Urban Meyer didn’t need long to zero in on the most eyebrow-raising part of the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
On The Triple Option podcast, the former Florida and Ohio State coach reacted to Indiana falling from No. 4 to No. 9 in the Week 2 CFP Rankings, even though the Hoosiers didn’t play in week 10. Rob Stone pointed out the five-spot drop, and Meyer immediately questioned how the committee handled the earlier placement.
“Wonder what that looked like in the Committee room, saying, 'Holy Cow, did we screw that one up! I wonder if anybody will notice this.
A team didn't play and we're going to drop them five spots because we made a mistake.' I guess that's good.”
Meyer’s point was simple: Indiana at No. 4 looked like a bad call, and the committee’s latest update seemed to acknowledge it. The Hoosiers’ résumé has become one of the more debated ones in the playoff picture.
This year’s Indiana profile doesn’t have the kind of punch that turns heads. The Hoosiers have squeezed out one-score wins over Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan and Minnesota, and none of those teams are in the Playoff conversation.
Their loss came against Ohio State, a team that now has three losses and appears to be out of the race itself. Indiana still has USC on the schedule this week, but after that, the regular season doesn’t offer another chance to collect a victory that would really change the committee’s view.
The numbers back up the skepticism. ESPN’s metrics have Indiana’s strength of schedule at 42th and its remaining strength of schedule at 48th. That’s part of why the original No. 4 placement drew so much attention in the first place.
The biggest movers in the Week 2 rankings were Notre Dame and UCLA. Notre Dame’s win over Miami has all but locked up a Playoff spot, while UCLA’s 9-0 start pushed it into position to replace Ohio State or Oregon as the most likely Big Ten team to join Indiana in the field. The Big 12, meanwhile, could wind up passing the Big Ten for the second-most Playoff bids behind the SEC.
In Other News...
Indiana Gets One Encouraging Sign Before Must Win USC Matchup
Indiana at least got one bit of positive injury news heading into a must-win matchup with USC, with quarterback Josh Hoover expected to be available after being left off the initial injury report. Coach Curt Cignetti still has not named a starter, but he said Hoover will be in uniform if he stays clear of the report, giving the Hoosiers some stability at the most important position as they try to keep their season on track.
The rest of the availability picture is less reassuring. Leading rusher Turbo Richard and defensive end Kellan Wyatt have already been ruled out, while cornerback A.J. Harris and linebacker Rolijah Hardy are listed as questionable, leaving Indiana with several key spots still unsettled. Even with Hoover trending in the right direction, the Hoosiers are heading into a game where every healthy body matters, and the final lineup could shape how much room they have to compete with USC. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Quarterback Uncertainty Just Got Bigger Before USC
Indianas quarterback situation got a little murkier this week as Curt Cignetti sorted through a room already under scrutiny ahead of USC. Grant Wilson missed practice because of the flu, while Josh Hoover was held out for injury recovery, leaving the Hoosiers to lean more heavily on backup Jacob Bell, who drew praise from Cignetti for the way he handled his work on the field.
The timing is less than ideal with USC looming, especially with Cignetti already pointing to the Trojans offense and defense as a major test. Indiana also has some cleanup to do in other areas, including special teams, which adds another layer to a week that was already going to be about finding answers before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
USC Defender Just Made Indianas Offensive Threat Impossible To Ignore
Chasen Johnson has been one of the steadier pieces in USCs secondary this season, getting on the stat sheet with tackles, pass breakups and a fumble recovery through eight games. Now the redshirt sophomore cornerback is part of the group tasked with slowing down a No. 9 Indiana team that has made life difficult for opponents with a balanced offense, two top wide receivers and a running game that can punish mistakes.
Johnson said the Trojans have leaned on preparation and camaraderie as they try to steady themselves after recent losses, and he pointed to the support he has received from the cornerbacks coach as part of his growth. For USC, the challenge is obvious: Indianas offensive threats are hard to ignore, and the Trojans will need their young defender to keep building on the progress he has already shown. [Read more 🡒]