The Playoff race is turning into a full-blown soap opera for the Hoosiers—and it’s a tad slippery for them. Just when you think the plot is set, a bombshell shakes the foundation. The latest twist? Comes from the former Freshman All-American TE turned CFB analyst, Adam Breneman, who stirred the pot with his fresh take on the playoff picture, putting Curt Cignetti and Indiana squarely in the hot seat.

In an Instagram post sure to go viral, at least in Bloomington, Adam Breneman argued that Indiana and South Carolina should claim the last two playoff spots, stating, “Indiana and South Carolina should claim the final two spots, with the Big 12 and ACC each shaping up as one-bid leagues. South Carolina boasts stronger wins and higher-quality losses than both Alabama and Ole Miss and is riding a six-game win streak.” His assertion came with a detailed playoff projection in his playoff update post. He locked the ten spots for Oregon, Penn State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio State, the Big 12 champs, the Mountain West champs (most likely Heisman-led Ashton Jeanty’s Boise State), and the ACC champs. But those final two spots? They remain up for grabs, and Indiana’s case is sparking heated debates.

Indiana’s 11-1 season under the quote machine Curt Cignetti has been nothing short of remarkable. The Hoosiers capped off their regular season with a 66-0 thrashing of Purdue at Memorial Stadium, which was not a very memorial for the Boilermakers. The Indiana head coach, known for his no-nonsense coaching style (and iconic lines, of course), kept his starters in the game, likely to solidify a higher playoff seed. Critics, however, question the ethics of this move, labeling it as running up the score against an unranked opponent. But here’s the twist: Cignetti’s strategy might have worked. Indiana’s resume now looks as polished as ever, making their case for a playoff spot hard to ignore. But even if they get in, they’ll be the 11th seed apparently, which calls for a tough draw.

On the other hand, Breneman’s inclusion of South Carolina in the playoff conversation has ruffled feathers. At 9-3, the Gamecocks have a lower win count than some competitors but boast a superior strength of schedule and more victories against ranked opponents. Plus, they’re on a hot streak, winning six straight. Compared to Alabama and Ole Miss, who both have three losses and less compelling resumes, South Carolina’s claim doesn’t seem far-fetched.

For Curt Cignetti and the band, the stakes are equally high. Their lone loss came in a nail-biter against a No. 2 ranked opponent, who lost their flag at home, against potentially the worst Michigan ever—whom the Hoosiers beat without breaking much sweat. Eleven wins include significant victories on the road. But here’s the kicker: as a Big Ten team, their path was arguably less grueling than South Carolina’s SEC gauntlet. Is that enough to keep them in the mix?

As Adam Breneman asserted, the Big 12 and ACC will only produce one playoff team each, which adds fuel to the fire. If true, this opens the door for underdogs like Indiana and South Carolina. Knowing the Hollywood-like personality of the Indiana man, he will probably want to make it 100% true.

Curt Cignetti on this stylish victory

Coach Cig didn’t hold back his pride after Indiana’s dominant win over Purdue, giving full credit to a defense that was nothing short of ferocious. “Good win,” he started, diving right into the praise. “Our defense was tremendous. They swarmed the ba-l, stopped the run, and created turnovers.” Cignetti highlighted their near-flawless first-half performance, with Purdue barely managing a first down until the final moments before halftime.

Offensively, Cignetti acknowledged room for improvement but celebrated the key plays that helped seal the victory. “We made enough plays to get it done, even though we missed some opportunities,” he admitted. But the win wasn’t just about this game—it was another statement from his team. “We’ve had the largest margin of victory in the country for most of the season.” But do they need style points to impress the hierarchy? In his own words, “But obviously style points are important this time of year, right? Style points of earned, right.”