The possibilities for Indiana sports run the gamut in 2018 and beyond

There's a lot to look forward to in Indiana sports as 2018 begins, here's a look (in no particular order):  

Rebuilding Colts

Where aren't there questions surrounding the Colts heading into the new year? Will Andrew Luck be ready to play next season? Is more surgery on the way? How long will he be sidelined? That could be quite a mess for Chuck Pagano to sort through.

Unless, of course, Chuck Pagano doesn't have a job. Yes, he has two years left on his contract. But Colts owner Jim Irsay only promised him this season. Will an extremely lackluster 2017 season signal the end of Pagano's time in Indianapolis? If so, who will Irsay and Chris Ballard choose as his successor?

The Colts have plenty of money to play with in free agency, and they'll also almost assuredly have a top-five draft pick. Which issues will Ballard choose to address via free agency versus the draft? Protecting Luck with a passable offensive line is a must, but the Colts also need some semblance of a pass rush. Of course, they could also use a few receivers, some linebackers ... and a lot of other things.

Come to think of it, maybe it'd be easier to say what we know for sure heading into 2018.

Are the Purdue, Notre Dame and IU football heading in different directions

Purdue football took a big step forward in Jeff Brohm's first year at the helm, qualifying for their first bowl game since 2013. And despite a lackluster finish to the season, Notre Dame's 9-3 mark and a bowl appearance was a night-and-day difference from 2016. But can they maintain the momentum? 

Indiana showed flashes of promise in its first year under Tom Allen, but couldn't maintain consistency. With their most potent offensive player, Simmie Cobbs, headed to the NFL draft, who will step up? Can the defense build on promising performances? Will a promising recruiting class, including IndyStar Mr. Football Reese Taylor, make an immediate impact?

IndyCar: New cars and a return from Danica?

There are plenty of changes coming to IndyCar in 2018, including a new car design and universal aerokits. 

The car design got rave reviews from drivers, and the aerokits went through four successful test runs last season. How both perform over the course of a full season remains to be seen.

There are a number of intriguing storylines with new drivers and teams heading into the year, but the most compelling will be whether or not Danica Patrick enjoys a swan song in the Indy 500. Patrick announced in November that she will run in the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 before retiring from racing, but she doesn't have a team yet. Chip Ganassi Racing has had discussions with Patrick's team.

Will the real IU basketball team please stand up?

Which IU basketball team is the real one: The one that lost to Indiana State and Fort Wayne in Assembly Hall, or the one that beat Notre Dame and hung with top-ranked Duke for most of the game?

The Hoosiers are probably somewhere in between in their first year under Archie Miller. But it remains to be seen which team will show up when conference play kicks into full gear come January. While not much was expected out of this group, a surprisingly strong showing could reignite a fan base hungry for success. But more games like the Hoosiers played against the Sycamores and Mastodons could mean a rocky start to the Archie Miller era in the public eye.

Romeo Langford college announcement

One way to ignite the IU fan base would be for Romeo Langford to pick the Hoosiers. Langford, the New Albany senior who is chasing Damon Bailey's Indiana scoring record, has narrowed his options to Indiana, Kansas and Vanderbilt. 

Events coming to Indy

Indy is going to be a busy place in the next few years. Lucas Oil Stadium turns 10 years old in 2018. The Indy 500 will make its annual appearance in May. December will bring the Big Ten football title game. And the city will just be getting started. The Big Ten title game will return through 2021. The NCAA tournament regional will be in town in 2020. The NBA All-Star Game and Final Four will come in 2021, and January 2022 will feature the college football title game.

Will the Pacers maintain their success

After the drama of the Paul George saga settled down, expectations for the Indiana Pacers were tempered at best heading into the season. But thanks to the All-Star-like contributions of Victor Oladipo and meaningful contributions across the roster, the Pacers find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt. 

The Pacers will take their longest road trip of the season in mid-January, as they visit Phoenix, Utah, the Lakers and Spurs in a one-week span. They have eight games remaining against teams with a better record than them, including two each against Boston, Toronto and Cleveland.

Follow sports producer Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon.