The roller coaster rankings are getting real scary, and Indiana’s trip to the No.10 spot in the latest CFP rankings is a prime example of how a single bad day can rewrite an entire narrative. While the Curt Cignetti and Hoosiers are clinging to the final playoff spot, their recent loss to Ohio State has sparked a debate led by former CFB star David Pollack about the fairness of the system.

Pollack didn’t hold back in his analysis as seen on YT. “Indiana’s beaten better teams than Oklahoma and beaten them like a drum,” he said, emphasizing the quality wins on the Hoosiers’ résumé. Yet, their 30-15 loss to the Day’s Buckeyes—the No.2 seeded program—saw them drop five spots in the rankings. “This committee isn’t looking for dominant teams anymore,” Pollack continued, hinting at a potential inconsistency in how losses are evaluated. With other teams like Tennessee and SMU leaping over Indiana, the former NFL player questioned whether the rankings reward sustained performance or penalize missteps too harshly.

Indiana’s No. 10 ranking masks a more significant issue: they’re seeded 11th in the 12-team playoff bracket. Here’s why: the top five conference champions automatically make the field, even if their overall ranking doesn’t reflect elite status. Boise State, ranked No. 11, jumps to the fourth seed as the Mountain West champion, while Indiana—despite their higher ranking—faces a tougher path. The Hoosiers are now slated for a daunting road game at Penn State in the opening round.

The loss to OSU wasn’t just a dent in Indiana’s record; it was a gut punch to their playoff trajectory. By comparison, the Buckeyes’ reputation as a perennial powerhouse keeps them immune to similar scrutiny. As the analyst noted, “Some teams, like Georgia, can hang their hat on great losses. Indiana doesn’t get that luxury.” This raises questions about whether the CFP is designed to promote fairness or reinforce traditional hierarchies. “We viewed Indiana – they played well at times against Ohio State and Ohio State pulled out a victory and really came on in the second half of that game, but we were impressed with some of the things Indiana did,” CFB Playoff committee chair Warde Manuel has now commented justifying their decision. “They dropped five, but we still felt their body of work was strong enough to remain in the top 10,” Manuel added.

So, can our beloved quote machine stand on business as he does?

Coach Curt Cignetti speaks of his Indiana Hoosiers and their rankings

The gaffer kept it short and sweet when addressing the Playoffs chatter during his weekly presser in Bloomington. After the Hoosiers’ 38-15 loss to Ohio State, Cignetti made it clear he believes IU (10-1) deserves a spot in the playoff conversation. However, he wasn’t keen on revisiting the topic on Monday.

“I said what I needed to after the game,” Cignetti remarked. “We’re in a good spot, but we’ve got to take care of business. That’s that.”

The Hoosiers’ recent games against powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio State bolstered their strength of schedule, but their upcoming showdown against a struggling 1-10 Purdue team won’t exactly move the needle. He dropped the mic yet gain addressing the narrative that they haven’t beaten any ranked opponent.

“We’ve got the largest victory scoring margin in college football, right?” he said.