Indiana football is in the initial College Football Playoff rankings at No. 8 (with a seeding of 9th).
Sounds great, right? I mean, IU is in the college football playoff race.
Some analysts believe the Hoosiers (9-0) are too low.
Joel Klatt of Fox Sports, who has been beating the drum for IU for the past couple of weeks, called out the CFP’s “disrespect” for IU after the initial list was released Tuesday night.
Indiana was ranked behind three Big Ten teams − undefeated and top-ranked Oregon, as well as one-loss Ohio State (ranked No. 2 with a No. 5 seed; it has a loss to Oregon) and Penn State (No. 6 ranking and a No. 7 seed; it has a loss to Ohio State).
Champions of power conferences are guaranteed a top-4 spot in the playoff. As it stands, BYU of the Big 12, with a No. 9 ranking, moves up to a No. 4 seed. That drops Indiana to a No. 9 seed, which would give it a road game on the first weekend.
CFP selection committee chairman Warde Manuel alluded to IU’s relatively weak schedule to date and acknowledged the Hoosiers can strengthen their case the rest of the season.
Before the rankings/seedings were revealed, ESPN’s Booger McFarland declared: “I think Indiana is the most disrespected team in the country.”
Reaction to College Football Playoff rankings with IU football at No. 8
Other college football reporters also called out the “bias” against the Hoosiers because of the program’s unsuccessful history.
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 (W, 47-10)
- Nov. 9: Michigan, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- Nov. 23: at Ohio State
- Nov. 30: Purdue
- Record: 9-0
How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?
For the first time, 12 teams will make the CFP field.
How does College Football Playoff format work?
The eight teams seeded Nos. 5-12 will play in a first round with the better seed hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.). Games are on Dec. 20 and 21.
The top four conference champions to earn spots in quarterfinals hosted by bowls. This will be done in consideration of historic bowl relationships, then in consideration of rankings. No. 1 play the 8/9 winner, No. 4 vs. the 5/12 winner, No. 2 vs. the 7/10 winner; No. 3 vs. the 6/11 winner. Games are on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. The quarterfinal games are the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
Semifinals will be played on Jan. 9 (Orange Bowl) and Jan. 10 (Cotton Bowl). The national championship game is Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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