Indiana Football Postseason Projections: Where do Hoosiers stand during bye week?

After a 5-0 start with two impressive Big Ten wins, the postseason chatter has begun for Indiana football.

Will the Hoosiers repeat as a College Football Playoff team? Will they narrowly miss out? Those conversations have certainly begun, and for good reason. Indiana is +135 to make the CFP (BetMGM) while ESPN analytics gives IU a 69.1% chance to make the playoff.

Indiana looks like it might be a more talented football team compared to a year ago, but with a much tougher schedule, that may mean that IU misses out on the playoff even with all the talent on the roster. Games against Oregon in Week 7 and Penn State in Week 11 will determine whether Indiana has a solid case to be in, but it’s never too early to start looking at where the Hoosiers stand in regards to the playoff conversation.

With that, here’s a look at where several different outlets have Indiana in their college football postseason projections.

On3 – Brett McMurphy

Projection: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Tennessee (Tampa, FL on Dec. 31)

McMurphy has the Hoosiers failing to make the College Football Playoff, but making a bowl game against another team hoping that they’ll be competing in the CFP. If this matchup comes to fruition, it would be a rematch of the 2020 Gator Bowl, a game Indiana fans certainly want to forget.

On3 – Andy Staples

Projection: College Football Playoff No. 5 Seed vs. No. 12 Memphis (Bloomington, IN on Dec. 19/20)

Staples has the Hoosiers as the highest seed I’ve seen. He has Indiana as the No. 5 team in the country and matching up with the highest Group of 5 champion, Memphis. This would be the first ever meeting between the two teams, and the winner would face the No. 4 seed Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl for a CFP quarterfinal matchup.

Quick Hitters: 5 thoughts on Indiana entering its bye week

CBS Sports – Brad Crawford

Projection: College Football Playoff No. 9 Seed vs. No. 8 Texas A&M (College Station, TX on Dec. 19/20)

Crawford projects Indiana to make the CFP and play the Aggies at their home field. It would be the first ever meeting between the two programs. The winner of this one, according to Crawford, would play No. 1 seed Ohio State in a CFP quarterfinal matchup at the Rose Bowl.

ESPN – Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach

Projection: College Football Playoff No. 8 Seed vs. No. 9 Alabama (Bloomington, IN on Dec. 19/20)

Both Bonagura and Schlabach have the Hoosiers projected as the exact same seed, playing the exact same opponent, that being hosting in the first round against the Crimson Tide. Indiana and Alabama have never played each other, but the matchup wouldn’t be lacking in intrigue due to Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer’s previous stop at IU. The winner of this one would go on to face No. 1 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, according to Bonagura and Schlabach.

ESPN – Heather Dinich

Projection: College Football Playoff No. 10 Seed vs. No. 7 Florida State (Tallahassee, FL on Dec. 19/20)

Fellow ESPN analyst Dinich has the Hoosiers a bit lower, as she slotted IU at the No. 10 spot with a matchup at Florida State. The Seminoles and Hoosiers have met only once, that being in the 1986 All-American Bowl, a now defunct bowl game. According to Dinich, the winner of this first round game would go on to face No. 2 seed Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

USA Today – Matt Hayes

Projection: College Football Playoff No. 8 Seed vs. No. 9 Ole Miss (Bloomington, IN on Dec. 19/20)

Hayes has Indiana hosting a first round matchup as the No. 8 seed, as he believes the Hoosiers will welcome Ole Miss to Bloomington. The Hoosiers and Rebels have met only once, that being in the 2021 Outback Bowl, another recent bowl game that brings back sour memories. The winner of this matchup would face No. 1 Miami in the Orange Bowl, according to Hayes.

Sports Illustrated – Pat Forde

Projection: College Football Playoff No. 6 Seed vs. No. 11 Alabama (Bloomington, IN on Dec. 19/20)

Forde also has the Hoosiers battling the Crimson Tide in the first round, but he has Indiana as a higher seed, and Alabama as a lower seed to set up the matchup. If DeBoer’s return to Bloomington came to fruition, it would be a full-circle moment for both the Alabama HC and Indiana’s football program. The winner would face No. 3 seed Miami in the Orange Bowl.

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