Indiana football, fresh off of earning the No. 4 spot in the initial set of College Football Playoff rankings, is set for a much-needed and awaited bye week as the Hoosiers look to get healthy for the final stretch of the season.
There’s still plenty in front of this team despite its flaws. A lot of that will, however, depend on the situation it finds itself in. Unlike last year, Indiana has a loss, meaning it’s at the whims of a few other teams in a way that hasn’t been true for a while.
So, with a full slate of stress-free Indiana-less college football set for Saturday, we thought we’d pick out a few games that could be pretty important for the Hoosiers’ situation.
Here’s a few games to keep an especially close eye on, for Indiana’s sake, over the bye week:
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android for coverage of the Hoosiers and all your favorite teams!
No. 8 UCLA at Minnesota
UCLA, sitting at No. 8 in the initial set of playoff rankings, is alone atop the Big Ten standings at 8-0, setting them up remarkably well to earn a Big Ten Championship Game berth.
If Indiana wants to return to Indianapolis, it should win out and hope for some help from a few teams around it. That same Minnesota team that brought the Hoosiers to the brink this past Saturday has a chance to drag the Bruins over the edge at home.
If UCLA loses, that makes for a more favorable path back to Indy for Indiana. Moreso because that one loss could become two down the stretch.
No. 23 Oregon at No. 12 Ohio State
Ohio State sits below Indiana in the conference standings right now because the Buckeyes have played one fewer Big Ten game. The Hoosiers are in a poor position here due to their one loss coming against the Buckeyes. The loss to USC, however, puts Ohio State in a similar situation as Indiana.
Oregon, as much as it’s struggled this season, could help create some distance between the Hoosiers and Buckeyes by pulling off a stunner in Columbus this weekend. The Ducks aren’t especially well-positioned to do this, but stranger things have happened before.
No. 9 BYU at No. 3 Utah
Utah sits right above Indiana in the latest playoff rankings. A loss at home to in-state rival and fellow powerhouse BYU could be just enough for the Hoosiers to push past the Utes in the rankings next week.
The Utes have earned their spot, for sure, and a loss wouldn’t guarantee a drop. But BYU winning on Saturday would be better for Indiana than, say, Utah winning out on the season to finish at 12-0.
No. 1 Miami at No. 11 Notre Dame
This is the game of the weekend in general, but is especially worth keeping an eye on for Indiana.
The Hoosiers have history with both programs, having lost to the Fighting Irish in their inaugural playoff appearance back in 2024 before defeating the Hurricanes in last season’s National Championship Game. Miami would be able to push Notre Dame further out of the playoff picture with a win while the Irish can earn a much-needed statement victory to cement their resume.
I don’t think a loss to Notre Dame drops Miami below Indiana. I do think a win over the Hurricanes just about cements the Irish into the playoff as a potential foe for the Hoosiers down the line.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
Source: Yahoo Sports
Sign in to join the conversation.
Comments, replies, Roars, reports, and followed-thread notifications use your verified Rally & Roar account.
Sign in or create an account