As the CFP committee weekly rankings are just around the corner, we know SEC honks and lazy national CFB media at ESPN will begin talking "Ranked Wins" when talking Playoff resumes and SoS.  

So thought I would discuss some Indiana opponents from 50,000 feet.  

1.  North Texas.   Their RB and Offense have been great.  They dropped a bad one to Texas St. I believe or they would be in the top two or three candidates to make the CFP as the group of 5 rep. 

 Thinking these guys make it to 10-2 and are better than 20 or so P4 teams in FPI, the more the better for IU.  Need some outside luck to be in CFP contention 

2.  Northwestern.  Chip and the boys need to bring it at Oregon and bury them this week, more style points the better.  Oregon despite possibly being a Zombie team, had enough in the tank to dispose of the Huskers in a close one last week.  

Tough sledding to close the season on the NW schedule, need this week's win to improve that #20 ranking to soften the ranking blow when they drop one.  

3.  Huskers. Pathway is there for them to dominate Washington this week, win their next three to move to 8-2 and ranked in the teens before closing the season against OSU and Iowa. 

4.  USC -  I hate Ohio St. with a passion so I am overly biased thinking USC will win this week. 

Hoosiers need them to win so both of our teams can sit through the upcoming bye week with a pending ranked on ranked matchup on 11/14 in Bloomington.  

USC finishes their season with UCLA, so after suffering a humiliating defeat to Indiana, they can reclaim a spot in the rankings as one of the top ranked 9-3 teams. A win in that rivalry game could potentially propel our Hoosiers into the BTCG with a UCLA tie break. 

5.  Minnesota. Gophers ability to finish their season with 7 wins would strengthen the backbone to the Indiana SoS. 

Very difficult remaining schedule though, they have the ability to earn their way into the rankings after this week's beating.   Minny hosts UCLA next weekend.