Curt Cignetti Wins Back-to-Back AFCA Coach of the Year Awards Curt Cignetti’s trophy case has grown substantially since he became Indiana football’s head coach just over two years ago. So far this season, Cignetti has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and has taken home three national coach of the year honors. He won his fourth Monday, as he was named the American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year. With Cignetti also winning the award last season, he’s now the first coach to earn the award in back-to-back seasons since the award started in 1935. Cignetti guided the Hoosiers to their first 12-0 regular season record and their first Big Ten Championship game victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State on Dec. 6. Under Cignetti redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the first Indiana player to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday. Four Indiana head coaches have won AFCA Coach of the Year: Bo McMillin in 1945, John Pont in 1967, Tom Allen in 2020 and Cignetti in 2024 and 2025. With its first No. 1 ranking in program history, Indiana awaits either the No. 8 University of Oklahoma or the No. 9 University of Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.
Knox HS Quarterback Myles McLaughlin named 2025 Indiana Mr. Football When it was all over, Myles McLaughlin just wanted to be alone. One of the only things that could bring a smile to McLaughlin’s face in the aftermath of coming one step short of the high school football state finals was a trip to the country in Starke County, surrounded by nothing but peace and quiet. Myles McLaughlin, the record-setting high school football player, was Myles McLaughlin the deer hunter on that November day. And he has the picture of the 10-point buck to prove it. “I don’t think he even slept after that (semistate game),” his mother, Suzann McLaughlin said. “He just went straight to the woods and got the deer he wanted. I think his peace is in the woods. I think he sat and appreciated everything and took it all in.”
McLaughlin, the record-setter and deer hunter, has another title to his name: 2025 IndyStar Indiana Mr. Football. The annual award, presented by the Indianapolis Colts, was awarded to McLaughlin on Monday at the school. McLaughlin, who broke the state record and nearly set a national high school record for career rushing with 11,839 yards, received 64.5% of the votes from the Indiana Football Coaches Association to outdistance Heritage Hills’ quarterback Jett Goldsberry, who received 18% of the vote from the 1,850 eligible voters. Warren Central defensive lineman Jerimy Finch Jr. was third with 7.8%, followed by Decatur Central’s Kasmir Hicks in fourth (6%) and Fort Wayne Northrop’s Jerquaden Guilford in fifth (3.7%) among the five finalists.
“It’s something that I never could have imagined,” McLaughlin said of winning Mr. Football. “I still don’t really know what is going on right now, but it feels nice.” McLaughlin, who was a quarterback in name only in Knox’s run-heavy offense, did set a national single-season record as a senior with 4,846 yards and 71 rushing touchdowns. He led Knox to a 13-1 season and the program’s second regional title in three years (the only two in the program’s history) for coach Russ Radtke. As the season progressed, McLaughlin picked up national attention from people he never imagined, including from Baltimore Ravens’ running back Derrick Henry, whose national high school rushing record of 12,124 yards still stands, to Rob Gronkowski.
For an 18-year-old kid from a quiet, blue-collar community of 3,630 residents, it was unexpected attention. “It was awesome, but pressure came with it, too,” McLaughlin said. “I felt like I had the whole world on my back. But it was a good way. It wasn’t bad. I enjoyed the time I had with that and I’m enjoying (Mr. Football) for sure.” McLaughlin, who signed with Murray State earlier this month, is the first Mr. Football from Knox and the first from Starke County. Radtke, who has 426 wins in his 49 years as coach, said he appreciated McLaughlin’s ability to turn a small hole or crease into a big play. McLaughlin ran for 1,579 yards and 26 TDs as a freshman, followed by 2,584 yards and 35 TDs as a sophomore and 2,830 yards and 42 TDs as a junior.
“There were times where you’d think, ‘Well, this isn’t going to work and we’re going to have to change it,’” said Radtke, who is 55-22 in six seasons at Knox. “But (McLaughlin) could audible on the field and come up with plays. How well he worked with his offensive line was phenomenal. In 50 years, I’d never seen that group of orientation of 11 young men on the field and alternates and subs who all worked together. It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of it.” It did not end the way McLaughlin hoped. After beating Angola 28-21 in the Class 3A regional, Knox lost 35-0 to Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the semistate. McLaughlin was held to a season-low 78 yards on that night when nothing seemed to go right. It was one game short of where McLaughlin hoped to finish his high school career, playing at Lucas Oil Stadium for a 3A state title.
Josh McLaughlin, Myles’ father, had the Knox career rushing record before his son shattered that mark as a sophomore. Father and son have a unique connection going back to when Myles was a 5-year-old playing Pop Warner. “He was one or two years younger than everyone he started out with just because of friends,” Josh said. “He did better that way. Everyone always wondered why I played him up and just told them it was going to make him tougher and a better player. But I just can’t even come up with the words (for winning Mr. Football). It’s huge for our school, our community. Things like this don’t happen around here normally.” Myles was not only a record-setting rusher but also played safety and finished with 15 interceptions and 200 total tackles (136 solo) for his career. He had eight interceptions and 66 tackles as a senior. McLaughlin passed for 1,148 yards and 17 TDs in four seasons, including 307 yards and three TDs as a senior.
But the rushing numbers attracted the national attention. Josh McLaughlin, even coming into the season, thought Charlie Spegal’s all-time state record of 10,867 yards would be out of reach. As Myles piled up the 300- and 400-yard games, the record of the former New Palestine standout came into view. “Then,” Josh said, “it started to become a thing.” Tracking McLaughlin’s numbers became a Friday night ritual by the midpoint of the regular season. But as he piled up the yards, he also made fans of opposing coaches. “People need to quit asking where’s he gonna play (in college) or who is he gonna play for,” Griffith coach Phil Mason said in November. “Whoever gets him made a great decision. I’ll take 20 Myles McLaughlins any day, and I don’t think there’s a high school coach in the county who won’t say that.” Myles’ younger brothers Mason, a sophomore, and Madden, a seventh grader, will have a chance to chase a few of his records in coming years. Good luck with that. But the numbers are just numbers. The designation of Indiana Mr. Football is something McLaughlin, and Knox, can always wear with pride. “As the years went on, I just wanted to win a state championship,” McLaughlin said. “That didn’t happen. But this was another big goal that I worked for. A lot of work went into this.”
Indiana University Baseball signs Another Top 25 Recruiting Class Head coach Jeff Mercer and staff continue to stack recruiting classes together in Bloomington. The eighth-year skipper signed the No. 25 recruiting class according to Perfect Game to wrap up the early-signing period . It’s back-to-back top-25 classes for the Hoosiers as they continue to reload the program through the high school ranks. Mercer has prided himself in recruiting elite talent from all over the country. The Hoosiers have had 30 players drafted during his tenure and has turned in 11 freshman All-Americans since taking over the post in 2019. IU’s player development program has helped student-athletes get pro ready from the moment they step on campus.
14 players signed to play for Mercer and the Hoosiers in the 2026 class. The group features players from nine different states and covers every position area. As always IU remains committed to recruiting the home state hard. Four players from the state of Indiana are set to sign for Mercer’s program. The Hoosiers are still expected to add a handful of athletes to this class. Of all Big Ten programs, IU has the highest-ranked class (No. 25) according to Perfect Game. It’s the second-straight year that the program has put together the conference’s best group. It is the only true Midwest school ranked inside the top 25 on the national list.
IU’s 2026 group is led by a trio of talented infield players. Jayden Parker and Johnson Dubose, a pair of 6-foot-3 shortstops from California and Georgia respectively, are both top-300 players according to Perfect Game. Georgia prep catcher Branson Crawford is the third in the trio of highly-touted players. When the class arrives on campus, it’ll be the third year in a row that IU has stacked together top-35 recruiting classes. The current sophomore class features a plethora of talented position players – led by sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley. IU’s 2026 season will get underway next February.
Class of 2026 Prep Signees – Perfect Game Rankings
Jayden Parker, SS (San Diego, Calif.) – No. 246
Johnson Dubose, SS (Atlanta, Ga.) – No. 272
Branson Crawford, C (Gainesville, Ga.) – No. 337
Liam Amoriello, LHP (Tampa, Fla.)
Luke Crighton, SS (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Finn Hoeschen, OF (North Vancouver, Wash.)
Zavion Jackson, OF (Richmond, Va.)
Logan Johnston, RHP (Crown Point, Ind.)
Dylan Kassab, C (Hinsdale, Ill.)
Jaxon Lueken, RHP (Huntingburg, Ind.)
Bryce Pauly, 3B (Davenport, Iowa)
Aiden Reynolds, SS (Noblesville, Ind.)
Gavin Swartz, RHP (Bloomington, Ill.)
Jake Winger, 3B (Lafayette, Ind.)
Former Indiana University Quarterback Brendan Sorsby leaves the University of Cincinnati and Enters the Transfer Portal Cincinnati redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons with the Bearcats, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder transferred into the program following two years at Indiana, where he played in 11 games for the Hoosiers. Sorsby has been the Bearcats’ starter each of the past two seasons, developing into one of the country’s premier quarterbacks in 2025. Across 12 games this season, he completed 62% percent of his passes while throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Cincinnati started the season 7-1 and looked like a potential College Football Playoff team but lost each of its last four games to drop to 7-5. Sorsby is expected to be one of the most sought-after names once he officially hits the portal. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining at his next destination.
He signed with the Hoosiers as part of their 2022 recruiting class, ranking as the No. 83 quarterback in that cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. Sorsby appeared in one game as a true freshman, completing 3 of his 6 attempts for eight yards and throwing an interception. In 2023, he beat out Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson for the starting job, going on to complete 57% of his passes while throwing for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns. Following that season though, Hoosier’s coach Tom Allen was replaced by Curt Cignetti, and Sorsby opted to transfer to Cincinnati. He broke out with a strong first season as a Bearcat but really established himself as one of the country’s top quarterbacks in 2025.
Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Phillip Rivers to Start his second game against the San Francisco 49ers Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said quarterback Philip Rivers will start again against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday. Rivers was 18-for-27 passing for 120 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in Sunday’s loss against the Seattle Seahawks. It was his first game in the NFL since January 2021. Steichen assessed what he saw from Rivers in his return on Monday. “I think obviously him being off for that long, obviously there was some unknown, but for him to go out there and do what he did to put us in position to win in a hostile environment after that long of a layoff was pretty impressive,” Steichen said. “Getting us into the right plays, managing the game, I thought he was phenomenal in that regard. On the sidelines, his leadership, all those things that he brings to our team will be beneficial for all of us.”
Steichen added that Rivers feels good after playing his first game back. “He like, ‘I got my normal bruises that I had when I played,’ but he said, ‘I feel pretty darn good.’ So that was good for him to come out of the game clean and then obviously he’s excited for the challenge coming up this week,” Steichen said. Rivers did not push the ball downfield much against the Seahawks, but Steichen said that was the gameplan. “We wanted to run the ball, control the clock, take easy completions, and I thought we did a pretty good job of that,” Steichen said. He added that there “absolutely” is more verticality coming for Rivers and the offense. The Colts return home to play the 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday, December 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
Dave Neff Named President and CEO of the Indianapolis 500 Festival The Indianapolis 500 Festival is welcoming a new president and CEO! The 500 Festival announced Monday that it has appointed Dave Neff as its new president and CEO. Neff will start on Jan. 1, 2026. In this role, festival officials said Neff will “oversee the senior leadership team responsible for advancing the organization’s strategy, partnership growth, operational excellence and community engagement initiatives.” Neff most recently served as the CEO of the Boilermaker Alliance, which is Purdue University’s NIL. He has had leadership roles at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, ExactTarget (Salesforce), EDGE Mentoring (Co-Founder & CEO) and Prolific. Additionally, Neff serves on multiple boards, including the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee Leadership. Neff was selected out of a national search led by Prodigy Search, in coordination with the 500 Festival Board of Directors Search Committee.
This search came after Bob Bryant, the previous president and CEO, announced that he would be retiring. There will be some overlap between Neff and Bryant, with Bryant’s retirement taking effect Jan. 9, 2026. “Neff’s leadership and commitment to Indianapolis makes him the right leader for this moment,” said Christina Moungey, board chair of the 500 Festival. “His experience, passion for community, and strong belief in our mission will drive the 500 Festival forward in many ways.” “I’m honored to join the 500 Festival and build on its incredible legacy, especially during this milestone year with the 50th Mini-Marathon and 70th Parade,” Neff said. “The 500 Festival represents the heart of Indianapolis, and I look forward to working with our staff, partners, and community to expand our impact and create experiences that inspire Hoosiers across the state.” For more information on the 500 Festival, click here.