A new optical-illusion mural now covers the exterior wall of Alumni Hall at 124 E. Kirkwood Ave. in downtown Bloomington, letting Indiana University fans step into a life-sized scene celebrating the Hoosiers' 2026 national football championship. Former IU and NFL quarterback Trent Green helped unveil the artwork Friday, and the debut came with Dr Pepper drink and merchandise giveaways for the crowd gathered along Kirkwood Avenue.
The installation, called the Fan Wall of Fame, was created by Indianapolis-based artist Nate Baranowski, who used a 3D anamorphic technique that makes the scene look real from specific vantage points, allowing fans to pose as though they are part of the championship celebration, according to WISH-TV. The mural marks the inaugural installation of what Keurig Dr Pepper intends to make an annual national tradition honoring college football championship fanbases, according to PR Newswire. Keurig Dr Pepper VP Brad Rakes said the goal is to give fans a permanent monument comparable to a team championship banner, per the same release.
A South Bend Artist With a Growing Indiana Resume
Baranowski, a South Bend native, specializes in 3D anamorphic street art and chalk installations. He was previously selected from 98 international applicants to paint a prominent downtown Indianapolis mural honoring WNBA legend Tamika Catchings in June 2025, as reported by WTHR. His technique creates realistic spatial illusions that only resolve when viewed from designated angles, a signature that made him a natural fit for a project built entirely around interactive photo ops.
The wall sits on the exterior of Alumni Hall, an officially licensed Indiana University apparel and sports merchandise retailer that opened at the site in August 2023, according to the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. That opening was celebrated with student-athlete appearances and local chamber events, cementing the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Washington Street as a magnet for IU fans well before the mural arrived, per the B Square Bulletin.
Trent Green's Long History With IU Football
Green, who is a former Indiana University and NFL quarterback, played for the Hoosiers from 1988 to 1992, setting a then-program single-season passing record of 2,627 yards in 1991 and leading Indiana to three bowl games, according to the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame. He served as team co-captain and MVP in 1992 and was inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
After going in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft, Green spent 15 seasons in the league, throwing for 28,475 yards and 162 touchdowns, earning two Pro Bowl selections with the Kansas City Chiefs and winning Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams, per Pro-Football-Reference. He later became an NFL color analyst for CBS Sports. Green and his wife Julie also made a major financial gift to Indiana University athletics, prompting the university to officially name the home football locker room the Trent and Julie Green Locker Room, according to Indiana University Honors and Awards.
Championship Fever Still Reshaping Downtown
Friday's unveiling is the latest sign of how thoroughly IU's national title has reshaped downtown Bloomington since the Hoosiers won the 2026 College Football Playoff championship, a run that triggered widespread civic celebrations, commercial activations and municipal preparations across the city, as Hoodline previously reported. City officials and local businesses had arranged public watch parties and traffic plans throughout the postseason run.
Kirkwood Avenue itself has been the subject of ongoing city planning attention. Bloomington's Economic and Sustainable Development department actively manages public space and traffic arrangements along the corridor to support local retailers, foot traffic and community gatherings, with city proposals focused on balancing vehicular access with parklets and pedestrian events. Whether the city or Alumni Hall's owners plan any additional infrastructure to manage the pedestrian photo crowds the mural is likely to draw remains an open question.
Keurig Dr Pepper, headquartered in Frisco, Texas, produces Dr Pepper, the oldest major soft drink brand in the United States, continuously made since 1885 with 23 proprietary flavors, according to the company's PR Newswire release. The beverage giant maintains a broad national marketing presence across college sports, and the Bloomington mural represents its first attempt at turning a single fanbase's championship moment into a physical landmark meant to endure well beyond the season that inspired it.
