2025 Schedule

[Victorbmyboy]

Sounds like we are going to play an SEC team soon as the are going to start scheduling each other. I would think that means the SEC is going to a 9 game schedule or we are dropping to 8.

I totally forgot about that.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

If we win out, we are in the CFP - no ifs, ands, or buts. My original post deals with the scenario that we go 11-1 losing to OSU. In that scenario, we would have no quality wins. Michigan had 2 top 10 wins last year in the regular season - we would have no top 30 wins under the scenario I posed. So I don't get how MIchigan's situation last year proves anything relative to the scenario I posed.

But there wasn’t a 12 team playoff either. Every single pundit and expert thinks IU is in with one loss. Will it be close? Of course.

 

[vesuvius13]

Michigan beat top 10 teams in OSU and PSU last year and demolished everyone else. It was a no-brainer that they were selected to the playoffs. If we win out, it will be a no-brainer that we make the playoffs. If not, our resume would not remotely compare to Michigan's of last year.

Michigan cheated last season until late in the season when they were mandated to suspend Harbaugh.

 

[td75]

This is a moot point, our boys are winning out!

 

[TomEric4756]

Unless we win out in the regular season this year, there is a reasonable chance that we will find ourselves on the outside looking in when it comes to the CFP. The argument against us will be that we simply would not have any good wins unless we beat O$U. We will see how it plays out, but to end up 11-1 and not get into the playoffs would be absolutely devastating. There is nothing we can do about this this year except keep winning (or hope that the committee values the decisiveness of our victories in the event that we do not win out).

However, Dolson needs to act immediately in order to prevent us from being in a similar situation next year. In my opinion our schedule next year is shaping up to be pretty weak as well. We do play Oregon and PSU on the road but don't have to play OSU or Michigan. The lesson to be learned from this year is that we cannot rely on the conference schedule alone to supply us with a difficult enough schedule to get into the CFP. Therefore, Dolson needs to look into beefing up our non-conference schedule. The lineup of Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State is an absolute abomination. No hyperbole at all here - this may be one of the weakest non-conference schedules in the recent history of college football. We need to rid ourselves of the remnants of Tom Allen's Cupcake Shop ASAP.

Get to work, Scott! Our guys deserve better.

Well the 2024 and 2025 schedules were “get bowl eligible” schedules … not anticipating CCC’s wild success, this year. IU is starting a lot of fully grown men this year … there will be far fewer 6 and 7th year players next year. 4 conference home games in 2025 does not say play a non conference P4 team for pride’s sake.

Maybe we can stop scheduling FCS opponents … the SEC cupcakes are no better than ours they play G5 and FCS schools too. Sure we can take a made for TV matchup, the first game of a future season. Didn’t need it so far this year.

Once upon a time IU lost to some of these P5 teams. Scheduling Big P5 Opponents cost Lee Corso wins that may have given IU winning seasons in 76 (Nebraska & NC State) and 77 (Nebraska). Over scheduling has risks.

 

[iu2win]

There are far too many factors in play to even consider messing with the schedule at this point. Cig could leave (I don't think this will happen but it could) and IU would be right back to square one. Let's enjoy this magical ride and let scheduling take care of itself until Cig is fully settled in and IU continues to challenge teams at the top of the conference each year. One game at a time and one year at a time; that's the Cig way; the winning way!

 

[eddy4iu]

Yes, Notre Dame should drop lowly Purdue and agree to play us. Can you imagine the state with an IU / ND game in September, where everyone in the state is essentially a fan of one or the other? Other possible worthy substitutions would be Louisville or someone like BYU or Iowa State. Time to get the powder puff teams off the schedule. And why not an SEC school?

Well, we did just buy out the Louisville contract so that one very unlikely to happen.

 

[Crossblock]

If we are going to control our pre-conference Schedule Year to Year, We should be able to work out an arrangement where We can schedule Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati Home and Home on a rotating basis. It makes sense geographically and fan interest wise. In the past, We have worked through a pre- conference schedule that was too easy and only allowed Us to "put lipstick on the pig" and ignore our problems rather than deal with Them early in the Year. Even after We beat Akron in Overtime last Year, I got the impression that the Coaching Staff was relieved to have the win, but didn't work to address the underlying problems. I would rather have a higher bar to measure against early in the year and risk a loss, than crush or slide by mediocre opponents that don't expose our problems.

There is also a recency factor in evaluating losses for Playoff Teams. A loss in September to a decent Team may not be as harmful as a late year loss to good team.

 

[mattndallas]

If we are going to control our pre-conference Schedule Year to Year, We should be able to work out an arrangement where We can schedule Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati Home and Home on a rotating basis. It makes sense geographically and fan interest wise. In the past, We have worked through a pre- conference schedule that was too easy and only allowed Us to "put lipstick on the pig" and ignore our problems rather than deal with Them early in the Year. Even after We beat Akron in Overtime last Year, I got the impression that the Coaching Staff was relieved to have the win, but didn't work to address the underlying problems. I would rather have a higher bar to measure against early in the year and risk a loss, than crush or slide by mediocre opponents that don't expose our problems.

There is also a recency factor in evaluating losses for Playoff Teams. A loss in September to a decent Team may not be as harmful as a late year loss to good team.

I like the idea of rolling through those three teams over a 6 year period. Driveable. Regional rivals. I can dig it. 👍

 

[ESalum86]

Simply put, IU should NEVER EVER have less than 7 home games each season. We know we alternate B1G home games 5 one season, 4 the next, in a 9 game conference schedule.

That means the year with 4 B1G home games gets 3 cupcake home games.

The next year with 5 B1G home games I could see MAYBE playing a road OOC game; though I would still prefer 3 home OOC games or 2 home and one game in Indy.

Regardless, unless you play G6 or FCS teams, the other school will expect home and home. Eff 'em. I want IU home games. Fill our coffers and local merchants' pockets. A B1G schedule is tough enough, get as many games in Bloomington as we can.

There you have it. Might as well close this thread down and send this post to Scotty D. Dilemma solved.

 

[76-1]

Simply put, IU should NEVER EVER have less than 7 home games each season. We know we alternate B1G home games 5 one season, 4 the next, in a 9 game conference schedule.

That means the year with 4 B1G home games gets 3 cupcake home games.

The next year with 5 B1G home games I could see MAYBE playing a road OOC game; though I would still prefer 3 home OOC games or 2 home and one game in Indy.

Regardless, unless you play G6 or FCS teams, the other school will expect home and home. Eff 'em. I want IU home games. Fill our coffers and local merchants' pockets. A B1G schedule is tough enough, get as many games in Bloomington as we can.

There you have it. Might as well close this thread down and send this post to Scotty D. Dilemma solved.

And..... If we Win enough games to reach the Playoffs we'll always see an Alabama or a Texas type at the end of the season, when it actually matters and when we'll be at our sharpest...

That's when I want to see our toughest matchups, when we're ready for them...

 

[IndyResident16]

Unless we win out in the regular season this year, there is a reasonable chance that we will find ourselves on the outside looking in when it comes to the CFP.

A lot of things would have to go wrong for an 11-1 IU team to be left out of the CFP playoff this year ie multiple conference championship upsets.

 

[IUNorth]

There are far too many factors in play to even consider messing with the schedule at this point. Cig could leave (I don't think this will happen but it could) and IU would be right back to square one. Let's enjoy this magical ride and let scheduling take care of itself until Cig is fully settled in and IU continues to challenge teams at the top of the conference each year. One game at a time and one year at a time; that's the Cig way; the winning way!

One thing I hadn't ever considered, that I'm starting to see talked about, and meme type stuff popping up, is NFL teams coming after Cignetti.

I don't follow NFL all that closely, it seems like they value younger aged candidates...but man...Cig busts through in to the CFP, in year 1, and I'm Jerry Jones, or Ryan Poles, and I have some talent, just need someone to come in and pull it all together???

Nah...

 

[mrhighlife]

Uh no. Our scheduling is fine. In a typical year we would be playing multiple ranked BIG teams. This just happens to be a down year of sorts.

On the flip. Not many P5 schools who would make a difference much for our SOS will schedule us. To high of risk for the reward currently. We don't draw a big enough TV audience like a traditional power to risk losing to us quite yet.

 

[CC Mac]

One thing I hadn't ever considered, that I'm starting to see talked about, and meme type stuff popping up, is NFL teams coming after Cignetti.

I don't follow NFL all that closely, it seems like they value younger aged candidates...but man...Cig busts through in to the CFP, in year 1, and I'm Jerry Jones, or Ryan Poles, and I have some talent, just need someone to come in and pull it all together???

Nah...

I can’t see him going the NFL route but there will be some college teams team coming after him hard after the season is over.
I’m sure his agent is already hearing from them.
They won’t have any problem paying his buyout so that won’t be an issue.
But I think he will give IU every opportunity to match any offers.
I’m sure he appreciates IU being his first and only P4 job offer to date and that may play a role in any after season decisions.
But in the end it usually if not always comes down to money.