The Athletic: Peyton Manning changed football in Indiana. Did he pave the way for Hoosiers’ CFP run?

Indiana’s reputation as a basketball state is being challenged by its rapid rise in football, highlighted by the College Football Playoff run by the Indiana University Hoosiers that led high-profile high school basketball games to reschedule. The Athletic examined how decades of professional and collegiate success, often linked to Peyton Manning’s influence with the Indianapolis Colts, have reshaped the state’s sports culture. The story turned to University of Indianapolis head football coach Chris Keevers for perspective on how sustained success at programs like UIndy has helped deepen interest in football across Indiana. His comments reflect how consistent winning at multiple levels, from the NFL to college programs throughout the state, has strengthened football’s place in Indiana’s athletic identity.