A New Era in Sports: Indiana’s Rise, NBA Power Shifts, and the Game That Changed Basketball

A new era in sports is officially underway.On today’s episode of Sports IQ with Larry Smith, we examine how shifting power structures are redefining college football, college basketball, and the NBA — and why the old rules no longer apply.We begin with one of the most stunning turnarounds in sports history as Indiana football completes a perfect season and wins a national championship, transforming a program long defined by losses into the sport’s newest standard-bearer. Larry and producer Tony Cordaro break down why this moment may represent a seismic shift in college football — and what it means for the Big Ten, the SEC, and the future of roster building in the NIL and portal era.From there, we move to college basketball, where Wisconsin Badgers play-by-play voice Matt LePay joins the show to discuss the Badgers’ rise in a loaded Big Ten, the challenge of replacing legends, and how modern roster construction has reshaped the sport. LePay also explains why March success is defined by the second weekend — not just making the tournament.In the NBA, CBS Sports writer Jasmyn Wimbish stops by to break down:LeBron James not being named an All-Star starter for the first time in his careerThe NBA’s changing of the guard and the league’s next generation of starsDetroit’s defensive dominance and Cade Cunningham’s riseBoston thriving without Jayson TatumNew York’s defensive collapseWhy Oklahoma City remains the team to beat — despite recent stumblesKevin Durant’s quiet climb up the all-time scoring listWe close with today’s Moment of Awe, spotlighting the first-ever 5-on-5 college basketball game, played in 1896 — a single decision that shaped the modern game forever.Insightful. Historical. Forward-looking.That’s Sports IQ.