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Hoosier Football Tailgate: Bucket Week Kickoff

12by: CoachGriff5511/24/25X.com/HoosierTailgate

By Shannon Griffith, Lead Football Analyst for TheHoosier.com

With the Old Oaken Bucket on the line this Friday night, Indiana enters rivalry week with everything still in front of them — an 11–0 record, a No. 2 national ranking, and a direct path toward the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff. Tonight, Coach Shannon Griffith returns to break it all down on a special short-week edition of Hoosier Tailgate.

After missing last Thursday’s show due to illness, Coach Griff is back in the chair with a fully loaded lineup. The Monday night episode will recap the key storylines from the missed show, dive into the trends shaping Indiana’s stretch run, and deliver a full preview of Friday night’s primetime matchup between Indiana and Purdue at Ross–Ade Stadium.

Zach Osterman Joins the Show

Longtime Indianapolis Star beat writer Zach Osterman joins Griff for an in-depth conversation about:

  • Indiana’s 11–0 start
  • National perception of the Hoosiers
  • Purdue’s strengths and vulnerabilities
  • Short-week preparation
  • The rivalry’s emotional and historical weight

Zach provides insight into what’s at stake and what IU must handle on the road to keep their championship dreams alive.

Recruiting Update: Multiple 2026 Decommitments

Coach Griff also breaks down a significant development in IU football recruiting:

Three prospects in the 2026 recruiting class have decommitted in recent weeks — QB Cash Herrera, WR Walker Bryson, and S LaRon Dues. Coach explains the context behind early-class movement, the impact on future roster construction, and why the staff is expected to remain aggressive in evaluations as the season concludes.

Purdue Preview & Film Room Look

Rivalry week means nothing is predictable, and Coach Griff walks through:

  • Purdue’s defensive tendencies
  • The matchups IU must exploit
  • How Indiana’s tempo and personnel can stress the Boilermakers
  • Road-game discipline and short-week challenges
  • Keys for IU to take the bucket back to Bloomington

Short-Week Preparation

Get an inside look from a former college head coach on how staff and players adjust when the entire schedule compresses. Mental reps, modified installs, and emotional management are all part of Griff’s breakdown.

Tune In Tonight

It’s rivalry week. It’s Ross–Ade. And it’s the No. 2 Hoosiers with everything on the line.

Join the live conversation tonight as The Hoosier Football Tailgate sets the stage for one of the most anticipated Bucket Games in program history.

👉 Watch tonight at 7:30 PM on the Hoosier Tailgate YouTube Channel

👉 Follow along with in-show analysis, recruiting updates, and fan Q&A

It’s Bucket Week — and the show starts tonight.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/KY9VPzKntds?si=_GFxv9_BwHD9PBG5

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