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Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich identify Ohio State game as Indiana's College Football Playoff litmus test

On3 imageby: Dan Morrison11/06/24dan_morrison96
Curt Cignetti, Indiana. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Curt Cignetti, Indiana. Ryan Day, Ohio State - © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images, © Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Indiana Hoosiers are one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten. Despite this, the Hoosiers found themselves eighth in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, behind multiple Big Ten teams with a loss. That was, largely, thanks to Indiana’s relatively weak strength of schedule.

Thanks to that, Indiana’s upcoming game against the Ohio State Buckeyes has become incredibly important for the Hoosiers, with analysts Heather Dinich and Paul Finebaum identifying that game as a litmus test for making it to the College Football Playoff.

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“I had them a little bit lower [than eighth] because their strength of schedule is 103rd in the country,” Dinich said on Get Up. “But because of where they are I still think that when they play Ohio State, this has to be a good game because how you play matters. Even if you lose, pointing back to that Ohio State-Oregon game, but if Indiana loses and they have one loss, because they’re right there, I think that’s a good debate in the committee meeting room.”

The Indiana Hoosiers are currently sitting at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. With that, they’re tied for first with the Oregon Ducks in the Big Ten. However, while both teams have been impressive this season, the Ducks have a win over Ohio State and the Hoosiers haven’t played the Buckeyes yet.

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Indiana does have the opportunity to change that, of course. The Hoosiers and Buckeyes are set to play later in November, which will likely end up being Indiana’s only game against a CFP selection committee-ranked team.

“They were treated very well and as far as Indiana,” Finebaum said. “I don’t want to be a hater — well, maybe I do — but the point being, Indiana just really hasn’t played anyone in the non-conference. They’ve beaten some teams very convincingly and I think that’s why they’re so high, but this Ohio State game to me is going to reveal everything. If they get blown out, I think we out to have a serious conversation about if they belong in this Playoff.”

The game between Indiana and Ohio State will likely also have implications for the Big Ten Championship Game. Oregon already has the tiebreaker over Ohio State while Ohio State has the tiebreaker over Penn State. So, getting a tiebreaker over one another could send either the Buckeyes or the Hoosiers to the championship.

Indiana has also been dominant all season long. The Hoosiers are averaging 46.6 points per game while only giving up an average of 13.7 points per game. Indiana didn’t even trail until the first quarter of their game last week against Michigan State.