Indiana Hoosiers went 3-9 last season but this season, with new head coach Curt Cignetti guiding them, the team did the unthinkable. They are 10-0 overall. Naturally, Indiana is getting the eyeballs in a conference known to disregard the program. But it is also true that the Hoosiers haven’t lit the world on fire in recent years. They have won two conference titles, one of those in 1967, which was shared with Minnesota and Purdue. However, with Cignetti taking the reins, the dynamics have changed.

Unfortunately, the rankings continue to disrespect their record. The NCAA disclosed the second CFP rankings on November 12. While Oregon is ruling the table with 10-0, Indiana is at #5 rank with the same record. The first time the NCAA disclosed the rankings, Indiana was at #8 with a 9-0 record. In fact, teams with one defeat are still ranked above Indiana. Is the committee playing games with Indiana?

Analyst Josh Pate highlighted what can stop Indiana from entering the playoffs despite its 10-0 record. In the latest episode of his YouTube channel, Josh Pate’s College Football Show, he shared that if Indiana loses a game, they can be out of the playoffs easily.

“I happen to believe if Indiana loses a game they’re going to fall out because Indiana’s one shot to validate their existence with an otherwise strength of schedule that’s garbage, not their fault, but it’s still garbage, is go beat Ohio State. If they beat Ohio State, they’ll probably be higher than seventh, and if they don’t, then I don’t think they’re going to be in the playoffs.”

Indiana’s next game is against Ohio State on November 23, but is just one loss going to derail their momentum? That’s what Pate has suggested.

On the flip side, hear the counterargument. You beat Ohio State, and you’re on top of the world. You’re easily getting a bye in the initial round of the playoffs, and you lie down on your sofa and see the no. 5 to no. 12 teams go at each other. If you ask Curt Cignetti, that’s what he would want his players to think. He wants them to be the winners.

But coming back to Pate, he further discussed how weather can play a factor in deciding their playoff spot.

At the same time, there are arguments that Indiana is undefeated while playing on an easy schedule and hence, doesn’t even deserve a top 5 mention. The ‘they haven’t lost, they must be good’ idea might give a very lopsided view of the team.

College Football Playoff rankings: Top 25 for Week 12

The rankings puzzled many as it looked like more attention was placed on wins and losses as compared to schedule strength. For instance, Georgia dropped from #3 to #12 after a loss to the Ole Miss Rebels. It was the second loss for them against a team in the top 11 of the rankings. However, Georgia Bulldogs also had a win against one-loss Texas, which improved to No. 3 despite no wins against teams in the top 25. Then, there is Miami, which had one loss against unranked Georgia Tech and only slipped five spots.

This is an important discussion to have. Why? Because it is almost unavoidable that teams in the same conferences will finish with similar records and imbalanced schedules. It is up to the committee to decide how to factor in these differences. All this also reminds us of one thing: How the CFB committee has been accused of SEC bias for years.

Three years ago, when Georgia came in at #1, people weren’t surprised, but what they didn’t like was that Alabama was ranked at #2—ahead of several undefeated teams. After all, the team had lost to Texas A&M, which was not ranked.

But coming to the current issue, as the season moves forward, the competition gets intense. Hoosiers’ HC Cignetti is confident, but will things go as planned? What does he have to say before their next matchup?

“Gotta change the way people think”: Curt Cignetti’s vision for Indiana’s future

‘Google me’ Coach is in the spotlight for his boldness. While the team is preparing for the next game against Ohio State, he appeared on The Dan Patrick Show Monday (November 11) and mentioned some serious concerns. “Gotta change the way people think inside and outside of the program.”

Moving forward, Cignetti reflected on his immediate impressions of Indiana football when he first arrived as head coach. “It was very evident day one to me when I got here, within 10-15 minutes, sort of the hopelessness and despair permeating the program… I went to talk to the Big Ten Network in Indy around noon, I could detect it there, too.” 

We told you he is known for his boldness, right? Well, while speaking to the crowd at Indiana University’s basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, he stated that Michigan, Ohio State, and Purdue s****. Yes! Commenting on the same, he added, “I had to get them excited, and I went out on a limb and said a few things. I wouldn’t lower my expectation level, and I had to wake these people up and see if the fanbase was dead or just on life support, so to speak.”

But at the same time, we cannot underestimate Ohio State and its HC Ryan Day. They are on the right track and are overall 8-1. Are you ready for a thrilling game?