteous chow, and some fun people watching, we made our way to the stadium to watch the spectacle unfold.

Oregon received the opening kickoff and promptly threw a pick-six on its first play from scrimmage, immediately going in the hole. The Ducks answered on their next possession to tie the game at seven apiece, but that was the last time this contest resembled anything competitive. Indiana rattled off 28 unanswered points before halftime, sending Hoosier Nation into full ballistic mode, while the few Oregon fans in attendance fell silent.

Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando “Iceman” Mendoza — who simply does not make mistakes — added a few more scores in the second half. Oregon scored as well, but it was all academic. Final score: Indiana 56, Oregon 22. The Hoosiers are headed to the national championship game next Monday night in Miami.

Inside the Benz

Indiana’s opponent will be the University of Miami, who will essentially enjoy a home game with the title contest being played in their own stadium. Miami ended Ole Miss’s improbable playoff run Thursday night in an exciting Fiesta Bowl nail-biter. The game came down to a final passing attempt by Ole Miss that fell incomplete. If not for Lane Kiffin’s Bieber-worthy moves, who knows — Ole Miss may have prevailed with a full coaching staff. That said, Miami played well enough to earn the win. Final score: 31-27.

Ginger Award

This week’s Ginger Award goes to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Indiana quarterback Nando Mendoza. These two young stars are the epitome of what college athletes should be. Both are grounded in faith, family, and team — foundations that are clearly unshakable. If you listen to their interviews, you’ll come away impressed. It’s never about them; it’s always about the team.

They each landed in systems that accentuated their unique talents and allowed them to grow into the players they are today. In an era where NIL money and self-promotion dominate headlines, it’s refreshing to see two exceptional leaders take center stage in college football.

Bieber Award

Demond Williams Jr. earns this week’s Bieber Award for managing to light the college football world on fire in under 48 hours. After the sophomore QB signed a massive NIL deal to stay at the University of Washington, Williams abruptly announced he was entering the transfer portal anyway — sparking legal threats, agent drama, and national embarrassment for everyone involved. Less than two days later, he reversed course and decided to stay put.

The end result? Burned trust, unnecessary chaos, and a masterclass in selfish, poorly thought-out decision-making at a time when leadership and maturity actually matter. Typical behavior from a player who hasn’t earned that kind of leverage yet. At least he’ll have his Bieber hardware to fall back on after he burns through the $4 million NIL payout.

Next Up

I will not be “taking my talents to South Beach” like LeBron. Tickets are starting at $3 grand right now. Instead, I’ll be posted up in a sports bar somewhere along the American Riviera Monday night, rooting hard for the Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers. My tailgating season is likely over — unless I somehow find myself at the Super Bowl next month.

Happy Tailgating!