Indiana isn’t ducking anybody. It’s following CFP's broken blueprint | Opinion
Indiana football swapped UMass for Jacksonville State. Don't blame the Hoosiers for scheduling soft. Blame a Playoff system that rewards it.
Indiana’s nonconference scheduling has come under scrutiny, with the Hoosiers dropping UMass and adding Jacksonville State for their 2027 schedule. However, this philosophical approach is not unique and will likely continue until it becomes a problem that affects their chances of reaching the College Football Playoff (CFP). Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has dismissed detractors, emphasizing that regardless of opponents, the team’s 20 wins out of 21 Big Ten games will secure their place in the CFP.
The issue lies not with Indiana’s strategy, but in the College Football Playoff’s selection committee placing more emphasis on nonconference schedules. If the CFP were to prioritize nonconference performance, Indiana would adjust their schedule accordingly. The potential move to a 24-team CFP, requiring every Power conference team to play 10 games against Power conference opponents, has drawn criticism from the SEC, which is hesitant to expand.
Indiana’s current trajectory, with a strong record in the Big Ten, suggests that any changes to their nonconference schedule would be minimal.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
