Indiana football No. 12 in first College Football Playoff rankings

The first release of the College Football Playoff rankings doesn’t typically catch the eye of IU football fans.

But 2020 has been different in so many ways.

For the first time in program history, Indiana was ranked in the CFP rankings on Tuesday, coming in at No. 12.

Gary Barta, College Football Playoff Selection Committee chair, had this to say about Indiana’s game against Ohio State and his impressions of the Hoosiers.

“I look at the fact that Ohio State got off to a quick start. That doesn’t surprise me because they have so much firepower on offense,” Barta said.  “But I also would tell you it didn’t shock me that Indiana came back because Indiana is an extremely talented team. You let the whole game play out, you watch every quarter, and I’m sure Indiana feels bad they came up short, but I’m sure Ohio State — I think they gave up something like 500 or 600 yards passing.

“I don’t have it in front of me, but I’m sure that’s going to be some great coaching opportunity for Ohio State going forward.  Ohio State is a very, very good team. They lost to a very good Indiana team, and the fact that Indiana came back, maybe part of that is on Ohio State but part of that is just that Indiana is a very good team, as well.”

The Hoosiers are also ranked No. 12 in both the Associated Press (AP) Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA Today Sports. IU has been ranked for five-straight weeks by the AP for the first time since 1993.

Indiana’s lone loss on the season is to Ohio State.  The Buckeyes project to make the four team playoff if they win the rest of their games.  Could the Hoosiers join them if enough teams falter from the top?  It is a longshot, but still within the realm of what is possible.

Below are the full rankings, released by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

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