Why is one-loss Indiana No. 4 in the first College Football Playoff rankings release of 2026, while one-loss Notre Dame is No. 11?
CFP Selection Committee Chair Hunter Yurachek was asked that very question on Tuesday evening after the rankings reveal.
Yurachek said live on ESPN that Notre Dame lacked a signature win compared to the teams ahead of it in the rankings. Later on a teleconference with the media, he was asked to expand on that comment, specifically as it relates to IU.
“Yeah, I think comparatively Indiana has five, six games against teams that are .500 and above, and they’re 5-1 in those games,” Yurachek said. “Notre Dame has two games against teams that are .500 and above. They’ve won one of those games and lost the other one of those games.
“I think Notre Dame’s overall body of work is against a strength of schedule that’s not as strong as Indiana’s. Again, Notre Dame has a great opportunity in front of them at home against the No. 1 team in our CFP ranking this weekend to get that signature win.”
Based on ESPN’s FPI strength of schedule rankings, Indiana has played the 31st most difficult slate, while Notre Dame comes in at No. 55. Notre Dame’s lone win against a team .500 or above is its season opener against Wisconsin. The Irish appear to need to win this weekend against No. 1 Miami to make the CFP.
FPI’s strength of record metric, which reflects the chance that an average Top 25 team would have a team’s record or better, given the schedule, says IU is No. 4 and Notre Dame is No. 13.
Indiana (8-1) plays CFP No. 20 USC on Nov. 14, and then two unranked teams — Washington and Purdue. A second loss during the regular season would likely put the Hoosiers in jeopardy of missing the CFP.
The CFP selection committee will announce new rankings each week through Dec. 6.
Go here for the full CFP rankings:
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- You can follow us on X: @daily_hoosier and find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
