3 FGs. 2-13 3rd downs. 14 TFL on 53 plays. 2 sacks. 2 TO. 271 total yards.Our defense really misses West, Carpenter, Walker and Asbury. None of this junk happened on their watch. The replacements aren’t up to their level. Not even close. And Cig is right. When you have guys that come to you from winning cultures, that carries over. Our portal class this year were largely starters on bad teams. The staff needs to completely reprogram their minds. Clean out all the bad mental habits and loser mentality. Staff has a lot of work to do on this current group of portal guys.
Is there a lot to clean up? Of course. But if you’re expecting us to ALWAYS have the number 2 defense in the nation, you’re going to be miserable.
@openwheel I thought Dexter got hurt.
He was walking around the sidelines afterwards. But probably only means not a leg injury if he was hurt
Our defense really misses West, Carpenter, Walker and Asbury. None of this junk happened on their watch. The replacements aren’t up to their level. Not even close. And Cig is right. When you have guys that come to you from winning cultures, that carries over. Our portal class this year were largely starters on bad teams. The staff needs to completely reprogram their minds. Clean out all the bad mental habits and loser mentality. Staff has a lot of work to do on this current group of portal guys.
CJ West came from Kent State, one of the worst teams in the country.
so are you saying we are ranked appropriately?
i don’t think any of the rankings are appropriate at this stage. It’s simply guesses right now. The rankings don’t mean anything until mid-way through the season.
that's fair. But if you aren't ranked doesn't it make your climb into the playoff a little harder? Definitely not impossible for sure but harder ?
3 FGs. 2-13 3rd downs. 14 TFL on 53 plays. 2 sacks. 2 TO. 271 total yards.Our defense really misses West, Carpenter, Walker and Asbury. None of this junk happened on their watch. The replacements aren’t up to their level. Not even close. And Cig is right. When you have guys that come to you from winning cultures, that carries over. Our portal class this year were largely starters on bad teams. The staff needs to completely reprogram their minds. Clean out all the bad mental habits and loser mentality. Staff has a lot of work to do on this current group of portal guys.
Is there a lot to clean up? Of course. But if you’re expecting us to ALWAYS have the number 2 defense in the nation, you’re going to be miserable.
Being miserable is when he's his happiest.
@hoosiers94 Ultimately, the play on the field will determine our CFP considerations, if there are any. We have enough quality games this year, that if we go 11-1 again, there should be no arguments, from anyone, whether IU deserves a spot. There will be, there will be 2 and 3 loss SEC teams that will be championed by the SEC trolls and fans. But I do think the B10 winning the last 2 nattys, the bowl performances last year, etc... will mute how seriously "most" of the rest of the college football world takes those claims.
11-1, no matter who the loss is, very likely implies multiple top 10 wins, with at least 1 on the road. IU will be in comfortably.
10-2, that's where the legit arguments ensue... And that's where pre conf rankings, and then in season rankings, could play a role, one way or another. And the games they would lose then also matter. Lose to Illinois and Iowa, as an example, but then beat Oregon and PSU, on the road... I think that's probably the most likely 10-2 path to the CFP. All the Herbstreits and Sabans in the world would be forced with a very difficult dilemma... back IU, or further brand themselves as hypocrites with all their "it should be about who you beat, more than who you lose to". Beat Illinois and Iowa, but then lose to Oregon and PSU, and I don't think they'll get in.
I think its as simple as...IU needs to win one of those elite road games to get in this year. It sucks they both fall on the road, as I think just beating a team like that is what they need to be chosen over other similar win/loss SEC teams.
@hoosiers94 10-2 with a win against one of Illinois, Penn State or Oregon, I think we'd be in again.
I'd say Iowa as well, but they are gonna have real issues if they don't have a qb that can throw for more then 100 yards in a game, which I have little faith in.
depends on what the rest of the landscape looks like I guess. It could happen just more likely if we are 11-1 or 12-0.
If we're 10-2 I think we need to play Oregon and PSU within like 10 points and really show decent stretches of sticking with them.
But, we've got to get past Illinois first -- that one feels 50/50 to me right now and I just don't know what to expect with so many new guys still coming together/evolving as a team. And of course even with their disappointing QB, at Iowa is tough.
If we're 10-2 I think we need to play Oregon and PSU within like 10 points and really show decent stretches of sticking with them.
But, we've got to get past Illinois first -- that one feels 50/50 to me right now and I just don't know what to expect with so many new guys still coming together/evolving as a team. And of course even with their disappointing QB, at Iowa is tough.
We could hardly have a worse schedule for making the playoffs....we would get no credit for beating any of the 8 games on our schedule other than Illinois, Iowa, Oregon & PSU. The relatively close score v. O.D. will hurt a little. Beating Iowa handily would help but will be difficult to do. They suck, but they are still a proud program at home.
At 10-2, I think we'd need mostly impressive wins v. the remaining little 8 teams on our schedule plus either Oregon or PSU being a nail-biter. Plus, we can't get destroyed by Oregon.
A lot of scary games just ahead. I'm not sure, regardless of how we fare v. Illinois & Iowa, how we fare against Oregon. They look like a different animal......
This is where I really dislike where College Football is going. It's fun to discuss the Playoff and was awesome making it last year, but the focus on the National Championship or bust by a lot of the national media and fans is ruining a special thing.
I am not a trophies for everyone guy and will I be disappointed if IU doesn't make the playoff? Sure, I guess for a little bit. But if IU goes 10-2 or 9-3 or heck even 8-4 it's the second or third best season in program history.
Going 10-2 with a top 10 win over Illinois and wins in both your trophy games is a very successful season.
I am sorry if this is negative, but I really don't like where the sport is headed. It's not a good place.
The only poll that really matters comes out in November. Being ranked is great, but there are voters who just don't take it seriously and it's embarrassing.
I can't say that at this point because we are 2-0. If we lose 3-4 games obviously will be in a bowl. And at seasons end if that's what goes down., I will be happy in an overall sense compared to what we were in the past. But right now Cig wet our lips. I want more.