Indiana’s College Football Playoff Hopes Take a Major Blow Against Ohio State
Indiana’s aspirations for a College Football Playoff (CFP) berth took a significant hit following their 38-15 defeat to Ohio State on Saturday. The loss to the second-ranked Buckeyes was a tough blow for a Hoosiers team that had been riding high, having started the season with impressive victories. Despite the defeat, which saw Indiana manage only 151 total yards of offense—its worst performance in years—the team’s season-long achievements can’t be completely dismissed.
Indiana entered the game with strong credentials, sitting at No. 6 in ESPN’s FPI strength of record rankings, which reflected their impressive campaign. Heading into Columbus, the Hoosiers were undefeated with a dominant average margin of victory, winning their first 10 games by an average of over 30 points. However, none of those wins came against ranked teams, and they had only one victory over an opponent with a winning record.
In their lone real test of the season, Indiana struggled to maintain competitiveness, falling short in a game that was crucial to proving they belonged among the nation’s elite teams. Now, with one loss on the books, the Hoosiers’ CFP future is uncertain and hinges on the decisions of the selection committee.
To keep their playoff hopes alive, Indiana’s best path forward is to finish the season with an 11-1 record, a mark that would make them a strong contender for one of the 12 CFP spots. A win over in-state rival Purdue—currently 1-10 on the season—shouldn’t pose much of a challenge for the Hoosiers, given Purdue’s struggles this year, including their poor showing against top-ranked teams.
Securing that victory would allow Indiana to reach the crucial 11-win threshold, but the real test will be how the committee views the Hoosiers compared to other at-large teams. Fortunately for Indiana, the Week 13 results from the SEC provided some positive news. Three SEC teams—Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas A&M—each suffered their third loss, opening up the playoff race. If Indiana finishes 11-1, they should have a strong case to be selected over these teams.
The Hoosiers also need to keep an eye on the ACC, where the potential for two teams—the Hurricanes and the Mustangs—could join the playoff mix if they finish 11-1. This could further complicate Indiana’s path to the CFP, depending on how other teams perform in conference championship games.
The next set of CFP rankings will provide a clearer picture of where Indiana stands. The Hoosiers’ hopes for a spot in the playoff will largely depend on their own performance in their final regular-season game and how other teams in contention fare. As the season winds down, Indiana’s playoff dreams remain alive, but only if they continue to win and benefit from other teams’ missteps.
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