OT: D1

[TheBigCat2192]

I think the media would have buried them. Until the CFP, the media had way too much say in who could be champion.

Indiana was ranked 3rd in the AP poll on October 12th and jumped to 2nd a week later. You are just making nonsense up to support a ridiculous hypothetical. Under the BCS and 4-team CFP they would have been in for sure as the only undefeated P5 champs with two top-10 wins (Oregon and OSU). The only real question in those systems would be whether they played Texas Tech or a rematch against OSU (BCS) and who took the fourth spot in the old CFP (Tech and Georgia would almost certainly have been in.)

[IUPNation]

Indiana is 15-0.

What would they have been buried in ?

Didn’t Flori-Duh State get left out being undefeated for SEC teams?

The playoff system is working. The problem now is the portal system is too ****ed up. It needs major reforms and restrictions.

The SEC has been exposed as fraudulent as well. They had almost 50 percent of the field and none of them made it to the final.

[Chuck Norris]

Didn’t Flori-Duh State get left out being undefeated for SEC teams?

The playoff system is working. The problem now is the portal system is too ****ed up. It needs major reforms and restrictions.

The SEC has been exposed as fraudulent as well. They had almost 50 percent of the field and none of them made it to the final.

We’re all happy for Curt, but Indiana is the embodiment of what makes everybody give a side eye to this era of college football. It’s a team of mercenaries, but because Indiana has historically been terrible everybody is celebrating. There’s nothing wrong it, he just figured out how to maximize the portal before everybody else and does it better than everybody else.

[IUPNation]

We’re all happy for Curt, but Indiana is the embodiment of what makes everybody give a side eye to this era of college football. It’s a team of mercenaries, but because Indiana has historically been terrible everybody is celebrating. There’s nothing wrong it, he just figured out how to maximize the portal before everybody else and does it better than everybody else.

Hopefully he’s sharing secrets with Tort.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

We’re all happy for Curt, but Indiana is the embodiment of what makes everybody give a side eye to this era of college football. It’s a team of mercenaries, but because Indiana has historically been terrible everybody is celebrating. There’s nothing wrong it, he just figured out how to maximize the portal before everybody else and does it better than everybody else.

Add to it now they'll all want to go there and play for him.

Nothing lasts forever but they can sure enjoy this ride.

Interesting, however, Curt is now being mentioned for numerous NFL jobs.

Hypothetically, if he wins the Natty, would he consider moving to Sunday?

[iupgroundhog]

Hopefully he’s sharing secrets with Tort.

Or his brother.

[Fightingscot82]

Indiana was ranked 3rd in the AP poll on October 12th and jumped to 2nd a week later. You are just making nonsense up to support a ridiculous hypothetical. Under the BCS and 4-team CFP they would have been in for sure as the only undefeated P5 champs with two top-10 wins (Oregon and OSU). The only real question in those systems would be whether they played Texas Tech or a rematch against OSU (BCS) and who took the fourth spot in the old CFP (Tech and Georgia would almost certainly have been in.)

Florida State was the undefeated ACC champion in 2023 but were left out of the playoff.

Before the BCS, it was two popularity contests: media and coaches. Those polls didn't tolerate upstarts like Indiana. They are why we still have SEC and Notre Dame biases lingering around.

[Bart]

Add to it now they'll all want to go there and play for him.

Nothing lasts forever but they can sure enjoy this ride.

Interesting, however, Curt is now being mentioned for numerous NFL jobs.

Hypothetically, if he wins the Natty, would he consider moving to Sunday?

It's also nice to have an Indiana alumnus who is a billionaire bankrolling the rise to the top. Mark Cuban has given millions to Indiana, but now he is spending on the football team directly because of Cignetti. "The two are just three years apart and were born in the same Pittsburgh-area hospital." Cignetti has money to buy a team of new players every year.

[TheBigCat2192]

Florida State was the undefeated ACC champion in 2023 but were left out of the playoff.

Before the BCS, it was two popularity contests: media and coaches. Those polls didn't tolerate upstarts like Indiana. They are why we still have SEC and Notre Dame biases lingering around.

2023 Florida State was qualitatively subpar for a playoff team and played a bunch of close games while 2025 Indiana did not. 2023 FSU also had a high of 4 in the AP poll (so the edge of the playoff range, if the AP poll actually factored into the selection) while 2025 Indiana spent half of the season at either #3 or #2 (firmly in the bye receiving portion of the rating.) I don’t think those are good comparisons.

Saying the polls don’t “tolerate upstarts like Indiana” when the AP poll absolutely did this year is completely denying reality. The AP had them in the edge of playoff territory at #11 by week 5 (after smoking Illinois), moved them into firmer playoff territory (#7) after beating Iowa the neck week, and moved them into “we think this team is in bye quality” territory (#3) a week later when they beat Oregon. All of this is recorded in the AP’s week by week rankings that you can easily check online at places like Sports-Reference or the AP website.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

2023 Florida State was qualitatively subpar for a playoff team and played a bunch of close games while 2025 Indiana did not. 2023 FSU also had a high of 4 in the AP poll (so the edge of the playoff range, if the AP poll actually factored into the selection) while 2025 Indiana spent half of the season at either #3 or #2 (firmly in the bye receiving portion of the rating.) I don’t think those are good comparisons.

Saying the polls don’t “tolerate upstarts like Indiana” when the AP poll absolutely did this year is completely denying reality. The AP had them in the edge of playoff territory at #11 by week 5 (after smoking Illinois), moved them into firmer playoff territory (#7) after beating Iowa the neck week, and moved them into “we think this team is in bye quality” territory (#3) a week later when they beat Oregon. All of this is recorded in the AP’s week by week rankings that you can easily check online at places like Sports-Reference or the AP website.

I'd also toss in there it was made clear that FSU was looked down upon after losing its starting QB. Agree or not, that was a major factor.

Many disagreed. Many agreed

[Chuck Norris]

I'd also toss in there it was made clear that FSU was looked down upon after losing its starting QB. Agree or not, that was a major factor.

Many disagreed. Many agreed

Yeah that was a totally unique circumstance and was a tough call. They found a way to beat a 10 win Louisville team for the ACC title in a really ugly game, but they really didn’t pass the eye test for a four team playoff. Still, there was an argument to be had to put them in.

Cincinnati made the four team playoff. This Indiana team makes it in any format. If there was any doubt, beating OSU for the BIG championship would’ve wiped it out.

[TheBigCat2192]

I'd also toss in there it was made clear that FSU was looked down upon after losing its starting QB. Agree or not, that was a major factor.

Many disagreed. Many agreed

I forgot about the quarterback problem. It's also not a good 1:1 comparison to this year since Indiana was the only undefeated team left while in 2023 there were three undefeated P5 champs (Michigan, Washington, FSU). I don't know that the committee made the right choice then given that Alabama lost to Michigan but FSU got smoked even worse by Georgia in their bowl. Liberty was also an undefeated conference champ but their schedule was dreadful and I don't think they were ever seriously in consideration for the fourth spot.

[Ship69]

It's also nice to have an Indiana alumnus who is a billionaire bankrolling the rise to the top. Mark Cuban has given millions to Indiana, but now he is spending on the football team directly because of Cignetti. "The two are just three years apart and were born in the same Pittsburgh-area hospital." Cignetti has money to buy a team of new players every year.

I'm seeing more money go into the Northwestern program as evidenced by the upcoming new stadium and the hiring of some uncharacteristically high-profile assistants this off-season. Pat Ryan is the main benefactor there, but they certainly have some other alums with money. They have a much smaller alumni base and higher academic standards than other B1G schools, but I think they might be moving toward being a little more competitive in the league. With the elimination of divisions, it probably will be too much to expect them to vault over Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, USC, (and now even Indiana), etc. to have a real shot at the title game.

[Ram040506]

I forgot about the quarterback problem. It's also not a good 1:1 comparison to this year since Indiana was the only undefeated team left while in 2023 there were three undefeated P5 champs (Michigan, Washington, FSU). I don't know that the committee made the right choice then given that Alabama lost to Michigan but FSU got smoked even worse by Georgia in their bowl. Liberty was also an undefeated conference champ but their schedule was dreadful and I don't think they were ever seriously in consideration for the fourth spot.

FSU got smoked in a bowl that over 30 players opted out of. The result of that game is just used to prop up the SEC and Alabama, without proper context.

[TheBigCat2192]

FSU got smoked in a bowl that over 30 players opted out of. The result of that game is just used to prop up the SEC and Alabama, without proper context.

1. Georgia had opt outs as well and that didn't stop them from winning by ~60 points.
2. I am not "propping up" anything given that I clearly pointed out that Alabama lost in the playoff.

I was quite clear that I'm not sure the committee made the right choice. I probably would have put FSU in the top 4 but I understand why the committee made the decision they did.