Happy Friday!

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny and hot with a high of 95.

• The heat advisory has been extended until 8pm tonight. Stay safe!

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Julie Orme and happy early birthday to Mike Morley, Joel Hand and our friend (and former editor) Lindsey Erdody!

📆 Situational awareness: We're off Monday for Labor Day. Back in your inboxes for regularly scheduled programming on Tuesday — enjoy the long weekend!

Today's newsletter is 982 words, a 3.5-minute read.

The reigning national champs, their rebuilding rivals and a still-shocking CFP snub all kickoff their college football seasons this weekend.

Why it matters: The stakes are high for the Hoosiers, Boilermakers and Fighting Irish in 2026, but a lot has changed since last season.

Zoom in: Here is a cheat sheet to catch you up on the state's three biggest programs, and how to watch each of them (hopefully) go 1-0.

🏆 No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers

Curt Cignetti and Co. are out to prove last year's magical run wasn't a one-off.

• They open their season against North Texas at noon Saturday at Memorial Stadium on FOX.

State of play: Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza is gone, leaving TCU transfer Josh Hoover to take over. He has 31 starts, but whether he can replace Mendoza's production and leadership is the season's biggest question.

What we're watching: No. 1 Ohio State visits Bloomington Oct. 17 in what could be one of the Big Ten's biggest games of the season.

🚂 Purdue Boilermakers

Barry Odom wants to make last year's 2-10 season look like the bottom, not the beginning.

• Week 1 will see the Boilers take on Indiana State at 7pm Friday at Ross-Ade Stadium. Watch on Big Ten Network.

☘️ No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Marcus Freeman will try to get his team to turn frustration into a championship.

• Week 1 gives them a big stage to make a statement. Notre Dame meets Wisconsin at 7:30pm Sunday at the historic Lambeau Field, home of the Packers. Watch on NBC and Peacock.
• QB CJ Carr returns as one of the nation's most prominent Heisman candidates.

Fun fact: Notre Dame travels to West Lafayette on Sept. 26 to take on Purdue for one of the Irish's three Big Ten games.

Go deeper

Indiana has shouldered more than $8 billion in tariff costs from President Trump's trade actions since the start of 2025, equivalent to approximately $3,042 per Hoosier household.

Why it matters: Tariffs can raise prices at the register as businesses shift added costs to consumers.

By the numbers: Indiana has one of the highest per-household costs, 11th in the nation.

• States and territories have absorbed an estimated $342 billion in tariffs, according to National Taxpayers Union Foundation data.
• California has the largest tab at $62.8 billion, while Michigan's $23.2 billion amounts to an estimated $5,619 per household — the highest in the nation.

Zoom in: Auto parts are the biggest drivers of Indiana's tariff costs at $1.1 billion.

• That's followed by steel, aluminum and other metals at nearly $1 billion, electrical equipment at $554 million and medical equipment at $462 million.

Yes, but: The Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping emergency-power tariffs in February, and importers are now seeking refunds for billions of dollars in duties already paid.

• The data reflects tariffs collected through June 2026, including some costs that could ultimately be refunded, even as the administration explores alternative tariff approaches.

What we're watching: Trump's renewed trade tiff with Canada could exacerbate the tariff issue.

The fine print: Axios analyzed state tariff estimates from Trade Partnership Worldwide, compiled by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.

• Per-household equivalents use Census Bureau American Community Survey data.

The bottom line: Trump's tariffs are international. For Indiana's manufacturers and households, their economic impact is local.

⛽️ Gov. Mike Braun has extended the state's gas tax suspension through Oct. 6. (FOX59)

🔋 The state's utility regulator will reconsider the AES rate hike it approved in June, this time with two new members. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

🙏 Dozens of faith leaders are criticizing what they say is a weak response from Mayor Joe Hogsett to the increase in ICE activity in the city. (IndyStar)

🪪 Indiana's BMV says it aims to roll out mobile driver's licenses within the next 18 months. (WISH-TV)

This long Labor Day weekend, lighten your load with a few laughs.

Driving the news: The sixth annual Let's Fest is underway, bringing four days of standup to Fountain Square.

• Performances, live podcasts and showcases from local and national comedians will play out across seven venues.
• In addition to the jokes, music will be provided by Victor Jones and Warped Tour-featured alt/pop act ADDIE ADDIE ADDIE.

Zoom in: The festival is produced by Indiana's Let's Comedy, which has hosted more than 1,000 events across over 50 venues and 10 states since 2015

• Last year's Let's Fest welcomed more than 2,300 attendees.

If you go: Let's Fest runs through Sunday.

• See the full schedule and purchase tickets for each show here.

More weekend picks

✌🏿 Justin here, feeling all sorts of warm fuzzies for the Axios Indianapolis readers who have helped my Spotify playlist of Indiana artists grow to 90 songs.

State of playlist: The September update kicks it old school with some classic recommendations.

Zoom in: The biggest shoutout goes to Steve L. who said the playlist needed a dose of Indiana's punk band Zero Boys while highlighting the track "Wet Tape Deck" by Cussy.

• Reader Kyle F. goes back even further, saying Richmond rock and soul icon Baby Huey needed some representation. So enjoy head nodding to "Hard Times," "Running" and "California Dreamin'."

📬 Your turn: What Indiana artists are you listening to over the holiday weekend?

• Reply to this email with recs for next month's drop!

Our picks:

🤘 Arika is rocking out with AC/DC at Notre Dame Stadium tonight!!!

🧺 Justin is doing lots of laundry this weekend.