If they haven’t lost, they must be good. That’s the general notion for Curt Cignetti and Indiana after they climbed to No. 5 in the latest AP Poll ranking. But are they really that good to be playing in the College Football Playoff? Ohio State could be the ultimate challenge to test if this rare playoff program can walk the hype in a real Big Ten battle. 

According to a CFB insider, the Big Ten clash between Indiana and Ohio State is a do-or-die for Cignetti and the Hoosiers. In an Instagram reel shared by CBSSports CFB on November 20, Josh Pate made a bold warning, saying, “Indiana plays Ohio State this weekend. It’s my opinion that if Indiana loses that Ohio State game, they shouldn’t be included in the playoff.”

Josh Pate backed his opinion with Indiana’s conference schedule, which is “not good this year.” Out of the nine Hoosiers conference games in 2024, six of them are ranked at the bottom of the Big Ten. They have wins against Washington and Michigan, which are ranked No. 8 and No. 10, respectively, in the conference. With 7-0, they’re second only behind Oregon, while the Buckeyes trail at No. 3. Outside their conference, they played FIU, Western Illinois, and Charlotte. As you can see, they didn’t really have a worthy challenger all season long.

This brings us back to Josh Pate, who believes that Indiana could be waving the playoffs goodbye even with just one loss. He said, “If they’re 11-1, there are differing opinions out there. I think the committee’s gonna leave them out in the cold.” But for those who believe that one loss couldn’t be the end for the Hoosiers’ playoff dreams, Pate has another warning to deliver—“If there’s room at the table for Indiana, I’m telling you, mark my words, if Indiana gets in over a fifth SEC team, and the reason is ‘Well Indiana’s got one fewer loss than that SEC team,’ all hell will break loose.” This is why the upcoming game against Ohio State is very crucial for Curt Cignetti.

Why Ohio State vs Indiana is a must-watch game

The upcoming Big Ten showdown against Ohio State is a lot of things for Indiana. It will be their first game against a ranked opponent this season. It will determine whether they can shut up the critics by proving their dominance even over the nation’s No. 2 team. And now that Oregon has officially secured a conference championship spot, it will be a battle for who will join Dan Lanning‘s Ducks for the Big Ten Championship game. 

A win over Ohio State will guarantee a matchup against the No. 1 team in the nation for the conference title. But it could be a tough game to pull as they enter the game as a 10.5-point underdog. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes have defeated the Hoosiers 21 times straight in their last meetings. Still, they’re not without their own pressure as they look forward to the big showdown on November 23.