Curt Cignetti’s schedule critics won’t have much to yap about soon.
The new 24-team College Football Playoff has IU on the hunt for a Power 4 nonconference opponent for next season, the Athletic is reporting.
IU AD Scott Dolson told Scott Dochterman “we are already in talks” to find a new nonconference opponent from the Power 4 ranks for the 2027 season.
Indiana’s current 2027 nonconference schedule includes Jacksonville State (Aug. 28), Kennesaw State (Sept. 4) and Indiana State (Sept. 11).
The new CFP format is a near certainty at this point, and the 24-team approach — an initiative led by Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti — carries with it the requirement that every Big Ten team play at least one nonconference game against a Power 4 opponent. For Indiana, that would mean a team from the SEC, ACC, Big 12 or Notre Dame.
IU has not played a Power 4 nonconference game since the Hoosiers faced Louisville at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2023. Indiana previously had Virginia on the 2027 schedule but opted out of that arrangement.
IU is one of four Big Ten teams looking to add a Power 4 opponent next year, along with Nebraska, Oregon and USC. There are a total of 68 Power 4 teams when including Notre Dame, so ostensibly every school should have a match. But the Athletic’s report indicates some exceptions are being made (e.g. Washington State is being deemed a Power 4 game for Washington by the Big Ten) which could complicate things.
The other Power 4 leagues already have the Power 4 nonconference game requirement, meaning most Power 4 programs are unavailable in 2027.
So who might the Hoosiers add for next season?
Some non-Big Ten Power 4 schools without a Power 4 nonconference opponent in 2027 appear to be Arizona, Kansas, TCU and Texas Tech.
Boston College and Georgia Tech are two teams that have multiple Power 4 nonconference games scheduled and could look to offload opponents. Teams such as Cincinnati and Tennessee appear likely to free up in that scenario.
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