College Football Playoff Committee Chair Warde Manuel explained why Indiana football remained in the top 10 after its tough loss to Ohio State. Despite entering the game as the No. 5 team in the country, the Hoosiers were shut down by the Buckeyes. However, Manuel noted that Indiana’s overall body of work was strong enough to justify their No. 10 ranking in the latest CFP standings, despite dropping five spots.
Manuel shared with ESPN’s Rece Davis that some aspects of Indiana’s performance against Ohio State were still impressive. “We were impressed with some of the things Indiana did… We felt their body of work was strong enough to remain in the top 10.”
Indiana, under head coach Curt Cignetti, has had a historic season, including a 10-game winning streak to start the year. Although their strength of schedule ranks 51st in the country, the Hoosiers have dominated in many of their games, such as a 56-7 win over Nebraska and a 47-10 victory at Michigan State. Despite the loss to Ohio State, Indiana’s resume, bolstered by standout quarterback Kurtis Rourke, remains competitive with other top teams.
Comparing the Hoosiers’ resume to other ranked teams like Miami and Notre Dame, which have weaker schedules and worse losses, raises questions about ranking consistency and potential brand bias in the selection process. Nonetheless, Indiana is still in control of its playoff destiny, with a win on Senior Day against Purdue likely securing a spot in the playoff.
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