Indiana did everything it was supposed to do in Rutgers, and the Associated Press poll still nudged the Hoosiers backward.
After a 47-15 road win on Saturday night, Curt Cignetti’s team dropped one spot to No. 7 in Sunday’s latest AP college football poll. Indiana is still unbeaten at 5-0 and still riding the sport’s longest active winning streak at 21 games, but Alabama’s rise was enough to bump the Hoosiers down a peg.
The Crimson Tide moved up to No. 6 after a blowout road victory over Mississippi State, a result that clearly carried more weight with voters than Indiana’s 32-point conference win. The top five stayed unchanged, with Texas holding No. 1, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State.
Indiana did at least pick up one first-place vote, a reminder that not every voter is ready to give up on the Hoosiers as the nation’s best team. Still, the overall message from the AP poll was clear: Alabama’s statement win got the nod over Indiana’s steady dominance.
The Coaches Poll viewed the Hoosiers a little differently, leaving them at No. 5 behind Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame and Miami.
On the field, the Rutgers game was never really in doubt. Indiana grabbed control early and never let it go, mixing sharp quarterback play with a ground game that wore down the Scarlet Knights and a defense that kept forcing bad decisions in the backfield. It was the kind of complete performance that usually plays well in the rankings, even if it didn’t this time.
For now, the Hoosiers head into next Saturday’s road game in Lincoln against Nebraska with a little extra motivation and the same spotless record. If they keep stacking wins, the rankings figure to sort themselves out eventually.
In Other News...
Curt Cignetti Revealed What Stood Out Behind Indianas Rutgers Win
Curt Cignetti had plenty to point to after Indianas 47-15 win over Rutgers, and the postgame conversation started with the defense. The Hoosiers were disruptive and steady on that side of the ball, giving the offense room to work while the running backs drew attention for their health status and the way the staff managed touches in the game. Cignetti also touched on special teams and the atmosphere around the matchup, making it clear this was one of those wins that revealed more than the final score.
Rutgers still made Indiana earn it for stretches, and Cignetti acknowledged both the Scarlet Knights competitiveness and what Greg Schiano has accomplished there. For Indiana, the larger takeaway was how the performance fit together across the board, from the defensive effort to the offensive approach and the way the team handled the games flow. There was enough encouragement in the result to carry forward, even with a few longer-term questions still worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Left Fans One Tough Choice After Rutgers Blowout
Indianas 47-15 rout of Rutgers at SHI Stadium gave the Hoosiers plenty to celebrate, but it also left fans with a familiar postgame problem: trying to sort through a long list of standout performances and decide which ones mattered most. The offense piled up big numbers and the defense kept Rutgers from ever finding its footing, which made the teams player-of-the-game conversation more crowded than usual.
Turbo Richards 204 rushing yards put him squarely in the spotlight, while Jamari Sharpes coverage work helped define the defensive side of the win. With both units making a strong case, Indiana is leaving the final call to its fans, who get to weigh in on who deserves the game ball after one of the seasons most convincing victories. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti's Early Warning About Northwestern Looks More Real Now
Curt Cignetti had Northwestern on alert before the Hoosiers ever lined up against the Wildcats, pointing to David Brauns team as one that could make life difficult with defense, turnovers and a steady ground game. At the time, it sounded like a coach making sure his team did not look past an opponent that had already shown enough toughness to deserve attention.
Now that warning looks a lot more like an accurate scouting report. Northwestern pushed Indiana hard in Week 4, then followed it with a decisive win over Penn State in Week 5, and the Wildcats are drawing a different level of respect as a result. They are suddenly looking like a team that could be climbing into the AP Top-25 conversation, which only makes Cignettis early praise feel even more pointed in hindsight. [Read more 🡒]