Indiana Loses a Game, Not Its Respect: Sunday’s Polls Challenge the Narrative

By Coach Griff | October 18, 2026

For much of this college football season, the narrative surrounding Indiana has been familiar. The Hoosiers haven’t played anybody. Their schedule isn’t difficult enough. Their winning streak is impressive, but what happens when they face one of college football’s traditional powers?

Well, Saturday afternoon, Indiana faced one.

And although the Hoosiers came up four points short against Ohio State, Sunday’s release of the Associated Press Top 25 and US LBM Coaches Poll tells us something important.

The voters apparently saw a legitimate national contender, not an overrated football team finally exposed.

Indiana fell just one position in the AP Poll, from No. 5 to No. 6, and two spots in the Coaches Poll, from No. 4 to No. 6, following its 19–15 loss to Ohio State.

Considering the criticism directed at Indiana’s schedule, the SEC-centric arguments that have dominated portions of the national conversation, and the historical perception of the Indiana football program, those results deserve attention.

In fact, I would argue the Hoosiers received a more favorable evaluation than many expected. And there is a reason for that.

The Scoreboard Matters, But So Does the Performance

Let’s establish something immediately: Indiana lost the football game. There are no moral victories in Curt Cignetti’s program, and there shouldn’t be. The Hoosiers had opportunities to beat Ohio State and failed to capitalize.

Two lost fumbles, two missed field goals, an ineffective rushing attack, and missed opportunities in the passing game contributed to the defeat.

But when evaluating a football team, especially for a national ranking, the final score cannot be the only consideration.

Indiana outgained Ohio State 369–313, limited the Buckeyes to 78 rushing yards, recorded four sacks, and created two turnovers.

The Hoosiers also had a final opportunity to win the game, with a potential touchdown pass to Nick Marsh falling incomplete when he could not get a foot down inbounds.

That does not erase the loss. What it does demonstrate is that Indiana was capable of competing physically and schematically with one of the nation’s most talented football programs.

For those who questioned whether Indiana belonged on the same field as Ohio State, Saturday provided a fairly convincing answer.

The SEC Narrative Meets an Inconvenient Saturday

One of my longstanding criticisms of the national rankings has been the tendency to evaluate certain programs through the lens of conference reputation rather than consistently applying the same standards to everyone.

The SEC has earned considerable respect through decades of national championships, outstanding coaching, and exceptional player development. That history is real.

But historical success should not automatically translate into a competitive advantage in the current rankings.

Saturday provided several reminders that conference affiliation and preseason expectations do not guarantee results.

Previously unbeaten, No. 1 Georgia lost at home to unranked Auburn, 27–24. No. 6 Alabama lost at Tennessee, 26–10. No. 7 Texas lost at home to Florida, 27–24. Meanwhile, Indiana lost by four points to a top-five Ohio State team.

These are not identical circumstances, and they should not be evaluated as though they are. Opponent quality, location, execution, and season-long résumé all matter.

But the contrast raises a legitimate question.

Why should a close loss to a highly ranked opponent automatically diminish Indiana’s credibility more than an upset loss should diminish the credibility of a traditional power?

Sunday’s poll results suggest that, at least this week, the voters did not make that mistake.

Indiana’s Ranking Reflects More Than One Saturday

Another important consideration is that Indiana entered the Ohio State game riding a 22-game winning streak. That streak is now over, but the body of work that produced it does not suddenly disappear.

Under Curt Cignetti, Indiana has established a standard built on preparation, discipline, physical football, and consistent production.

The Hoosiers had already demonstrated the ability to win difficult games, including their fourth-quarter comeback on the road at Nebraska. Against Ohio State, they demonstrated that they could compete with a roster widely regarded as one of the country’s most talented.

The next step is not proving that Indiana belongs in the conversation. The next step is demonstrating that Indiana can consistently finish these games against elite competition. That distinction matters.

There Is Still a Fair Criticism of Indiana

We should not dismiss every question about Indiana’s résumé as media bias.

Strength of schedule matters. Quality wins matter. And Indiana has not yet defeated a team of Ohio State’s caliber this season.

The Hoosiers also have legitimate offensive concerns. Against Nebraska and Ohio State, Indiana struggled to establish a consistent rushing attack. The offense has been too predictable at times, particularly between the tackles, and the passing game has left opportunities on the field.

Those are football concerns, not manufactured narratives. If Indiana wants to remain among the nation’s best teams, those issues must be addressed.

But there is an enormous difference between identifying deficiencies in a good football team and arguing that the team was never deserving of its ranking.

Saturday’s performance supports the former argument far more than the latter.

The Big Ten Has Something to Say About Conference Strength

Indiana’s position in the rankings is also part of a larger conversation about the Big Ten.

Ohio State climbed to No. 3 in the AP Poll and No. 2 in the Coaches Poll. Indiana remains sixth in both.

UCLA moved into the AP Top 10, while Iowa, USC, and Northwestern also remained ranked.

That is meaningful representation from a conference that has frequently been measured against the SEC using assumptions about overall strength.

The SEC still placed nine teams in the AP Top 25, more than any other conference. Its depth should be acknowledged.

But conference strength should be evaluated through performance, not simply through the number of familiar brands occupying the rankings. The Big Ten has earned the right to be part of that discussion.

Perception Is Beginning to Follow Reality

In my earlier column, When Perception Becomes Reality, I questioned whether the AP Poll was applying consistent standards across conferences and programs. I still believe those questions are worth asking.

But intellectual honesty requires acknowledging when the voters get something right.

Indiana’s movement this week was reasonable. A narrow loss to an elite opponent should carry consequences, but it should not automatically erase the credibility a team has established over an entire season.

The AP voters moved Indiana down one spot. The coaches moved the Hoosiers down two. That is hardly the collapse some might have anticipated.

Perhaps the most significant development is that Indiana is increasingly being evaluated as a nationally relevant football program rather than as an interesting story that will eventually fade away. That represents meaningful progress.

Coach Griff’s Final Word

The Indiana football program does not need anyone to apologize for Saturday’s loss.

The Hoosiers had their opportunities and did not make enough plays to win. That is the standard Curt Cignetti has established, and it is the standard this program should maintain.

But I also refuse to accept the suggestion that Indiana’s performance against Ohio State somehow validated every criticism about its schedule, its roster, or its place in the national conversation.

The Hoosiers went toe-to-toe with one of college football’s premier programs. They competed. They made mistakes. They lost.

And on Sunday, the national voters recognized that one loss did not erase the quality of the football team they had been watching.

Now comes the most important part. Indiana must respond.

Because the greatest answer to a national narrative is not an argument, a television debate, or a poll position.

It is what you put on film the following Saturday.

Fast. Physical. Relentless.

Coach Griff — Hoosier Football Tailgate | Former College Football Coach | NCAA Division III National Ranking Committee Experience