After improving to 11-0 for the first time ever with a 31-7 win over Wisconsin on Nov. 15, Indiana football remains ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings, the committee announced Tuesday night on ESPN. Ohio State is still ranked No. 1, while Texas A&M and Georgia round out the first-round byes at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
Indiana is in the midst of another historic season under head coach Curt Cignetti. After taking the Hoosiers to their first CFP appearance and an 11-win season in 2024, Cignetti has led Indiana to historic wins over then-No. 9 Illinois, then-No. 3 Oregon and the program’s first-ever win at Penn State. The Hoosiers are on their second bye week and they will conclude the regular season with the Old Oaken Bucket Game at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 at Purdue.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza leads the nation in passing touchdowns (30), total touchdowns (35) and adjusted yards per pass attempt (10.85). He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after going 22-for-24 through the air, throwing for 299 yards and four touchdowns against Wisconsin. Mendoza broke Kurtis Rourke’s single-season passing touchdown record with his 30th TD pass of the season and currently sits alongside Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.
The Hoosiers have a host of players and coaches in the running for postseason honors. Wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. are tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 touchdown catches, and both are finalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
Indiana’s offensive line is a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. Tight end Riley Nowakowski is a Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist, linebacker Aiden Fisher is a Bednarik Award semifinalist, defensive back D’Angelo Ponds is a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, kicker Nico Radicic is a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines is expected to be a Broyles Award finalist, among a host of others.
Indiana and Ohio State are on a collision course to meet in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 6 in Indianapolis, provided Indiana beats Purdue and Ohio State beats Rutgers and Michigan to close the regular season. The CFP Selection Show is set for 12 p.m. on Dec. 7 and it will be broadcast on ESPN.
