A Western Kentucky fan was here about a month ago and said all the hotels were either full or demanding outrageous prices (as in $350+ per night).
Here a link to "Visit Bloomington" - they have a list of hotels -
http://www.visitbloomington.com/visitors/hotels/
I've never been to an IU game where you could not scalp a ticket.
Bad news is Ahia State is usually one with higher attendance and higher scalp prices.
Travel between Indy and Bloomington is under destruction right now - staying in Indy will be likely be easier/cheaper, but the drive down will require extra planning/time.
Here's more scoop on coming here:
IU's campus basically sits between 3rd Street (on the south side) and 17th Street (north side) in Bloomington.
The stadium is at the far north edge of campus/town, between 17th and the Bypass (Hwy. 45/46).
You can turn off of 45/46 (Gates 10/11 - $20 on game day) into a HUGE parking lot around the stadium, and lots of folks park/tailgate in this area. Last year, they paved a large part of this lot, but there are also grass areas.
To the south of the stadium, across 17th, is another tailgating area. These are grass lots. Here is where The Student Debauchery Contest occurs, along with other "normal" tailgating.
Here's a link (hopefully) to a pic of the layout:
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/2015/4/1/GEN_2014010198.aspx
Things to do during the trip:
1. Walk around the Sample Gates/Old Campus/IU Memorial area. Basically between 3rd and 7th, along Indiana Ave. The Sample Gates are where Kirkwood and Indiana intersect.
2. Nick's English Hut (on Kirkwood, 1.5 blocks from The Sample gates) is IMO the best burger/beer/pizza/sports bar in the world. MUST DO. Its where I spent my student loans. Pitcher of beer. Sauage and extra cheese. You're welcome.
3. Many people now go to Yogi's as a sports bar. Its at 10th & Indiana.
4. Best breakfast - Many say Village Deli, a couple of doors west of Nicks. My favorite is The Uptown Cafe at the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut - 3 blocks further west.
5. Thanks to the fact that the brother of the Dalai Lama lives in Bloomington, there is a large Buddhist community and LOTS of eastern Asian restaurants. A joint called the Runcible Spoon used to have a good burger, but the hippies do NOT hurry, so be cool.
6. On game day, go in Assembly Hall and the attached Basketball Museum, (May be closed this year - the Hall is getting re-habbed.)
7. On game day, on the west side of the stadium, is the prow and mast of the USS Indiana, with some AA guns. Kids love it.
8. On game day, in the grass on the south end of the stadium (but NOT across 17th) is the family stuff. Kids games. Music. Purchaseable food.
9. 2 hours and 15 minutes before kick off, the IU team will do The Walk. They get off a bus at Assembly Hall and walk to the Stadium.
10. The visitors busses usually enter the stadium on the South East gate around the same time.
There's only a couple of hotels within even a mile of the stadium.
Most hotels worth staying in are downtown or along 37.
Sorry to say Bloomington gouges folks on football weekends. May have to get 2 nights.
There is LOTS of parking that surrounds the stadium. Plenty for anyone who arrives 2 hours early to tailgate.
BUT Bloomington traffic is bad in the last hour before a game.
