A Championship Week Rooting Guide for Indiana Hoosier Fans

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Starting on Friday evening the final week of college football before Bowl Season begins. The Indiana Hoosiers are idle once again as the Bucket Game was canceled. However, that does not mean that there is nothing on the line for the Hoosiers. Entering this weekend the Hoosiers sit at 11 in the College Football Playoff and have a path to a New Year’s Six bowl (Fiesta Bowl). This week could provide some road blocks or a clearer path should the right or wrong teams win.

Big Ten Championship Game: No. 14 Northwestern vs. No. 4 Ohio State 12/20, Noon on Fox

Sorry Hoosier fans, you want to root for the Buckeyes in this one. Yes, I am well aware that Peyton Ramsey is a former Hoosier, but emphasize the the word former. A Wildcat win would know Indiana out of a New Year’s Six Bowl as Northwestern would get the Big Ten’s automatic bid into the New Year’s six and one would think the committee will choose Ohio State over Indiana for an at-large spot due to a high ranking. Rooting for former Hoosiers is great and Ramsey was a warrior, but you want what’s in the best interest of the Hoosiers.

SEC Title Game: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 7 Florida, 12/20, 8pm on CBS

Roll Tide Roll. Florida is overrated anyway and a Gator win blows up the playoff hopes for a lot of teams. There is no way the committee is leaving out a one-loss Bama squad, especially since Florida only dropped one spot. So that means either the Gators get in with two losses or they leave the SEC champion out. Florida getting in would bump either Ohio State, Clemson or Notre Dame out. Not good for Indiana.

Big XII Title Game: No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Oklahoma 12/20, Noon on ABC

The loser here has three losses and would probably fall behind Indiana in the CFP rankings. Since Oklahoma is closer to falling behind IU, let’s root for the Cyclones of Iowa State. We’ll see if the committee would put a two-loss Big Twelve team in the playoff. My guess is no, but this committee has been hard to read.

PAC-12 Title Game: Oregon vs. 13. USC, 12/19, 8pm on Fox

Power Five champions get an automatic bid, so having USC win the Pac-12 title would send them to the Fiesta Bowl. There is no way a 6-0 USC team makes the playoff right? That is the only danger there for the Hoosiers. IU fans should be tuned into this one as well as this could very well be the opponent they face in the Fiesta Bowl. If Oregon wins, they would head to the Fiesta instead. USC would still be behind IU and likely not get an at-large bid.

ACC Title Game: No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Clemson, 12/20, 4pm on ABC

Both teams are likely in if Clemson wins. If Notre Dame knocks off the Tigers, they’ll probably be out. It reaffirms the loss earlier in the year and this time the Tigers have Trevor Lawrence. A Clemson loss probably sends them to the Orange Bowl. If both get in the Playoff, UNC could find their way to Miami. Just root for the first competitive ACC title game in forever.

AAC Title Game: No. 9 Cincinnati vs. No. 23 Tulsa, 12/20 8pm on ABC

It’s a long shot, but IU fans should be rooting for Tulsa. Any loss to teams ahead of IU is a good thing.

Non-Title Games to Keep an Eye On

Nebraska at Rutgers, 12/19 7:30pm on BTN

IU fans should pull for Rutgers to get the win, it would add whatever clout it’s worth to IU’s strength of schedule.

No. 5 Texas A&M at Tennessee, 12/20 Noon on ESPN

Again any loss to teams ahead of Indiana, outside of Ohio State, is a good thing. Probably won’t happen, but a loss sends A&M plummeting a bit.

Minnesota at Wisconsin, 12/20 4pm on BTN

Just like Rutgers, a win for the Badgers boosts IU’s NY6 resume.

Illinois at Penn State, 12/20 5:30pm on FS1

A Penn State win gives them four in a row after an 0-5 start. This would do wonders for how some people see IU’s win against them.