Brothers Face Off: Reese Family Brings 30 to Indiana Game

When Garrett and Max Reese take the field Saturday at Memorial Stadium, they'll wear different uniforms but share the same family cheering section of 30 relatives who refuse to pick sides.

Indiana sophomore safety Garrett Reese will face his older brother Max, a fifth-year tight end at North Texas, in a matchup their father Al never imagined when he coached both boys as kids. "We're Team Reese first," Al said.

The family chartered a bus from Chicago to Bloomington for the occasion. They made special jerseys in both Indiana red and North Texas green because nobody will be asked to choose.

Al remembers introducing his sons to football when they were young, working with them until they turned 12, and watching the game become their shared passion. Now he'll watch them compete on national television, both chasing the same dream of playing in the NFL.

"It's going to be pretty surreal and emotional for me," Al said. "I don't know if I could have ever imagined a moment like this."

The brothers have faced each other before, representing rival Chicago-area high schools at different times in their careers. Max helped Fenwick win a state championship in 2021, while Garrett was part of three state title teams at Nazareth Academy.

Their competitive fire hasn't dimmed their bond. Al said Max supported Garrett throughout Indiana's national championship run last season with pure pride and zero jealousy.

Why This Inspires

The Reese family's approach shows what sports can be at their best. Instead of divided loyalty creating tension, 30 relatives will celebrate two young men pursuing their dreams together.

Al expects his sons' brotherly love to disappear for about three hours on Saturday. But when the clock hits zero, they'll go right back to being each other's biggest supporters.

The brothers have been preparing in their own way, playing the Indiana-North Texas matchup on EA Sports College Football 27. Max controls North Texas while Garrett plays as Indiana, with plenty of trash talk flowing both ways.

Saturday's game transforms their video game rivalry into reality. The bus ride, split jerseys, and divided colors might look like a family caught between two teams, but Al sees something simpler and more beautiful.

He'll just be a father watching two sons he once coached as children take the field together, pursuing the next steps toward their shared NFL dreams while their whole family celebrates both of them.