USC vs. Indiana Football Preview: Hoosiers Face Tough Test

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Outspoken With Dan Sileo

USC-Indiana Prediction Sparks Debate Over Rankings and Scheduling

Indiana has wobbled at times this season, while USC remains difficult to evaluate. USC enters the matchup after a bye, giving the team another opportunity to prepare for a trip east.

The bigger question is Indiana. Signetti has expressed frustration with the team’s ranking, but Indiana lost to Ohio State and barely beat Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska and Northwestern. With the quarterback injured, there are also questions about whether Indiana currently has a functioning offense.

In college football, it can be difficult to know how healthy a player really is. A team can send Hoover onto the field, only for it to become clear by halftime that a quarterback change may be necessary. Given those concerns, the lean is toward USC with the points.

Indiana’s ranking complaints also raise questions about scheduling. If a team wants greater recognition, it can strengthen the beginning of its schedule. At the same time, there may be little incentive for a program such as Ohio State to play Texas out of conference if a loss could damage its ranking. Schools may instead choose easier opponents and still reach the college playoff.

A 14-team playoff could provide more breathing room, but some schools may decide that avoiding losses is all that matters. A 9-3 team from a power conference could still have a path into the field, potentially making major out-of-conference games less appealing.

Florida’s decision to cancel a home-and-home series with Notre Dame was described as embarrassing for the Gators. Indiana, however, deserves some consideration because there was a time when games against Howard, North Texas and Western Kentucky represented its best opportunities for wins.

When Signetti was asked about playing Notre Dame, he said Notre Dame would have to come to Indiana both times because it is not in the conference. Notre Dame was later placed on Indiana’s 2031 schedule, but the prediction is that Signetti will be coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers by then rather than the Hoosiers.