Take out the Bruins tonight please
My first thought was yes. But does it help Indiana to have Illinois upset them? UCLA losing really doesn't impact whether or not we make the conference championship game. With so many 2 loss teams, we are very likely needing to win out regardless and if we do, we are guaranteed to be in. Plus, I would prefer we face an undefeated top 4 (likely top 3) UCLA in the conference championship game. Mainly because if we lose that game, it wouldn't likely knock us out of the CFP. However, if we end up facing a 3-loss team instead (OSU/Oregon), it's possible that could become a play-in game.
Am I thinking this right? I'll hang up and listen.
*****Disclaimer, I put as much time thinking about it as it took type this. So do with this info what you will....
I would have thought making the title game and playing UCLA we would want them undefeated.
But for a path to get to the title game with two losses, there's probably a bunch of tiebreakers where common opponent record matters. So I suppose maybe we want UCLA to lose, but I can't see it. Other than preserving Cig's first season as the finest turnaround. Unless they lose twice, which would have to include the Illini most likely.
Be interesting to see how much UCLA offers Chesney... Going to be Cig-like. I'm betting at least 11.5 next year, maybe higher. Matt Rhule makes almost 12... Cig 13.2 and going up every year.
Of all the potential B10 title game matchups, I like IU vs an undefeated UCLA the best. So I'll be cheering for UCLA, I suppose. In the end though, really only care that we win out, and get there ourselves. Too much math to try to figure out how IU makes the B10 title game with another loss.
Of all the potential B10 title game matchups, I like IU vs an undefeated UCLA the best. So I'll be cheering for UCLA, I suppose. In the end though, really only care that we win out, and get there ourselves. Too much math to try to figure out how IU makes the B10 title game with another loss.
Yeah, if we assume we lose one more, there is a LOT of scenarios, even when only comparing us to UCLA. We would need them to lose 2 games out of their remaining 3 for us gain an advantage on them in a tie breaker scenario. Illinois is not a common opponent so that loss doesn't impact the main tiebreaker as much as them losing their last 2 games because we play both of those teams. However, a loss to Illinois would put them one loss away vs either Michigan or USC (assuming we beat USC), from giving IU the tiebreaker advantage for record vs. common opponent.
Even if we were ahead of UCLA with 2 losses, we are behind Ohio State, Oregon and possibly others, depending upon what game we would lose and obviously how other teams fare the rest of the way. I like where Indiana is at with its remaining schedule. If ULCA wins out and we win out, it should be a top 6 or 7 matchup. The winner of that game will be getting a bye and I think we could beat UCLA.
All that matters right now is winning tomorrow! That’s it! Every other scenario can wait another week.
All that matters right now is winning tomorrow! That’s it! Every other scenario can wait another week.
ha Those comments are exhausting! Of course, we have to win but using that logic, why even be on a forum today? We aren't the players so we can focus on all kinds of things as fans.
I think the OP intent here is to add interest to a random Friday night's game. Why not add intrigue to a slate of games some may not even know are on? Live a little! vbg
Take out the Bruins tonight please
Disagree. Would love to see a Big Ten team (UCLA) make it through the regular season undefeated and then lose to us in the B1G championship game.
There aren't many plausible scenarios that guarantee the conference two teams in the field of 12. That's one of them. But, first, we need to get through November clean.
@yothn I think if we start getting good QB play, we're the best team in the country, and will win our next 4 games, potentially easily in all of them. If we don't, beating USC at home tomorrow might not happen, let alone UCLA on a neutral field.
But... no matter what IU does, I think I want UCLA undefeated heading in to the B10 championship. Its just a better story, and its a positive story involving the B10, or should be.
This game really has no impact on IU other than who they may play in the BTCFG. I would root for Nebraska this week to not lose to Rutgers. Michigan over Oregon (yeah, right) and Washington to beat Michigan State. I do not think it really matters who wins between Northwestern and Ohio State.
Thank you for reading Hoosier Huddle
Don't buy it. I'm rooting for anyone ahead of us to lose. Not taking any chances. Hopefully they lose to Illinois and USC. And then it's a no issue. That's how I'll be cheering ... it's a lot less messy if we win out and all others ranked ahead of us lose one or two more .. that's unlikely that every team ahead of us does that for sure but that's how my allegiances will lie each of the next 4 weeks. Lose , lose some more and then lose again.
@hoosiers94 if they do we will not face them in Indy, it'll be Oregon or OSU again. Root for whatever makes you happy, but I am fine with UCLA beating illinois tonight
Thank you for reading Hoosier Huddle
I do not think it really matters who wins between Northwestern and Ohio State.
When it comes to tiebreakers, I imagine we would rather have OSU lose to Northwestern because that would give OSU 3 losses.
Here's the thing. We know in order to get an automatic bye, we need to make the B1G title game. I feel pretty confident if we go 3-0, we will be in the CFP. However, we do still have a shot at going to the CFP even if we are 2-1, but naturally that would mean we need to make the B1G title game and of course win it. Our only chance of doing that is by overcoming tie-breaker scenarios and OSU is clearly ahead of us.
UCLA over Illinois (eliminates Illinois)
Michigan over Oregon (eliminates Oregon)
Northwestern over OSU (eliminates OSU)
Purdue over Iowa (eliminates Iowa)
Maryland over Wisconsin (eliminates Wisconsin)
Indiana over USC (eliminates USC)
If all of those happen, IU could afford to lose one of the last 2 games and still would be in the B1G title game.
@hoosiers94 if they do we will not face them in Indy, it'll be Oregon or OSU again. Root for whatever makes you happy, but I am fine with UCLA beating illinois tonight
right. Really don't care who we play in Indy.
I do not think it really matters who wins between Northwestern and Ohio State.
When it comes to tiebreakers, I imagine we would rather have OSU lose to Northwestern because that would give OSU 3 losses.
Here's the thing. We know in order to get an automatic bye, we need to make the B1G title game. I feel pretty confident if we go 3-0, we will be in the CFP. However, we do still have a shot at going to the CFP even if we are 2-1, but naturally that would mean we need to make the B1G title game and of course win it. Our only chance of doing that is by overcoming tie-breaker scenarios and OSU is clearly ahead of us.
UCLA over Illinois (eliminates Illinois)
Michigan over Oregon (eliminates Oregon)
Northwestern over OSU (eliminates OSU)
Purdue over Iowa (eliminates Iowa)
Maryland over Wisconsin (eliminates Wisconsin)
Indiana over USC (eliminates USC)
If all of those happen, IU could afford to lose one of the last 2 games and still would be in the B1G title game.
some tall orders in that list 