Indiana’s particular season ran right into a brick wall Saturday afternoon because the fifth-ranked Hoosiers fell 38-15 on the street in opposition to No. 2 Ohio State. All week, questions on Indiana’s legitimacy as a Large Ten energy and a Faculty Soccer Playoff competitor swirled.
Curt Cignetti’s squad wanted an announcement reply. It leaves Columbus with a whimper after managing simply 151 yards of whole offense — the fewest that Ohio State has allowed in opposition to a ranked opponent in 17 years — 75 of which got here in rubbish time throughout its remaining landing drive. This outcome additionally gave Ohio State its largest win in opposition to a top-five opponent since 2000.
The loss, it says right here, does in no way erase what Indiana has achieved this season. It entered Saturday’s slate with the No. 6 power of document, per ESPN’s FPI metric, which is a résumé befitting a Faculty Soccer Playoff competitor. The Hoosiers have been largely dominant whereas enjoying in considered one of faculty soccer’s premiere convention. Their first 10 wins got here by a median of 30.1 factors.
However none of these wins have been in opposition to ranked opponents. Indiana nonetheless has only one victory in opposition to an FBS opponent with a profitable document.
The Hoosiers have largely excelled in opposition to the schedule they got. Within the one sport the place they actually wanted to look aggressive, although, they weren’t. Now they’ve left their Faculty Soccer Playoff destiny as much as the whims of the choice committee.
So what does Indiana must do to make the sector at this level?
Ending the yr 11-1 is an effective begin. An 11-1 Large Ten crew will at all times have a robust declare for a spot within the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff, it doesn’t matter what else is going on across the nation.
All Indiana must do to get to 11 wins is beat in-state rival Purdue. That should not be too tough — the Boilermakers are 1-10 this yr they usually’ve been outscored 195-17 in 4 video games in opposition to top-10 opponents.
In order that win would not essentially resonate as the choice committee goes into decision-making mode, however it could put Indiana previous a key win threshold. Then it simply comes all the way down to how the Hoosiers are seen in opposition to different at-large groups.
The Hoosiers obtained some nice information from the SEC in Week 13 as three of the league’s contenders for an at-large berth misplaced to unranked foes — all choosing up their third loss within the course of. No. 9 Ole miss fell to Florida, No. 7 Alabama was throttled by Oklahoma and No. 15 Texas A&M misplaced in 4 overtimes to Auburn.
It is a large step in the correct course for the Hoosiers, who must be in over all three of these groups in the event that they win out.
Indiana additionally must regulate the ACC.
Primarily based on rating traits, there’s a likelihood that each the Hurricanes and the Mustangs make it into the Faculty Soccer Playoff — supplied they end the common season 11-1 — no matter what occurs within the ACC Championship Sport.
The subsequent set of Faculty Soccer Playoff Rankings will likely be essential for seeing how the choice committee now views Indiana. Regardless, the Hoosiers can solely be ok with their standing if different groups begin to slip up.
