‘Sexy’ wins are no fluke: Indiana football projected as top-4 College Football Playoff team

Indiana football was a feel-good story in 2024 and a curiosity entering this season. The Hoosiers are now being taken seriously after winning at then-No. 2 Oregon on Saturday.

College football experts have come to think of them as a genuine national contender, with many projecting them as top-4 College Football Playoff team even if they reach the Big Ten championship game and lose to Ohio State.

College Football Playoff projections for Indiana after win over Oregon

“The Hoosiers were big movers this weekend after beating Oregon on the road. Indiana is now 6-0 and the No. 3 team in the country and CBS’ No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff.

“Even as projected Big Ten runners-up, Indiana should still get a first round bye at this rate. That’s how good Curt Cignetti’s crew is playing right now.”

David Cobb, CBS Sports: Curt Cignetti is national Coach of the Year

“Cignetti has guided Indiana to a 6-0 start and its highest-ever ranking in the AP poll while proving that last season’s 11 wins and CFP appearance were anything but a fluke. The Hoosiers’ Week 7 triumph at Oregon is in the running for best college football victory of the season, and it brings the possibility of 12-0 campaign closer to reality. This isn’t just the best coaching job of the season; what Cignetti is doing at Indiana may be the best coaching job of the 21st century.”

A panel of nine on CBS Sports ranked IU as high as third and as low as eighth.

Dan Wolken, Yahoo: IU is the nation’s biggest surprise

“I didn’t think the Hoosiers were a fluke last year, but I was skeptical that Curt Cignetti could do it again because Indiana wasn’t going to be overlooked by any opponent this time around. But I was wrong not to believe in him and Fernando Mendoza, who is probably the Heisman frontrunner at this stage.”

“Any questions raised about Indiana’s CFP viability from last year have no bearing this year. The Hoosiers are better in every area this fall and proved it at Oregon.”

“After beating down previously undefeated North Texas on Friday, USF inches ahead of Tulane as the favorite to take home the American crown. That could set up a trip to Bloomington, Ind., if the Hoosiers aren’t able to sneak past a few conference champions.”

“No team has a more sexy pair of wins than the Hoosiers and if the selection committee put Indiana higher than this, it wouldn’t be a shock. A 50-point beatdown of Illinois, which was ranked inside the top 10 at the time, preceded Saturday’s mammoth victory at Oregon. That’s a signature moment for Curt Cignetti’s program and essentially guarantees another playoff appearance. Over their final six games, the Hoosiers play one team with a winning record (at Maryland on Nov. 1). It looks like you can punch Indiana’s ticket to Indianapolis already.”

Josh Pate, On3: IU will be the No. 5 seed, hosting South Florida

“There certainly will be a race for the Group of Five spot. Memphis is another candidate but Pate is giving the edge to USF at the moment, sliding them in as the 12-seed.

“Indiana losing the Big Ten title game is Curt Cignetti‘s first loss of the year. This gives them the top at-large spot, giving Bloomington the opportunity to host.”

“Indiana has been a playoff contender all season long. The Hoosiers just moved up a tier into the group of possible title contenders with their 30-20 win over Oregon on Saturday. And the Indiana defense is a big reason. Oregon had just 267 yards and 4.2 yards per play. After Old Dominion rushed for 218 yards against the Hoosiers in Week 1, Indiana has given up just 303 rushing yards over its succeeding five games.”

Indiana football remaining regular-season schedule

(with date, location, opponent, opponent’s record, time, TV)

• Oct. 18, vs. Michigan State (3-3 overall, 0-3 Big Ten), 3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock
• Oct. 25, vs. UCLA (2-4, 2-1), TBA, TBA
• Nov. 1, at Maryland (4-2, 1-2), TBA, TBA
• Nov. 8, at Penn State (3-3, 0-3), TBA, TBA
• Nov. 15, vs. Wisconsin (2-4, 0-3), TBA, TBA
• Nov. 28 (Fri.), at Purdue (2-4, 0-3), 7:30 p.m., NBC

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