SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The debut of the expanded College Football Playoff was billed as a new era in college football, promising to crown a true champion after a rigorous and fair postseason. Yet, the inaugural event stumbled at the start, overshadowed by one glaring question: How did Indiana make it to the playoff?
Notre Dame’s 27-17 victory over Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium was less a game than a postmortem of a selection process that inexplicably gave the Hoosiers a seat at the table. This isn’t about crowning Notre Dame or speculating on their chances against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal. It’s about dissecting the colossal misjudgment that led to Indiana’s inclusion.
In the 11-year history of the College Football Playoff, there have been controversial decisions, but none as egregious as this. Indiana’s place in the playoff raised eyebrows from the moment the bracket was revealed. Their lackluster performance against Notre Dame only validated the skepticism.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti’s assertion that his team “earned the right to be here” rang hollow, particularly after two late touchdowns against Notre Dame’s second-string defense made the scoreline slightly less embarrassing. Those 90 seconds of desperation football couldn’t mask what was evident for the first 58 minutes: Indiana did not belong.
“I’m kind of glad it happened the way it did,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman remarked about the team’s late defensive lapses. “It’s a humbling moment, and it reminds us to stay sharp as we prepare for Georgia.”
The reality is that Georgia represents a far greater challenge. Even with their backup quarterback Gunner Stockton potentially under center, the SEC champions are an entirely different caliber of opponent. The disparity between Georgia and Indiana is as vast as the arms of Notre Dame’s iconic Touchdown Jesus.
The College Football Playoff selection committee has made questionable decisions in the past—Ohio State over Penn State in 2016, Notre Dame over Texas A&M in 2020. But Indiana’s inclusion surpasses those missteps. Teams like Alabama, Miami, South Carolina, or Ole Miss would have presented far more compelling cases.
Indiana’s season did not justify their selection. Their schedule—featuring a weak non-conference lineup and a Big Ten slate devoid of major victories—was hardly a proving ground. Their one significant game against Ohio State ended in a 23-point drubbing, with Indiana’s offense mustering a mere 15 points.
To understand how Indiana reached the playoff, we need to revisit the committee’s rankings. From the outset, the committee inexplicably ranked the Hoosiers ninth, despite their unremarkable schedule. This early high ranking set the stage for Indiana’s playoff bid.
Indiana’s three-game stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, and Purdue became their de facto playoff audition. After losing to Ohio State, they only needed to beat a dreadful Purdue team—whose coach was fired after the season—to secure their spot.
Their non-conference schedule was equally uninspiring: a rout of Florida International, a win over Championship Subdivision Western Illinois, and a victory against Charlotte. Two of these teams fired their coaches by season’s end, underscoring their ineptitude.
Indiana’s lack of preparation for elite competition was glaringly evident against Notre Dame. Jeremiyah Love’s record-setting 98-yard touchdown run epitomized the mismatch, as Indiana’s No. 1-ranked rush defense was exposed. The Hoosiers allowed 28 more rushing yards on that single play than their season average.
Notre Dame’s offense, while far from flawless, could have delivered a more lopsided result. Missed opportunities and conservative play-calling kept the score closer than it might have been. But even those factors couldn’t disguise the chasm between the two teams.
“Part of life is learning how to deal with disappointment,” Cignetti said after the loss. “We’ll come back stronger because of this experience.” While admirable, such sentiments don’t address the systemic issues exposed by Indiana’s playoff appearance.
This isn’t merely about Indiana; it’s about the selection process. The committee’s metrics and decision-making framework must be reevaluated. The presence of former coaches on the committee, who may overvalue certain intangibles or narratives, is a potential source of bias.
Officials from the SEC and Big Ten have already acknowledged the need for reform. Discussions at the recent Sports Business Journal Forum touched on various aspects of the playoff system, including the selection process and the necessity of a committee at all.
“It’s one season, so I don’t like to be a prisoner of the moment,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. “But it’s incumbent upon us to always assess everything.”
As the current CFP media rights deal approaches its expiration in 2025, changes are inevitable. The 2026 postseason could see a revamped format and a new approach to team selection. For now, the committee must learn from this misstep.
Indiana’s inclusion in the playoff serves as a cautionary tale. The playoff system—designed to showcase the best of college football—must prioritize merit and competition. While upsets and Cinderella stories are part of sports’ charm, the playoff’s integrity hinges on ensuring that participating teams are genuinely deserving.
Notre Dame’s victory and subsequent focus on Georgia highlight the stakes of the postseason. Teams like Georgia, with their depth and dominance, set the standard. Indiana’s performance underscores the gap between that standard and the lower threshold mistakenly accepted this year.
The offseason presents an opportunity for the “keepers of this magnificent sport” to address the flaws exposed by Indiana’s playoff run. From recalibrating the selection metrics to reevaluating the committee’s composition, significant changes are needed to prevent a repeat of this year’s mistakes.
Indiana’s story is unlikely to be forgotten. For the players and coaches, it’s a chapter in their journey. For the College Football Playoff, it’s a glaring reminder of the stakes involved in getting it right. As the sport evolves, ensuring a fair and competitive postseason will remain paramount.
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.
