Putting “Indiana football” and “College Football Playoff” in the same sentence is mind-boggling.
A program that has traditionally struggled is undefeated heading into November and makes a real case for being included in the first version of the 12-team playoffs.
Fun fact: Indiana and Army are the only teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision to not trail in a game this season.
Coach Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers believing they can beat all comers, even if Tayven Jackson is in for Kurtis Rourke at quarterback. Here’s the national vibe surrounding IU.
Doyel:Perfect IU season has perfect day, wallops Washington with ESPN GameDay, Lee Corso on hand
Where Indiana football stands in College Football Playoff projections
Andy Staples, On3: 8th
“Beating Washington on Saturday wasn’t as easy as beating Nebraska last week, but the Hoosiers still made it look as if they had it under control most of the way. That they did that behind backup QB Tayven Jackson was more impressive.”
Austin Mock, The Athletic: 9th
IU has a 66% chance of making the playoff, an 8% chance of winning the Big Ten and a 23% chance of hosting a playoff game.
Heather Dinich, ESPN: 9th
“The biggest question for the committee is how much IU’s convincing wins can compensate for its weak schedule. The Hoosiers entered Week 9 ranked No. 109 in schedule strength. They have been clobbering everyone they line up against, though, ranking No. 4 in ESPN’s game control metric, trailing Ole Miss, Ohio State and Georgia. If IU doesn’t beat Ohio State, it won’t have any statement wins against ranked opponents. Nebraska is currently the only opponent with a winning record that IU has defeated.”
Matt Hayes, USA TODAY: 11th
“Time to start winning games of significance on the road. It begins this week at Michigan State, a team talented enough to end the Hoosiers’ unbeaten season.”
Bill Bender, Sporting News: IU is a bubble team
“The Hoosiers scored a 31-17 victory against Washington – which was huge considering quarterback Kurtis Rourke (thumb) missed the game. Backup quarterback Tayven Jackson (11 of 19, 124 yards, TD, INT) managed a run-heavy attack against the Huskies, and Indiana is right on the fringe as a potential fourth Big Ten team under first-year coach Curt Cignetti. Is a trip to Michigan State in Week 10 a potential trap game before the season-defining home stretch that features Michigan and Ohio State?”
Nick Bromberg, Yahoo: IU is a winner from the weekend
“The Hoosiers didn’t need Kurtis Rourke to keep on winning. No. 13 Indiana moved to 8-0 with a 31-17 home win over Washington. The Hoosiers defense picked off Will Rogers twice in the first half and put the game away in the fourth quarter after Myles Price’s 65-yard punt return inside the Washington 15-yard line. Rourke could be back sooner than later, and there’s a very good chance the Hoosiers can be 10-0 before a trip to Ohio State on Nov. 23.”
Joe Tansey, Bleacher Report, doesn’t have IU on his list.
Jonathan Lurensky, FanSided, has IU 8th.
Indiana football schedule 2024
- Aug. 31: FIU (W, 31-7)
- Sept. 6: Western Illinois (W, 77-3)
- Sept. 14: at UCLA (W, 42-13)
- Sept. 21: Charlotte (W, 52-14)
- Sept. 28: Maryland (W, 42-28)
- Oct. 5: at Northwestern (W, 41-24)
- Oct. 19: Nebraska (W, 56-7)
- Oct. 26: Washington (W, 31-17)
- Nov. 2: at Michigan State
- Nov. 9: Michigan
- Nov. 23: at Ohio State
- Nov. 30: Purdue
- Record: 8-0