Indiana football entered its bye week ranked No. 4 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings after putting together a 8-1 start to the season. However, the Hoosiers experienced a five-spot drop to No. 9 in the second rankings released Tuesday, despite not taking the field during Week 10. CFP selection committee chair Hunter Yurachek also believes Indiana became a “victim of having a bye week” at an unfavorable point in the season.
While addressing the Hoosiers' position, Yurachek indicated that Indiana found itself in an unfortunate situation because it had no opportunity to strengthen its resume while several teams around it made significant statements with their performances.
“Hunter Yurachek says Indiana was “a victim of having a bye week at the wrong time” bc of so many teams right around them getting big wins (UCLA, ND), and also notes that all 6 of the Big Ten teams they've played lost over the weekend,” Stewart Mandel of The Athletic reported.
Indiana's only loss this season came against Ohio State. However, the Buckeyes also fell from No. 12 to No. 20 in the rankings after suffering a 41-28 loss to Oregon. That result also damaged the value of what had been one of the most significant games on Indiana's schedule.
Furthermore, several teams Indiana had previously beaten also suffered losses over the weekend. Those results weakened the value of Indiana's earlier victories and gave the selection committee fewer reasons to maintain its previous evaluation of the team's resume.
Article Continues BelowHowever, Curt Cignetti's team still remains firmly in contention for a College Football Playoff appearance. Indiana's next test will come against USC before the Hoosiers travel to take on Washington. They will then close out their regular season at home against rival Purdue.
With those three games ahead, Indiana still has an opportunity to improve its standing.