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Indiana football remains at No. 2 in 2025 College Football Playoff rankings
The College Football Playoff selection committee’s second set of rankings for the 2025 season dropped Tuesday night, and in a move that felt both expected and momentous, the Indiana Hoosiers held firm at the No. 2 spot, a position they also occupy in both the AP and Coaches’ polls.This isn't just a ranking; it's a testament to a program operating with the ruthless efficiency of a Nick Saban-era Alabama team, a comparison that would have been unthinkable just two seasons ago. The Hoosiers are fresh off a character-defining 27-24 road victory against a traditionally bruising Penn State squad, a win sealed not by a conservative field goal but by an improbable, go-ahead touchdown reception from Omar Cooper in the game's dying moments—a play that will be replayed in Bloomington for decades, the kind of clutch performance that separates good teams from legendary ones.This victory, coupled with decisive earlier wins over fellow ranked powerhouses No. 8 Oregon and No.21 Iowa, has solidified Indiana’s resume in a way that pure analytics love; they are beating quality opponents, not just padding their record against weaker conference foes. The broader Big Ten landscape further validates their standing, with No.17 USC and No. 18 Michigan also in the mix, creating a gauntlet that makes Indiana’s perfect 10-0 start all the more impressive.This marks the second consecutive year the Hoosiers have opened with ten wins, building directly on their breakout 11-1 campaign in 2024 that culminated in a historic bid in the inaugural 12-team playoff format. That 2024 season was the debut of head coach Curt Cignetti, whose transformative impact has been so profound and immediate that the university swiftly rewarded him with a new, confidence-inspiring eight-year contract, a signal of long-term commitment rarely seen in the volatile world of college football.Yet, for all this success, the betting markets at FanDuel Sportsbook tell a slightly more cautious tale, listing Indiana at +550 to win the national championship, odds that have actually lengthened from the previous week. This divergence between committee respect and market skepticism is a fascinating subplot, perhaps hinting at underlying concerns about their remaining schedule or the sheer difficulty of navigating a potential playoff matchup against an offensive juggernaut like the current No.1. The path forward is clear and immediate: the Hoosiers return to the hallowed ground of Memorial Stadium this Saturday to host a always-physical Wisconsin team.This isn't just another game; it's the next critical data point in a season where every snap is analyzed under the microscope of playoff contention. The narrative surrounding Indiana football has irrevocably shifted from a plucky underdog to a legitimate national titan, and how they handle this pressure—this target on their back—will be the ultimate test of whether Cignetti’s system can produce not just a great season, but a dynasty in the making.
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