Is No. 5 Indiana’s playoff hopes crushed for good? Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers enjoyed the spotlight as an unseemly winner with their undefeated record. But as all good things come to an end, Saturday’s loss against No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten showdown not only gave them their first taste of defeat but also put them in a precarious position to contend for the College Football Playoff. But an ESPN analyst believes Indiana can set the record right. 

After Week 13, Indiana isn’t the only SEC team who fell out of the playoff contention. Alabama and Ole Miss joined the club after their upset losses to Oklahoma and Florida. In a new YouTube episode on ESPN College Football on November 25, Paul Finebaum suggested that the CFP should put up a first-four matchup between Indiana and Alabama to decide the last team in the 12-team playoffs. He said, “I don’t know enough about either. I’ve watched both teams play all year, and they’re kind of exasperating to watch. But it’s okay. Let Indiana get in there. To me, then that will be a test. Good for Curt Cignetti.”

Indiana’s rise to success this season didn’t come without judgment. Their dominant performance was overshadowed by the fact that they have an easy schedule in 2024. Aside from Ohio State, Washington and Michigan had been their most prominent conference opponents with the rest being the bottom six teams in the Big Ten. 

The 38-15 loss to Ryan Day‘s Buckeyes confirmed several judgments that Indiana isn’t a worthy match for other SEC powerhouses. But as Finebaum suggested, the real test of power can be determined if the Hoosiers face an equal-level opponent as far as their season performance goes. But as of now, Curt Cignetti and Indiana are in a critical spot as they await the CFP Committee’s report. 

Can Curt Cignetti and Indiana make the playoffs?

Unlike CFB analyst Josh Pate who believes that one loss can end Indiana’s playoff hopes, because of their strength of schedule, not everyone thinks in the same light. According to Matt Hayes of USA Today, the Hoosiers are still very much in the mix for the playoffs. Why? The CFP committee, which consists of four former HCs and six current athletic directors, should know that the W matters more than their strength of schedule. 

Earlier this week, CFP Committee chairman and Michigan’s AD Warde Manuel revealed how they’re assessing the teams. He said, “We watch games and we see how teams are playing, and so we assess their body of work. Watching teams, watching the games, carries the day for most of us.”

It’s worth noting that Indiana aced the season by winning their games with an impressive 30-point average. Ohio State may be a spot in their stellar history but they’re in a great position to get back on track in their final game against Purdue. Right now, none of us are sure what to expect from the playoff committee but we’ll soon see strong reactions when the rankings are released on Tuesday.