In the aftermath of a deflating 38-15 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti remains steadfast in his belief that his team belongs in the College Football Playoff conversation. The defeat, which dropped the fifth-ranked Hoosiers to 10-1 on the season, marked their first blemish in an otherwise historic campaign that has seen them emerge as a surprise contender in the Big Ten.
When asked pointedly if Indiana still merits consideration for one of the coveted 12 playoff spots, Cignetti bristled at the mere suggestion that their résumé might be lacking. “Is that a serious question?” he fired back, his voice dripping with defiance. “I’m not even going to answer that one. The answer’s so obvious.” The fiery coach punctuated his response with a wry smile and a knowing wink before making his exit from the postgame press conference.
Hoosiers Aim to Plead Their Case
Tuesday’s unveiling of the penultimate playoff rankings will go a long way toward revealing whether the selection committee shares Cignetti’s unwavering confidence. Even after the setback in Columbus, the Hoosiers can hang their hat on a résumé that includes double-digit victories for the first time in school history and a perfect record prior to running into the Buckeyes buzz saw.
However, skeptics will be quick to point out that Indiana has yet to secure a win over a ranked opponent, with their strength of schedule ranking a pedestrian 106th nationally entering play on Saturday. A season-ending tilt against in-state rival Purdue, owners of a dismal 1-10 record, is unlikely to sway many opinions in the Hoosiers’ favor.
Nightmare in Columbus
Against Ohio State, the Hoosiers looked every bit the part of a team unaccustomed to the bright lights of a marquee late-season matchup. After a promising opening drive that culminated in a touchdown and their first lead over the Buckeyes in five years, the wheels quickly came off for Indiana.
The Hoosiers mustered a meager 53 yards of total offense in the first half, their lowest output before intermission in over a decade. Meanwhile, Heisman Trophy contender Kurtis Rourke, who entered the day ranked second nationally in QBR, endured a forgettable afternoon under center. The normally-precise signal caller connected on just 8-of-18 passes for 68 yards while absorbing five sacks.
“We couldn’t protect the quarterback. Every time we dropped back to pass, something bad happened… it was like a nightmare.”
Curt Cignetti on Indiana’s offensive struggles against Ohio State
The Hoosiers fared no better on special teams. A mishandled snap by punter James Evans deep in Indiana territory set the table for an Ohio State touchdown just before halftime. Coming out of the break, the Buckeyes’ Caleb Downs promptly returned a punt 79 yards to the house to extend the lead to 21-7 and effectively slam the door on any hopes of a competitive affair.
Help From Afar
While licking their wounds, the Hoosiers did receive a modicum of good news from elsewhere around the country. The Florida Gators sprang a 24-17 upset over the ninth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels, all but extinguishing their flickering playoff aspirations. However, with potential multi-bid scenarios brewing in both the Big 12 and ACC, Indiana can ill afford any additional slip-ups.
Rourke, for his part, remains bullish on the Hoosiers’ postseason outlook. The Ontario native expressed his desire for a rematch with the Buckeyes “at some point” in the playoff, should the chips fall in their favor. But first, he emphasized the importance of taking care of business against Purdue in the regular season finale.
“Next week is a big game. We’ve got to go handle Purdue, and then move on take one game at a time.”
Kurtis Rourke on finishing strong and keeping playoff hopes alive
The Road Ahead
As the Hoosiers prepare for the Boilermakers and await their playoff fate, they’ll undoubtedly look back on their ill-fated trip to the Horseshoe as a missed opportunity. In Cignetti’s estimation, Ohio State’s dominance was more a reflection of his own squad’s poorest outing of the season than any glaring talent disparity.
If Indiana is able to regroup and put forth a more inspiring effort against Purdue, it could go a long way toward keeping them in the playoff picture entering conference championship weekend. But given the lack of quality wins on their résumé, the Hoosiers may be relegated to the role of spectators, left to wonder what might have been if not for one fateful November afternoon in Columbus.
For a program unaccustomed to being in the national spotlight, simply being in the playoff discussion this late in the season is a noteworthy accomplishment in and of itself. Win or lose against Purdue, the future appears bright in Bloomington with Cignetti at the helm and Rourke under center. The challenge now is to prove that this year’s ascent was no fluke, and that the Hoosiers are here to stay as a perennial contender in the rough-and-tumble Big Ten.
