College Football Playoff Rankings

 

The second batch of College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday provided yet more evidence of the rarefied air Indiana has entered with its program best 10-0 start.

This is the highest ranking the team has achieved since the CFP ranking began in 2014. 

The Hoosiers checked in at No.5 up three spots from the first round of No. 8 announced last week. 

While Indiana is fifth, it is currently projected to receive the No. 7 seed because it ranks ahead of a pair of projected conference champions - Miami (Florida) and BYU - that would receive automatic top 4 seeds with their conference titles. 

IU is projected to face No. 10 Alabama (7-2) in a first round-round game that would be played in Bloomington by virtue of IU being the higher seed. 

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was Indiana's offensive coordinator in 2019. Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan held the same position at Indiana from 2020 to 2021 and Tide defensive coordinator Kank Wommack was IU defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020.

Of course, all is current speculation. The season has to be played out. But for the time being the No. 5 ranking is the highest the Hoosiers have received in program history along with a perfect 10-0 record.

 Image copyright Indiana University Athletics

News copyright staff news services The Joournal Gazette 

IU c Michigan

The Wolverines (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) had their lowest scoring total in the 70m game series since Indiana’s 14-10 victory in 1987, generated one TD in three red-zone trips and came up a yard short on fourth-and-10 with 95 seconds to play.

“The story of the game is not scoring in the red zone. You can’t get down there and have it first-and-6, first-and-7 and not score,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said.

Kurtis Rourke was 17 of 28 with 206 yards as the Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 8 CFP), college football’s losingest program, beat college football’s winningest program, Michigan.

Michigan had a chance to tie the score after Kalel Mullings converted a fourth-and-goal into a 1-yard scoring plunge with 9:35 left, but Warren's 2-point conversion trickled through a defender's hands and out of the end zone. 

Indiana used a 22-yard punt return to set up its final score, a 42-yard field goal, before stopping Michigan on downs.

Sources:
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Photo © The B1G Network
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

ESPN game recap 

IU @ Michigan State

Indiana traveled to Michigan State looking to go 9-0 and set a new record for the best start in program history.

After posting an 87-0 first quarter advantage and never trailing in a game the Spartans drew first blood scoring on their first two drives to go ahead 10-0. The Hoosiers responded by posting forty-seven consecutive points to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon.

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

IU v Washington

 

In front of a sell-out crowd Indiana moved to 8-0 on the season following a 31-17 win over Washington.

The Hoosiers extended their season-long streak of having never trailed in a game. For the season the Hoosiers lead opponents 87-0 in the first quarter through eight games.

Washington narrowed the gap to just 17-14 early in the third-quarter, but Indiana immediately responded with a long scoring drive and the Huskies never got closer.

Sources:
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Photo © The B1G Network
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums
https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

IU v Nebraska

Justice Ellison ran for 105 yards and two first-half touchdowns and No. 16 Indiana continued its best start in 57 years with a 56-7 rout of Nebraska on Saturday, matching the Hoosiers' most lopsided Big Ten win in program history.

Quarterback Kurtis Rourke injured his right (throwing) hand and was on the sideline in street clothes in the second half. Tayven Jackson replaced him for the rest of the game.

The Hoosiers who improved to  7-0, 4-0 Big Ten have yet to trail this season and each victory has been by double digits. The 49-point margin of victory was the biggest in conference play since a 49-0 win at Minnesota in 1945. The last time Indiana started with seven consecutive wins was 1967, when it opened 8-0.

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

ESPN

IU @ Northwestern

 

Northwestern is in the process of building a new stadium on the same site as the now demolished Ryan Field. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, on the northeast side of the campus, located next to the Walters Athletics Center, the temporary outdoor stadium will take up part of the current soccer and lacrosse field Martin Stadium and an outdoor football practice field. 

IU's quarterback Kurt Rourke led the Hoosiers to a 41-24 win at Northwestern to become the nation's first bowl-eligible team in 2024.

Rourke threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. With a 6-00 start, Indiana became the nation's first bowl-eligible team. After a turnover on downs and a punt on Indiana's first two possessions, Rourke led the Hoosiers on seven straight scoring drives before kneeling to run out the final seconds, Indiana's first in Evanston since 1993. 

It was the first Indiana Football team to soccer six straight doble digit wins since 1896!

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

IU v Maryland

Kurtis Rourke threw three touchdowns to help Indiana secure its best start in almost six decades with a 42-28 win over Big Ten rival Maryland on a rainy afternoon in Bloomington. 

Six different players scored touchdowns for the Hoosiers, who are now 5-0 for the first time since 1967. The Hoosiers moved to 2-0 in conference play.

Elijah Sarratt, Omar cooper Jr, and Donaven Mcculley each caught a score from Rourke, who finished 22 of 33 for 359 yards and two interceptions. Justice Ellison, Myles Price and Ty Son Lawton each added a rushing touchdown. 

The Hoosiers outgained the Terrapins 510-401 and overcame four turnovers.

In five games this season the Hoosiers have scored and never trailed. 

  Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

Field Level Media

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums