While seldom discussed, many fans see college football as a one-month season. When you’re a fan of a team that isn’t typically competing for conference titles, crossing your fingers until the circulation’s cut off and hoping to get to a bowl game, the year often ends before September does.
If you look around the Big Ten right now, there are nine undefeated teams remaining and five off to 3-0 starts. Of those nine, six are ranked in the current AP Top 25. Then there’s one who isn’t. It’s one of those schools where fans have grown accustomed to looking at football as something to do until basketball starts, but this year, the basketball team may have to wait a little longer for attention.
Dear reader, the voters of the major polls may not have noticed yet, but the Indiana Hoosiers are good. Good enough that I’d argue they should be in the polls ahead of two Big Ten teams currently ranked, and one of those teams is Michigan. The other is Illinois.
That’s not a shot at either of those teams, but the fact of the matter is if you’re ranking either of them right now, you should have Indiana on your ballot, too, and ahead of both. Michigan has wins against Fresno State and Arkansas State, as well as a blowout home loss to Texas. Illinois’ win against Kansas looked much better before the Jayhawks followed it up with another loss to UNLV.
Looking at Indiana’s resume, there isn’t a great win. Saturday night’s dominant 42-13 road win over UCLA should serve as a warning to the rest of the Big Ten that this team is not to be overlooked; however, beating the Bruins doesn’t move the needle nationally, nor will wins against FIU and Western Illinois. Still, the keyword in the description of Indiana’s win is “dominant.”
I’ve long argued who you play isn’t…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/b1g-time-indianas-dominance-amid-3-0-start-should-not-be-overlooked-thoughts-on-michigans-qb-change/
Author : Tom Fornelli
Publish date : 2024-09-17 15:04:21
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