Big Ten announces 2024-28 Football Home/Away opponents
The Big Ten Conference announced the 2024-28 conference football home/away opponents for each school on Thursday. As the conference moves to the 18-team, no division format, the Indiana football program will host five games during the 2024, 2026 and 2028 seasons and have four conference home contests in 2025 and 2027. Dates for the 2024 schedule will be announced at a later date. The Hoosiers home and away opponents will be as follows (listed alphabetically):
- 2024 Home: Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue, Washington
2024 Away: Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA - 2025 Home: Illinois, Michigan State, UCLA, Wisconsin
2025 Away: Iowa, Maryland, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue - 2026 Home: Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, USC
2026 Away: Michigan, Nebraska, Rutgers, Washington - 2027 Home: Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers
2027 Away: Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, USC - 2028 Home: Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Purdue, Washington
2028 Away: Northwestern, Penn State, UCLA, Wisconsin
With the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington into the conference for the 2024 season, the Big Ten will debut the Flex Protect XVIII model, which was designed to accommodate 18 Big Ten Conference football programs beginning with the 2024 season. The model is built upon the foundation established by the Flex Protect+ plan announced in spring 2023, before Oregon and Washington joined the Conference and incorporates extensive feedback from schools, athletic directors, and coaches. The Big Ten Conference will continue the nine-game conference schedule as it has since the 2016 season. Under the scheduling model, schools will play other members at least twice during a five-year cycle – and no more than three times – with one home and one road game included during the five-year span. The conference office also worked to balance the annual travel by distance, regions of the conference, and time zones, along with maintaining flexibility as the college football landscape evolves.
Conference schedules will include 12 protected matchups that will continue to be played annually and feature a combination of historic and geographic rivalries, as well as trophy games. These matchups were finalized in conjunction with all 18 member institutions to ensure the traditions of the Big Ten Conference remain strong as the conference evolves, including the annual Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket between Indiana and Purdue. The 2024 season will conclude with the annual Big Ten Football Championship Game, which will feature the top two teams in the overall conference standings at the end of the regular season, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship. Tiebreaking procedures will be announced later.
The American Junior Golf Assocation comes to the Indiana University Pfau Course this weekend
The American Junior Golf Association will host the AJGA Invitational presented by PING at The Pfau Course at Indiana University, located in Bloomington, Indiana. In partnership with the AJGA and PING, the event invites the top 72 boys and girls in the Rolex AJGA Rankings to The Pfau Course to compete in the Invitational that will start today and go through Monday. The AJGA Invitational presented by PING will showcase top junior golf talent from around the world. The Pfau Course at Indiana University will help give a platform for players to earn final points toward the AJGA’s top honor of the season, the Rolex Junior All-America Teams, and Rolex Junior Players of the Year.
Established in 2020 and designed by highly acclaimed architect Steve Smyers and two-time major winner and Hoosier native Fuzzy Zoeller, The Pfau Course at Indiana University offers a unique, world-class layout that is set in the natural beauty of southern Indiana. Smyers utilized the area’s natural topography in designing the course, while also highlighting the combination of forest, open space and forest edges that result in both amazing views and a wonderful golfing test. The venue change takes place after Karsten Creek, located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, undergoes renovations in 2023. This year, it finds its home at The Pfau Course and is eager to showcase its excellence and reputation in the golf world. The Pfau Course tied for No. 2 on Golfweek’s list of top public courses in Indiana in 2023 and has been ranked in the top three in the rankings in each year since opening. It also earned honors at No. 76 of Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The tournament is expected to draw golf enthusiasts, college recruiters, and families from all over the country, boosting the local economy and showcasing Bloomington as a premier destination for golf and sports tourism.
The inaugural PING Invitational took place in 2006 and in the tournament’s 17-year history, has crowned many notable past champions. Jordan Spieth is the only two-time Boys Division champion, winning in 2008 and 2010. Other notable champions include PGA TOUR player Emiliano Grillo and college standouts – Stanford senior Michael Thorbjornsen and 2023 Walker Cup team member Ben James, a sophomore at the University of Virginia. Rose Zhang, two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year and LPGA Tour star, joined Spieth as the first two-time champion in the Girls Division with victories in 2018 and 2020. In 2021, Gianna Clemente of Estero, Florida, became the youngest champion at 13 years, 6 months, and 18 days old. Clemente successfully defended her title in 2022, winning by seven shots to join Spieth and Zhang. The 2026 grad will return to the event for a third year this October. Notable Girls Division champions also include Nelly Korda, Alison Lee and Patty Tavatanakit.
Indiana University Baseball Alums Kyle Schwarber and Andrew Saalfrank sweep their respective NL Wild Card Series
Both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks emerged victorious in Wednesday night’s National League Wild Card games. And a big reason why was two former Indiana Hoosiers Kyle Schwarber and Andrew Saalfrank. Schwarber is the Phillies’ leadoff hitter, and got the scoring started early in Citizens Bank Park with an RBI double in the third inning. His hit gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead over the Miami Marlins, a lead they would not relinquish all game on their way to a 7-1 victory. Schwarber played for Indiana from 2012-14 and had a storied career in Bloomington. He earned All-Big Ten honors in each of his three seasons, was a two-time First Team All-American and was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs. Schwarber is the highest draft pick in Indiana baseball history. In the IU record books, Schwarber ranks fifth all-time in slugging percentage (.607), sixth in home runs (40), eighth in hits (238) and eighth in runs (182). But while Schwarber is the more recognizable name Hoosier that played a major role in a playoff win on Wednesday.
He wasn’t the only Hoosier. Saalfrank was called up by the Diamondbacks in early September, and now he’s out there making a game-saving playing in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Indiana lefty only threw six pitches and faced two batters, but that was all he needed to make his mark on the win. Saalfrank came in for Arizona with the bases loaded and just one out, and the Diamondbacks holding a precarious 5-2 lead. No matter. Saalfrank got out of the tough spot with ease, making a play in the field to get a runner out at home, and jamming the second batter, who grounded out to end the inning. Thanks to Saalfrank’s heroics, the Diamondbacks upset the NL Central Division champion Brewers, and will now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Saalfrank played at IU from 2017-19 and had a storied career on the mound. The lefty pitcher didn’t produce much during his freshman and sophomore seasons, but absolutely dominated as a junior in 2019. He finished that season with an 8-1 record as a starter, a 2.84 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched. For his efforts, Saalfrank was named the 2019 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and a Collegiate Baseball Second Team All American. Now, fans must wait a few days till they see Schwarber and maybe Saalfrank take to the baseball diamond again. Both Game 1 of the Phillies’ series against the Atlanta Braves and Game 1 of the D-Backs’ series with the Dodgers kick off on Saturday, with the Phillies-Braves at 6pm followed by the Diamondbacks and Dodgers at 9:20pm and both games televised on TBS.
Indiana University Swimming and Diving beats Kentucky in Season Opener
Indiana swimming and diving pulled off an emphatic win over Kentucky in its season-opening meet on Wednesday inside the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. The two programs raced long course meters, and IU won all but two events after a strong summer in the 50-meter pool. Nine Hoosiers won multiple events, and Indiana swept the diving competitions. The IU Men won 218-82 and the Women won 223-66.
On the springboards, junior Skyler Liu won the women’s 1-meter and 3-meter events, and junior Carson Tyler did the same on the men’s side. IU diving’s most dominant performance came in the women’s 1-meter, as Liu and freshmen Lily Witte and Ella Roselli took the top three spots. “It was a great start for IU diving,” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “There were solid performances throughout the team. Carson and Skyler were great on both boards. It was nice to see so many postseason cuts so early in the season, and our freshmen stood up against a strong SEC school to help sweep the 1-meter. I look forward to seeing what we look like in three weeks when we go to Missouri.”
A pair of swimmers made solid first impressions as well. Freshman Ahmed Hafanoui started his afternoon winning the 800-meter freestyle by almost 16 seconds in 8:04.76. Two events later, he placed second in the 200 free with a 1:49.63. Hafnaoui closed his individual performance with a win in the 400 free, leaving a nine-second gap, before dropping a 51.97 split to open IU’s 400 freestyle relay victory. Coming off a breakout performance at the Asian Games last week, freshman Mikkel Lee earned his first collegiate win in the 50-meter freestyle with a 22.59 in front of junior teammates Finn Brooks (23.42) and Luke Barr (23.72). Lee finished his day in the 400-freestyle relay as the opening leg for the second-place finishing quartet. In 49.51, Lee had the fastest opening leg of any swimmer and was one of two under 50 seconds. Indiana returns to action October 18 in Columbia, Missouri, to challenge Missouri and Auburn in a tri-meet.
Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball Player Logan Duncomb steps away from Basketball
Former IU big man Logan Duncomb is stepping away from basketball. Duncomb, who played two seasons at Indiana before transferring to Xavier last spring, made the announcement Wednesday night. The Cincinnati Moeller product cited health reasons for his decision.
“I’ve made the decision to step away from the game of basketball for health reasons,” Duncomb wrote on social media. “Basketball has been a huge part of my life for over a decade. I’m incredibly grateful to the countless people who have helped me along the way – especially those at Moeller High School, Indiana University and Xavier University. “I’ll remain enrolled at Xavier University where I’ll work to complete my undergraduate degree. Excited about what lies ahead…”
A four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, the 6-foot-10 big man spent the last two seasons at IU. An Archie Miller signee, Duncomb reaffirmed his commitment to the Hoosiers after Miller was fired in the spring of 2021 and Mike Woodson was hired. He spent his first season in Bloomington buried on the depth chart and couldn’t stay healthy as a sophomore. Due to illness and various injuries, Duncomb only appeared in nine games in his second season. The Cincinnati native averaged 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per game. Duncomb last played in Indiana’s 63-45 win against Wisconsin on January 14 at Assembly Hall.
Bloomington North Boys Tennis player Connor O’Guinn wins Indvidual Sectional Title
Bloomington North’s Connor O’Guinn’s senior season will last a little longer after hanging on to beat James Belmar of Terre Haute North, 6-3, 7-6(3) in individual singles play at Plainfield on Wednesday. With the win, O’Guinn advances to the four-player regional in Fishers (and not Bedford North Lawrence as has been the case in the past) on Saturday, Oct. 14. His opponent will be announced at a later date depending on results from the regional finals and semi states. O’Guinn was cruising, up 5-2 in the second set, then trouble hit. Belmar rallied to tie it at 5. O’Guinn needed a third set to beat him in the regular season but avoided the extra effort this time by going the tiebreaker and winning. He got up 3-0, saw Belmar come back to tie, then ran off four straight points to end it. Avon beat Terre Haute South, 4-1, for the team regional title.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson