Longtime Indiana University Football Defensive Coordinator Joe Novak has Passed Away at Age 81 The man who orchestrated some of the best defenses in IU football history passed away this week. Longtime college football coach Joe Novak was 81. He was the defensive coordinator at IU for 12 seasons (1984-1995) under head coach Bill Mallory. At Indiana, he was a part of seven winning regular seasons and six post-season bowl appearances in 12 years. His 1993 Indiana defense produced three shutouts during an 8-4 campaign while finishing seventh in the country in scoring defense. Under Novak, IU claimed six first team All-Big Ten selections on defense and seven defenders were picked for at least one post-season all-star game.
As part of some of Indiana’s most historic wins, IU held Ohio State to 10 points in Columbus in 1987, and Michigan to 10 in Bloomington later that same year. The Hoosiers held Ohio State to just seven points in a 1988 win over the Buckeyes. After his time at IU, Novak led a historic turnaround as the head coach at Northern Illinois, similar to Mallory’s turnaround in Bloomington. After an 8-36 start as head coach, NIU posted seven-straight winning seasons, including a 10-2 mark in 2003. They posted wins over Iowa State, Maryland and Alabama during his tenure. Novak spent a total of 16 years with Mallory. Upon Mallory’s passing in 2018, Novak said Mallory’s influence became instinctual. “Sometimes when I was talking to the teams at Northern [as head coach], I’d hear Bill Mallory come out of my mouth and I said, you know, that’s OK.” Novak said.
Indiana University Football Defensive Lineman Triston Abram to Enter the Transfer Portal Defensive lineman Triston Abram intends to enter the transfer portal, he announced on Wednesday. A 3-star recruit out of St. Louis, the 6-foot-3 and 228-pound Abram did not see the field as a true freshman in 2025. He’ll depart IU with four years of eligibility remaining. The move comes despite significant losses on the edge for IU. Key 2025 contributors Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt all exhausted their eligibility. But attrition along the defensive front was not unexpected. Indiana had significant depth there on the spring roster. “Defensively we have 18 defensive linemen, between D-ends, D-tackles, good young players, good old players, and we’re playing three groups,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said this spring. When he committed to IU in June of 2024, Abram was the No. 929 ranked overall player in the 2025 class, and the No. 78 edge. In addition to IU, Abram had offers from Memphis, Kansas State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Kansas, California, and others.
Purdue University Football Head Coach Barry Odom sees “hope, vision, belief” when he looks at Indiana University Football Purdue football’s last win over a power conference opponent came nearly three years ago, against IU in 2023. Much has changed since then. That win by the Boilermakers was the final nail in Tom Allen’s tenure as head coach in Bloomington. A year later new Hoosier head coach Curt Cignetti would return the favor and deliver a 66-0 win that ended the Ryan Walters era in West Lafayette. Walters’ replacement Barry Odom didn’t fare much better against the Hoosiers, falling 56-3 inside a Ross-Ade Stadium with more red than black and gold in the stands. While the Boilermakers are 0-18 in the Big Ten over the last two seasons, Indiana has gone 18-1 and of course went on to win the national championship in January.
So, what does this all mean under 40 days from the start of the 2026 season? For one, it means after Odom spends nearly eight minutes at the Big Ten media days podium discussing all the reasons he’s excited for this year’s team, the first question he’s dealt is this doozy: “When you look at Indiana, your biggest rival, what does that do for you and your program to see them turn it around so quickly and be at the top of the college football landscape?”
Oof. Perhaps the individual asking the question should have waited until after Odom took on a few friendly questions? It didn’t really matter. The only other questions asked of the leader of the state’s college football pariah were whether his quarterback who has gone winless in the Big Ten the last two years can be better, and hey, how about that basketball team?
So with nothing more to discuss, what does Odom think about that giant shadow being cast from Bloomington? “Yeah, number one, Coach Cignetti and his entire department did such a tremendous job on taking that over and elevating it to where they are today,” Odom said. “If you look at it in the landscape of college football, it should give every player, every coach, every fan base hope, vision and belief that it can happen. “It’s sped things up for everyone, but you also look at how they pieced it together. It worked for them. It’s not the same for every team and program. We certainly feel strongly about how we’ve built this roster going into the year and also understand if we get the opportunity to playing meaningful games in the month of November and you get a chance to play with extended time, anything can happen.”
Colts Nation takes over Grand Park for 2026 Training Camp From the die-hards to the first timers, Colts fans Wednesday flocked to Grand Park in Westfield for the opening day of the 2026 Colts Training Camp. Lifelong fans Joe and Laura Lenon have been season ticket holders since 1994 and even spent their first date at a Colts game! With many training camps under their belts, their love of the game keeps bringing them back. “It’s just a good kick off to the season. It’s a fun environment to get out and enjoy the day,” Joe Lenon said. This is the first training camp experience for Ashley-May Hensley and her 7-year-old twins Maddox and Lennox. They already have plans to return. “We’re actually coming back a couple times. Monday with some friends and then I got them signed up for the Helmet Hike on the 15, so we’ll be back for that. So excited for that,” Hensley said.
Training Camp gives fans a glimpse of the hard work that happens before the season begins. Laura Lenon said she loves the chance to see all the action on the field up close. “It’s fun to watch,” she said. “You get to see everybody, you know, performing and trying. It’s just good to see and they’re having fun.” As for Hensley and her boys, they were pleased with all the family friendly activities and amenities off of the field. “Other than the kid’s activities there’s a lot of stuff for the grownups to do,” Hensley said. “The shop is nice, the misting tents, even the little toddler area is really nice.”
This year marks the eighth and final training camp held in Grand Park. The team plans to hold training camp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis next season. Hensley said a change in venue won’t stop her from coming back next year. “Yes, it’s something to do, multiple days. Like next summer, we’ll be back here, too!” Hensley said. The 2026 Colts Training Camp runs through August 20. The team is scheduled to host 13 practices, all open to the public. Tickets are required for entry and can be downloaded from Colts.com/Camp. The complete training camp schedule can be found here.
Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns Named to the College Football Playoff Board of Managers Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns has been selected to serve as the Mid-American Conference’s representative on the College Football Playoff Board of Managers, the Conference announced Wednesday. “I am honored to be selected to the College Football Playoff Board of Managers,” President Mearns said. “This is an exciting opportunity for Ball State University and for the Mid-American Conference, and I look forward to contributing to the important work of this committee in its role of guiding the future of college football.”
The CFP Board of Managers is composed of presidents and chancellors representing the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences, along with the University of Notre Dame. The Board of Managers governs the CFP’s business, property and affairs by developing, reviewing and approving annual budgets, policies and operating guidelines. The board also appoints and removes CFP officers and maintains authority over all aspects of the organization’s operations.
Mearns succeeds University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi as the Mid-American Conference’s representative on the board.
“President Mearns is an experienced and highly respected leader who will represent the Mid-American Conference exceptionally well on the College Football Playoff Board of Managers,” MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said. “His extensive service in NCAA governance, combined with his background as a university president and former collegiate student-athlete, gives him a valuable perspective as the board addresses important decisions affecting the future of college football.”
Mearns has served as the 17th president of Ball State University since May 2017. Under his leadership, the University has advanced its long-term strategic plan, Destination 2040: Our Flight Path, increased alumni engagement and fundraising, expanded public-private partnerships and strengthened its commitment to the Muncie community. A former competitive collegiate athlete, Mearns has held several prominent NCAA governance positions, including service on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, Division I Administrative Committee, Division I Budget and Finance Committee and NCAA Board of Governors Finance and Audit Committee. He has also served as chair of the Division I Infractions Process Committee. Before joining Ball State, Mearns served for five years as president of Northern Kentucky University. He previously held leadership positions at Cleveland State University, first as dean of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and later as provost. Prior to his career in higher education, Mearns served as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Yale University and his law degree from the University of Virginia.
Indiana Fever does not answer questions about pro-Sophie Cunningham rally Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark were not made available to answer postgame questions about a rally before the Indiana Fever’s 105-95 win over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night in support of Cunningham’s recent comments about transgender athletes. A crowd of a few dozen gathered outside Climate Pledge Arena to both support Cunningham and promote statewide initiatives IL26-638 and IL26-001, which would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools.
Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports in an ESPN article published last week. Cunningham was booed by Storm fans when she checked into Tuesday’s game, as well as when attempting her first free throws. Reporters asked to speak to Cunningham and Clark postgame, but neither player was made available. Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings addressed reporters instead, alongside head coach Stephanie White.
When White was asked about the rally and Cunningham’s recent comments, a Fever public relations representative intervened with the following statement: “Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers,” the statement said. “Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.”
Storm head coach Sonia Raman answered a question about the pregame protest following her team’s seventh consecutive loss. “Seattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building,” Raman said. “I think we’ve always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door. “From what I understand, that was successful.”
Heather Weiner, a spokesperson for No Hate in Washington State, a coalition of doctors, nurses, anti-domestic violence groups and other community organizations opposing statewide initiatives 638 and 011, found it to be a positive experience on the whole outside Climate Pledge Arena. “Washington State is a very caring, inclusive place,” Weiner said. “We don’t always agree, but we do agree against hate, and we will come together about that.”
Jaynie Halterman and Brayden Manning Named Taylor University’s Athletes of the Year Taylor Athletics announced its Female and Male Athlete-of-the-Year honors on Wednesday, celebrating Jaynie Halterman and Brayden Manning for their historic seasons with the Purple and Gray. Halterman led Taylor to the NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Championship in 2025 and helped the Trojans extend their remarkable streak of 13-straight Crossroads League Championships. The sophomore also helped TU achieve a top-three showing at the CL Indoor Track and Field Championships and a 26th-place performance at the NAIA Indoor National Championships.
Halterman raced to her fifth and sixth individual NAIA National Championships by winning the NAIA Cross Country Championship and the NAIA Indoor 5,000-meters. Halterman also secured three more NAIA All-American and All-Crossroads League accolades, claimed two more individual CL titles, shattered the NAIA and Taylor cross country 6,000-meter records and broke TU’s indoor track and field 3,000 and 5,000-meter records. A heap of national honors were bestowed on Halterman, as she was named the CSC NAIA Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Academic All-American of the Year, becoming the first women’s cross country and track athlete in TU history and the sixth-ever TU athlete to be named a CSC Academic All-American of the Year. Other top honors for Halterman included being named the USTFCCCA NAIA Women’s Cross Country Athlete and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
“It is hard to put into words what Jaynie continues to do,” expressed TU head track and field coach Derek Gay. “She has truly been blessed with her God-given ability but she works like no one else to get even better. Every day she shows up just like everyone else and I think that is what is most impressive to me, that she does not take it for granted or use her gift as an excuse to not work, quite the opposite. I try to remind myself this was only her sophomore year, her resume reads like an accomplished senior already and yet she still has so much room to grow and I am excited to see what the remainder of her time at Taylor holds.”
Manning anchored TU’s potent offense all season, helping power Taylor to a 56-7 season that ended with the program’s first-ever appearance in the championship game of the NAIA World Series and included a fourth-straight regular season Crossroads League Championship. Along the way, the senior outfielder played to NAIA First-Team All-American honors by leading the nation with 93 runs scored, ranking fourth with 103 hits and ninth with a .427 batting average. Manning set new TU single-season records for runs and hits and finished top-10 in program history in average, as well as slugging (.622), on-base (.512), doubles (19), home runs (14) and runs batted in (78). Manning’s historic senior campaign saw him finish his career in Upland ranked second in TU history with 313 hits, 245 RBI, 227 runs, 64 doubles and a .607 slugging percentage.
“Brayden put together one of the finest offensive seasons in Taylor Baseball history and was a driving force behind our ranking among the nation’s best in nearly every offensive category,” stated TU head baseball coach Kyle Gould. “He was a consistent performer throughout his career, but even more impressive was his ability to elevate his game in the biggest moments. Time and again, Brayden delivered when the stakes were the highest.” The Taylor Athlete-of-the-Year honors are designed to recognize TU’s top female and top male student-athlete among freshmen, sophomores, junior and seniors based on athletic accomplishments throughout the 2025-2026 year. Athletes are nominated for the award by their head coach and voted on by members of the TU Athletics Department.