Latest CFP rankings predictions: Why IU football could host a game in December

Posted by author December 1, 2024 Football

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College Football Playoff rankings reveal, 7 p.m., Tuesday on ESPN

Indiana football could host a game in December.

The Hoosiers are off to the first 9-0 start in program history, are ranked 10th in the national coaches’ poll and are tied with No. 1 Oregon atop the Big Ten standings.

They are likely to hear their name called Tuesday night when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released. The CFP rankings will be updated each week until the 12 playoff teams are determined in early December.

Coach Curt Cignetti‘s team has two of the Big Ten’s traditional powers next: vs. Michigan on Saturday, and at Ohio State on Nov. 23. The Hoosiers’ regular season ends when they host Purdue in the Old Oaken Bucket game on Nov. 30.

Nos. 5-8 in the final CFP rankings host the Nos. 9-12 teams on campus the weekend before Christmas.

Indiana football CFP rankings projection

∎ Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated: Indiana is an ‘A-list’ team this week

“You can subdivide that group into two categories. The A-listers, in alphabetical order: Alabama, BYU, Georgia, Indiana, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, SMU, Tennessee, Texas. The B-listers: Arizona State, Clemson, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, LSU, Mississippi, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Washington State.

“Indiana and Ohio State have two common opponents, Nebraska at home and Michigan State on the road. The Hoosiers dominated both of them, winning by a combined 86 points. The Buckeyes dominated one (the Spartans) and nearly lost to the Cornhuskers, winning by a combined 38 points. Combine a better record with more impressive performances against common opponents, and The Dash would rank Indiana ahead of Ohio State. But the strength of schedule counter-argument is legitimate. The laundry argument (traditional disrespect for Indiana) is not legitimate.

“Indiana certainly deserves to be ranked ahead of Texas. The Horns’ beatdowns of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Oklahoma in Dallas have lost a lot of currency, given their combined 10–8 record. Texas and Indiana will at least have a common opponent after this weekend, when the Hoosiers play the Wolverines.”

∎ Heather Dinich, ESPN: Indiana is 11th

“The schedule will be a huge sticking point for the committee. Western Illinois is a 3-6 FCS team. Five of the opponents have at least five losses. None of the teams are ranked, and only Nebraska (5-4) has a winning record, barely.”

∎ On3: Indiana is 5th or 7th

Kyle Bonagura opts for the Hoosiers to host in Bloomington. “Welcoming Alabama? Oh boy.”

Mark Schlabach has IU No. 7 and hosting Tennessee: “Tennessee gets in for Schlabach and the playoff gets weird with the Volunteers going to Indiana. Cash your bets if you had that in the preseason.”

∎ Brad Crawford, CBS Sports: Indiana is 9th

“Murmurs about Indiana’s fall were premature during the first half of Saturday’s blowout victory at Michigan State. The Hoosiers watched the Spartans score the first 10 points of the contest before firing off 47 unanswered. This is a machine with no signs of slowing down as one of the Big Ten’s two remaining unbeatens. Ohio State will test Indiana in a few weeks.”

∎ Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY: Indiana is 10th

“The Hoosiers keep destroying opponents, but their weaker schedule leaves them vulnerable. Slotting Indiana here would give the committee a chance to bump the Hoosiers if OSU trounces them.”

∎ Austin Mock, The Athletic: Indiana is 8th

“The Hoosiers have an 87% chance of making the playoffs, a 38% chance of hosting a playoff game and a 10% chance of winning the Big Ten.”

College Football Playoff rankings release date

The first of weekly College Football Playoff updates will be released Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

What time is CFP rankings?

7 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show

ESPN.

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?

For the first time, 12 teams will make the CFP field.

How does College Football Playoff format work?

The eight teams seeded Nos. 5-12 will play in a first round with the better seed hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.). Games are on Dec. 20 and 21.

The top four conference champions to earn spots in quarterfinals hosted by bowls. This will be done in consideration of historic bowl relationships, then in consideration of rankings. No. 1 play the 8/9 winner, No. 4 vs. the 5/12 winner, No. 2 vs. the 7/10 winner; No. 3 vs. the 6/11 winner. Games are on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. The quarterfinal games are the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

Semifinals will be played on Jan. 9 (Orange Bowl) and Jan. 10 (Cotton Bowl). The national championship game is Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.