Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, and presented by our friends at Homefield Apparel, 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.
Bloomington saw a week of major news stories. Football beat Western Kentucky, the basketball conference schedule was announced, and IU hoops got a commit in recruiting.
Also, the Hoosiers are picked seventh in conference play. As usual, we will conclude with a look at the weekly shows and the rest of the Indiana sports scene, which was led by field hockey pulling a major upset.
In a brief headline, a former Hoosier basketball star will be inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame. Jared Jeffries is amongst a group of former Hoosier players in various sports to receive this honor.
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Here is what is in this week’s edition:
Football Pulls Away Late From Western Kentucky After Early Struggles
IU Basketball Announces Conference Schedule
Hoosiers Land Recruiting Commit
Indiana Picked To Finish Seventh In Big Ten By Lindy’s
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Field Hockey Upsets No. 2 Iowa On Road
Banner #1: Football Pulls Away Late From Western Kentucky After Early Struggles
IU football’s defense of its national title continued on Saturday at Memorial Stadium with that side of the ball leading the way. After their victory over Howard, Western Kentucky came calling to Bloomington, as the Hoosiers are once again expected to be near the top of the conference and amongst the best teams in college football.
The question was not if Indiana would win, but how they would look in doing it. While the competition level must be taken into account, the defense looked solid again this week, pitching back-to-back shutouts in a 38-0 victory. The only question mark was QB Josh Hoover, who was not sharp or accurate, missing several throws that stalled drives. Nonetheless, Charlie Becker bailed out Hoover with a 79-yard touchdown catch on a less-than-perfect throw and continued to show he is arguably the best WR in the country.
Afterward, IU Coach Curt Cignetti spoke, and Inside the Hall had a photo gallery. Earlier in the week, the program held media availability before the contest. Cignetti gave his weekly update at a press conference. Also, RB’s Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard, as well as defensive back Preston Zachman (all three had huge games Saturday), were the players who spoke.
Banner #2: IU Basketball Announces Conference Schedule
The basketball Hoosiers already knew their pre-Big Ten slate. However, the conference schedule was announced this week, filling in all the dates for the entire 2026-2027 season (with game times revealed later).
It begins with Rutgers in Assembly Hall and a trip to Iowa in the yearly December league contests. It then resumes in early January when USC comes to Bloomington before Indiana’s west coast swing to Oregon and Washington. The matchups with arch-rival Purdue are late this season, with the game on IU’s campus on Feb. 16 and then the showdown in West Lafayette on March 5 to close Big Ten play.
Also, the women’s squad announced their conference schedule as well. Theirs begins at Northwestern on Dec. 5 and concludes with hosting Nebraska on Feb. 27. Additionally, the program revealed they will hold their 10th annual Candy Stripe Crew on Oct. 18.
Banner #3: Hoosiers Land Recruiting Commit
Indiana landed its second commit for the 2027 class this week. IU coach Darian DeVries showed he values German big man by picking up a pledge from that countries Felix Kiehlneker. He joins incoming freshman Clemens Sokolov from there.
Kiehlneker is also the second player to announce he will play his college ball in Bloomington for next year. Chase Branham is the other player in the class so far.
Banner #4: Indiana Picked To Finish Seventh In Big Ten By Lindy’s
The Big Ten saw massive roster turnover across multiple programs, including IU. As a result, Indiana is expected to be much improved and make a return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022-2023. Also, two different publications picked the Hoosiers to finish seventh in the conference for 2026-2027.
Presenting Sponsor: Homefield Apparel
Homefield’s annual Black Friday sale has already begun. Use the promo code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout to get 20% off your entire order.
The item of the week for this week is the new “Hurryin’ Hoosiers” snapback hat. Both
Jerod Morris and Tony Adragna have it, and can attest to its quality and fit.
Plus, how cool is it to have an item celebrating the great teams under Branch McCracken?
Banner #5: Weekly Shows
Podcast on the Brink returned this week. On it, the IndyStar's Zach Osterman discussed IU football, including a new book he co-wrote about the program’s turnaround to win a national title.
The Back Home Network has many shows. As a result, it was on air several times this week with programming.
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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Field Hockey Upsets No. 2 Iowa On Road
Field hockey upset No. 2 Iowa this week. They also topped Ball State.
Men’s soccer shut out Washington 1-0.
Volleyball beat Coastal Carolina as well as NC State. Also, they had an athlete honored by the Big Ten.
Women’s soccer fell to Ohio State.
Cross country competed at the John McNichols Invitational.
Baseball will host Boo at the Bart on Oct. 25.
Thanks for your continued support of The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall. We’ll be back next weekend with a new roundup.
Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.
Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor
The Assembly Call is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.