The bye week for Indiana football comes at the perfect time. The Hoosiers are banged up after going 8-1 in their first nine games and sit at fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings. On top of that, Saturday is one of the best slates of games in the last few seasons. Here are the games Indiana fans need to keep an eye on and who they should be rooting for.
There is plenty at stake even though Indiana will not be taking the field this weekend. There are a couple games with Big Ten title implications and a few CFP defacto elimination games.
Friday Night Game
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Illinois Fighting Illini
TV: FOX
Time: 8 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
One of the biggest data points for Indiana to be ranked fourth in the CFP rankings was its 5-1 record against teams over .500. Nebraska is 0-3 since starting 5-0 and a win over Illinois will clinch a bowl berth for the Huskers and keep them as a quality win for the Hoosiers.
Early Saturday Games
No. 9 BYU Cougars at No. 3 Utah Utes
TV: ABC
Time: 12 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
The Big XII is fighting to be a multi-bid league in 2026 and depending how this one goes, it could hinder those hopes. Utah is undefeated and looking for a signature win. BYU has a win over Notre Dame, but followed that up with a loss at UCF. If Utah wins it may end BYU’s playoff and Big XII title hopes. A BYU win will likely set up a rematch in the Big XII title game where the loser could still get a bid.
No. 8 UCLA at Minnesota
TV: FOX
Time: 12 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
One of the results Indiana needs to get back to the Big Ten title game is for UCLA to take their first loss. After the Hoosiers went to overtime against Minnesota last week, it would help the Gophers get their fourth ranked win of the season by taking down the Bruins.
Mid-Afternoon Saturday Games
No. 23 Oregon at No. 12 Ohio State
TV: CBS
Time: 3:30 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
The Buckeyes took their second loss, the first in conference play, last week at USC. The shine has diminished in this game as both teams are without their starting quarterback and have multiple losses. Ohio State holds the tiebreaker with Indiana, so a Buckeye loss would do wonders.
No. 5 Alabama at No. 14 LSU
TV: ABC
Time: 3:30 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
It’s a battle of two-loss SEC teams. An Alabama win may knock LSU down too far to be a three-loss playoff team. Plus, it’d be fun to see Lane Kiffin lose.
Saturday Night Games
No. 6 Kentucky at No. 13 Tennessee
TV: ESPN
Time: 6:15 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
Does Kentucky have the resume to absorb their second loss. Tennesee needs this win to get back into the top 12. This could be a game that would be used to compare a two-loss Indiana if that scenario pops up.
No. 1 Miami at No. 11 Notre Dame
TV: NBC
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
This is an elimination game for Notre Dame. A loss would give the Irish its second loss of the season and they’d fall to 0-2 in their two biggest games. The game is in South Bend and Miami may be without Malichi Toney, so Notre Dame has even more of an advantage.
No. 19 Iowa at Northwestern
TV: FOX
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Why IU Fans Should Watch?
The win over Northwestern is one of IU’s biggest data points. The Wildcats did lose at Oregon last week and fell out of the top 25. Northwestern will be without standout quarterback Aiden Chiles. Iowa is a dark horse for the Big Ten title as well. They do have two conference losses and a third would knock them out of the race, same goes for Northwestern.
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