It’s time to respect Indiana as a true College Football Playoff contender after the Hoosiers’ win over Nebraska

It’s time for your kids to sit down and have a serious conversation with them about the No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers being a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. No, I didn’t say the NCAA Tournament. Indiana could return there in March after missing last season, but for once it’s mid-October and the minds of Hoosier fans across the country aren’t on the upcoming basketball season.

They’re on the Peppermint Juggernaut, racing through the Big Ten on the football field.

Saturday’s game against Nebraska should be the first real test for the Hoosiers after a 6-0 start. It turns out that some tests are easier than expected; The Hoosiers defeated the Cornhuskers 56-7, just as they defeated everyone else in the “easy” portion of their schedule. It was a performance that reminded us that it’s never so much about who you play, but how you play.

And because Indiana has played through seven games, this team is in the conversation for a spot in the College Football Playoff and not in the “Oh, wouldn’t it be great if Indiana kept winning?” kind of way. In fact, the conversation should not be limited to as large a location as possible.

The way things are going, Indiana could be in Indianapolis a few hours before the Big Ten Championship Game.

Saturday’s win against Nebraska moves the Hoosiers to 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Big Ten. Looking at the rest of the schedule gives the impression that Indiana won’t lose many games. Not because the schedule is easy, but because the Hoosiers are legitimately better than most of the remaining teams.

Indiana’s potential CFP future

Aside from a road game against Ohio State on November 23rd, the Hoosiers are expected to be the favorite in their remaining five games. Yes, even against Michigan.

If the Hoosiers win each of the games in which they are favored, they will be 11-1 and 8-1 in the Big Ten. Depending on how things pan out elsewhere, that could be good enough to get them to Indianapolis. Of course, if they lose to Ohio State, the Buckeyes would have to lose another game or else Ohio State would have the tiebreaker.

Regardless of the possible permutations, this is also a team that could clinch an at-large berth if they don’t reach the Big Ten title. If Indiana finishes 11-1, suffers its only loss on the road to Ohio State and is eliminated from the Big Ten title game, that would be a close call for an overall berth. If it gets to Indianapolis and loses again to Ohio State, Oregon or Penn State, it would be a 10-2 team with two prominent losses.

The only downside for the team would be the lack of a “signature win.” You know, that’s what people say about teams you wouldn’t expect to be there.

Of course, there’s still a lot to play for before the final College Football Playoff rankings are released in December. But the fact that we can talk about Indiana football like this and not have it be pure fanfiction is a testament to the work that Curt Cignetti and his players have done this season.

Basketball season can wait a few more months.