5. Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are a legitimate threat to make the College Football Playoff. It’s not a fluke, and it’s not a misprint. Indiana is now 8-0 and still have not surrendered a single point in the first quarter or trailed for a second of any game. It is fair to ask: “Who have they beaten?” The answer would be, “No one particularly great.” That written, UCLA just beat Rutgers, and IU walloped them on the road; Maryland just beat USC, and IU handled them 42-28. They won at Northwestern 41-24, obliterated Nebraska 56-7 right before the Huskers nearly stunned Ohio State, and then beat Washington 31-17 with their backup quarterback. IU plays Michigan State on the road and then hosts Michigan, and Kurtis Rourke's status is unknown. The Hoosiers play at Ohio State on November 23. If Indiana goes 11-1 and then misses out on the Big Ten Championship Game to a combination of Oregon, Ohio State, or Penn State, they would almost certainly make the College Football Playoff. Is there enough “meat on the bone” for the Hoosiers to make the field at 10-2? Probably not. Their odds jumped from +200 to +100 with the win over Washington.
2024 College Football Playoff Odds: Indiana (+100)
