There’s a simple fact about college football that the #8 Indiana University Hoosiers are banking on now: this late in the season, bad teams have been exposed. Teams like Vanderbilt – while still having a great season by their own standards – have fallen off. Others, like Miami, are proving they’ve built solid programs over the last few years.
Yet an undefeated Indiana team, led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke, is quietly assembling an undefeated season in the Big 10 with only one real worry – a very good Ohio State team on November 23rd. While it might be easy to dismiss the Hoosiers under the premise of “strength of schedule” and it’s also obvious most people have – the truth is IU has soundly beaten every team they’ve played.
The Big 10 is Still Small
One strange thing about the reemergence of the Big 10 in championship conversation is the fact Ohio State seems to be the only school getting the press, but some people are starting to notice. ESPN’s analyst Booger McFarland was quoted on X saying:
I think Indiana is the most disrespected team in the country.
While ESPN’s Rece Davis admitted:
“They have dropped the people’s elbow on everybody they’ve played,”
The question is, does anybody care? They should. The Hoosiers offense is averaging over 10 yards per completion in the air and almost 5 yards on the ground. More importantly, the last time the Hoosiers football team went undefeated was 1945. The only problem, of course, is Ohio State. Not only are they an annual powerhouse, they’re also a huge roadblock to a serious conversation about how good the Indiana Hoosiers football team really is, and when a playoff season would begin for any Big 10 team this year, given the new 12-team playoff schedule.
There’s More To The Indiana University Hoosiers Than Offense
Now, a solid offense doesn’t guarantee a win, and today, people want to see high-scoring games. The Hoosiers have built an impressive defense, allowing less than 270 yards per game and currently ranked fifth in the nation. Even more interesting is that defense’s scoring ability is ranked #4. Linebackers Aiden Fisher, Jalin Walker, and Shawn Asbury II lead the Hoosiers in tackles, with significant contributions from the defensive back corps.
All this is a reflection of Head Coach Curt Cignetti’s mindset, and represents a back-to-basics philosophy that has built powerful programs around the country and in the Big 10 for decades. He was quoted earlier this year, saying:
“We believe that with proper preparation, the commitment and discipline, that there’s no self-imposed limitations to what we can accomplish. Day in, day out. Play in, play out.”
So, while it remains to be seen just how good Indiana University football can be on the bigger stage of the FBS, the simple truth is, it’s a program that very few people seem to be paying attention to, and that may prove to be upsetting as the college football playoffs begin in the next month.
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