Are the Indiana Hoosiers a College Football Playoff lock?

Source: Justin Casterline / Getty

On Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff committee revealed its second CFP rankings.

Through ten weeks, Indiana has handled its competition. In the Hoosiers most recent win against Michigan, it was not pretty. Curt Cignetti’s offense struggled mightily in the second half with Michigan’s physicality. However, all that matters is that Indiana was able to win.

Now they are off this week ahead of a very important game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. That game will be the biggest game on the schedule in week thirteen. ESPN’s College Football Power Index has the Hoosiers ranked 10th. Here are some other metrics that the committee will factor:

Strength of record – 6th
Strength of schedule – 100th
Remaining strength of schedule – 8th

Of the twelve teams in Tuesday’s CFP rankings, Indiana’s strength of schedule is the worst of the twelve teams. SMU’s strength of schedule is 81st, BYU’s is ranked 54th, and Boise State’s is ranked 68th according to ESPN.

Indiana and Boise State are the only teams ranked in the top twelve that have not won a game against a ranked team this season. Boise State faced Oregon back in September and lost on a game winning field goal.

I understand that IU can only play the opponents on its schedule, but the overall combined record of Indiana’s opponents is 40-53. Only one of the Hoosiers ten opponents has a winning record, and that’s Nebraska. Seven teams are below average, and two teams are exactly .500.

This has story could be very comparable to how the committee treated Florida State last season. It will be CRUCIAL for Curt Cignetti’s team to go to Columbus and compete for 60 minutes. If IU gets blown out next week, then it definitely gives the committee the ammunition it needed to leave Indiana out of the CFP.

To listen to Jake Query and Jimmy Cook’s conversation with ESPN’s Senior College Football Writer, Adam Rittenberg, about IU’s chances to make the College Football Playoff, download the podcast containing the conversation below!

You can always listen to the Query & Company from 12pm-3pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan. You can also watch and interact with the show by going to the 107.5 The Fan YouTube Channel.

Are the Indiana Hoosiers a College Football Playoff lock? was originally published on 1075thefan.com