Is Saturday's game the biggest in IU football history?

[Bowlmania]

Here's a good piece from Matthew Glenesk of the IndyStar.

It's hard to argue with the five games he ranks at the top. Hard to believe one of them was just four years ago.

Some may argue that the 2007 Bucket game doesn't belong on the list. Neither team was ranked, Purdue had already clinched bowl eligibility, but we needed a seventh win that season to make a bowl, and we got it. The emotion of the game after Hep's passing, and the dramatic finish with Austin Starr's 49-yard FG, make it worthy, in my opinion, of Top 5 consideration. And the electricity in the stadium that afternoon/evening was the most I've ever experienced at the Rock.

Here's the link. If it's behind a paywall, my apologies. Just in case, these are the Top 5 (in addition to our game this Saturday) that rank among IU's all-time biggest games:

• 1945 Bucket game, capping the only undefeated season in IU history and a conference championship
• 1967 Bucket game, with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line
• 1987 IU at Michigan State for first place in the conference and a trip to the Rose Bowl (if we followed up a W in East Lansing with a W over Purdue). Sadly, we lost to the Spartans.
• 2007 Bucket/Play 13/Austin Starr game (see above)
• 2020 #9 IU at #3 Ohio State. Huge comeback and huge game for Michael Penix, but we came up a TD short.

Is Saturday's Indiana-Ohio State game the biggest in IU history? These 5 also have a case.

Saturday's Indiana vs. Ohio State game has the feel of the biggest in IU football's history. Here are 5 more games that belong on the list.

www.indystar.com

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

Idk if it’s bigger than the Rose Bowl but I think it would be the biggest win so far if we can get it.

 

[4NDANA]

I wasn't around for the 1967 season but I would say you should bundle the Bucket game with the Rose Bowl game. Then I would put the 1987 and 2020 games along with most bowl games we have had. Can't remember how many if any bowl games we were favored in so they were all pretty much a chance to prove something. Have to have that Holiday Bowl game on there at the very least. Bucket games are always important but not always program defining or over the hump achievements in my opinion. Based on that we need to win some of these "Biggest" games to make this truly the Biggest with many more to come!!!

 

[Bowlmania]

Idk if it’s bigger than the Rose Bowl but I think it would be the biggest win so far if we can get it.

His list seems to be limited to regular season games. But yes, if we factor in bowl games, then the 1/1/68 Rose Bowl has to be the biggest game. And agree with 4NDANA that you'd have to also include the Corso-coached 1979 Holiday Bowl. We beat previously undefeated BYU for our first bowl win in program history.

 

[YOTHN]

His list seems to be limited to regular season games. But yes, if we factor in bowl games, then the 1/1/68 Rose Bowl has to be the biggest game. And agree with 4NDANA that you'd have to also include the Corso-coached 1979 Holiday Bowl. We beat undefeated BYU for our first bowl win in program history.

I'd politely disagree. If we won that Rose Bowl game....we weren't contending for a national title. If we beat OSU, we instantly become #2 in the nation and are 1 game away from being the #1 overall seed in the CFP. I get it, the Rose Bowl was a big game and its hard to top but lets be honest, there's been times recently where the 2nd or 3rd place B1G team played in the Rose Bowl due to other teams making the 4-team playoff.

So for me, the value of this game lies within the outcome. If we lose it, then historically speaking the Rose Bowl game would've been bigger but if we were to win it...........

 

[Tammany Hall]

I think it is. If others see it differently I get it.

Modern CFB is so big and there is so much money in it. The playoff is a huge deal, basically the whole sports-watching country is focused on it. Making the playoff is a big accomplishment, and it would mean a lot to us as IU tries to build the program into a consistent contender.

This game has so many angles to it, I can't think of many games like it.

• How good are we vs. an elite team? We have looked elite with most of our performances, but it's true we have not played an elite team. And this is maybe the best team in the country on the road (with GameDay and Big Noon hype). We are going to find out a lot about where we stand, which is pretty wild for the 11th game of the year.
• The outcome isn't just win or lose. If we play them reasonably close and lose we still have a good chance at the playoff. If we get blown-out our playoff chances go down quite a bit.
• It's not likely, but if we win, the story gets insane. Not even going to talk about it.

And all of the above is happening with a team that won nine games the past three seasons. We're a team of 3*'s and our NIL is 20-30% of the big programs. This staff is in its first year and had one portal to adjust the roster. I still can't believe we're in this situation. It's awesome -- can't wait and of course it's nerve-racking.

 

[Bowlmania]

I'd politely disagree. If we won that Rose Bowl game....we weren't contending for a national title. If we beat OSU, we instantly become #2 in the nation and are 1 game away from being the #1 overall seed in the CFP. I get it, the Rose Bowl was a big game and its hard to top but lets be honest, there's been times recently where the 2nd or 3rd place B1G team played in the Rose Bowl due to other teams making the 4-team playoff.

So for me, the value of this game lies within the outcome. If we lose it, then historically speaking the Rose Bowl game would've been bigger but if we were to win it...........

I hear you. Certainly it's debatable. But 1967/1968 was a different era when there weren't many bowl games. The Rose Bowl was truly, back then, the granddaddy of them all and there was no bigger stage. And the game featured OJ before, well, you know. But yes, this makes for an interesting debate.

 

[YOTHN]

I hear you. Certainly it's debatable. But 1967/1968 was a different era when there weren't many bowl games. The Rose Bowl was truly, back then, the granddaddy of them all and there was no bigger stage. And the game featured OJ before, well, you know. But yes, this makes for an interesting debate.

I guess I didn't think of how those bowls looked prior to any sort of playoff and such. Its before my time so I honestly wouldn't know. That's a valid point.

 

[OpenWheels]

The Rose Bowl was big to me as a kid, late 70s early 80s. But every time the Big Ten went in there and laid another turd (Bo...) it became a little less so to me. I must be a band wagon fan.

I'd love to win the B1G title. In an 18 team league, first one? Be awesome.

 

[red hornet]

"This game coming up is the biggest because it's the next game"--Coach Cignetti

 

[YOTHN]

"This game coming up is the biggest because it's the next game"--Coach Cignetti

haha He isn't wrong but boy, living by coaches' talk on a fan forum would be quite boring. We need things to banter about!

 

[hoosier roadtrips]

We can always say we were waiting to have the playoffs expand before we concentrated on improving our program!

 

[IndyResident16]

If IU wins Saturday they should be the consensus #1 team in the country. Will have the best resume win of any team in the country. Media/ESPN would never allow but there would be no more narratives to push if IU wins Saturday.

 

[LifelongIU77]

Yes.

That's all

 

[LifelongIU77]

If IU wins Saturday they should be the consensus #1 team in the country. Will have the best resume win of any team in the country. Media/ESPN would never allow but there would be no more narratives to push if IU wins Saturday.

It's comments like this...smh

 

[Grateful Redbeard]

Of course it is silly

 

[82hoosier]

Here is my favorite:

 

[IndyResident16]

It's comments like this...smh

What’s wrong with that comment?

 

[BattleCreekHoosier]

Here's a good piece from Matthew Glenesk of the IndyStar.

It's hard to argue with the five games he ranks at the top. Hard to believe one of them was just four years ago.

Some may argue that the 2007 Bucket game doesn't belong on the list. Neither team was ranked, Purdue had already clinched bowl eligibility, but we needed a seventh win that season to make a bowl, and we got it. The emotion of the game after Hep's passing, and the dramatic finish with Austin Starr's 49-yard FG, make it worthy, in my opinion, of Top 5 consideration. And the electricity in the stadium that afternoon/evening was the most I've ever experienced at the Rock.

Here's the link. If it's behind a paywall, my apologies. Just in case, these are the Top 5 (in addition to our game this Saturday) that rank among IU's all-time biggest games:

• 1945 Bucket game, capping the only undefeated season in IU history and a conference championship
• 1967 Bucket game, with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line
• 1987 IU at Michigan State for first place in the conference and a trip to the Rose Bowl (if we followed up a W in East Lansing with a W over Purdue). Sadly, we lost to the Spartans.
• 2007 Bucket/Play 13/Austin Starr game (see above)
• 2020 #9 IU at #3 Ohio State. Huge comeback and huge game for Michael Penix, but we came up a TD short.

Is Saturday's Indiana-Ohio State game the biggest in IU history? These 5 also have a case.

Saturday's Indiana vs. Ohio State game has the feel of the biggest in IU football's history. Here are 5 more games that belong on the list.

www.indystar.com

I haven't seen anyone else post this yet, but, it seems as though this is the first time in IU fb history, IU is playing a fb game while being ranked in the top 5 & playing another school also ranked in the top 5 for the same game.

 

[LifelongIU77]

What’s wrong with that comment?

Small town.

Oregon has beaten Ohio St. and is currently #1. Nobody is going to drop them from #1 to put Indiana there,when IU will still have a below avg SOS, even after OSU.

 

[IndyResident16]

Small town.

Oregon has beaten Ohio St. and is currently #1. Nobody is going to drop them from #1 to put Indiana there,when IU will still have a below avg SOS, even after OSU.

Oregon's best win is a 1 point win over Ohio State in Eugene. IU's best win would be the same opponent at their place. If any SEC team was undefeated coming off a road win vs #2 team in the country heading into the last week off the season that team would be the unanimous #1 team in the country.

 

[LifelongIU77]

Oregon's best win is a 1 point win over Ohio State in Eugene. IU's best win would be the same opponent at their place. If any SEC team was undefeated coming off a road win vs #2 team in the country heading into the last week off the season that team would be the unanimous #1 team in the country.

No.

 

[Army88]

Small town.

Oregon has beaten Ohio St. and is currently #1. Nobody is going to drop them from #1 to put Indiana there,when IU will still have a below avg SOS, even after OSU.

If IU beats Osu in Columbus, that is more Impressive than Oregon beating Osu by one point in Oregon.
IMO, both schools having identical records at 11-0, there would be considerable thought in giving IU first place votes.
Also:
O 34: @ UCLA 13. IU 42: @ucla 13. +IU
@O 31: MSU 10. IU 47: @ MSU 10. ++IU
@O 39: Maryland 18. @IU 42: Maryland 28. +/=. O
O 38: @Mich 17. @ IU 20: Mich 15. +O

Oregon. Difficult to interpret: @O 37: Boise state 34
Bad wins- @O 24: Idaho 14.

Indiana. IMO, no bad wins for Indiana. Beating Michigan is never a bad win.

In my book, if IU beats Ohio, they are #1!

 

[Bowlmania]

I haven't seen anyone else post this yet, but, it seems as though this is the first time in IU fb history, IU is playing a fb game while being ranked in the top 5 & playing another school also ranked in the top 5 for the same game.

I believe going into the '68 Rose Bowl the AP poll had us #4 and USC #1.

 

[IndyResident16]

No.

What do you mean no? IU is still vastly underrated by said media. An undefeated P5 team ranked 5th 11 weeks into the season only happens if IU is the logo.

 

[BattleCreekHoosier]

I believe going into the '68 Rose Bowl the AP poll had us #4 and USC #1.

You are correct, I just looked it up. After, losing to USC, IU fell to a ranking of # 22.

 

[LifelongIU77]

If IU beats Osu in Columbus, that is more Impressive than Oregon beating Osu by one point in Oregon.
IMO, both schools having identical records at 11-0, there would be considerable thought in giving IU first place votes.
Also:
O 34: @ UCLA 13. IU 42: @ucla 13. +IU
@O 31: MSU 10. IU 47: @ MSU 10. ++IU
@O 39: Maryland 18. @IU 42: Maryland 28. +/=. O
O 38: @Mich 17. @ IU 20: Mich 15. +O

Oregon. Difficult to interpret: @O 37: Boise state 34
Bad wins- @O 24: Idaho 14.

Indiana. IMO, no bad wins for Indiana. Beating Michigan is never a bad win.

In my book, if IU beats Ohio, they are #1!

But nobody has, or will read your book. Therefore, it is irrelevant. What is Oregons SOS?...what is IU's SOS?.....Oregon is already #1, and would have beaten the same opponent,as IU'best win. There is 0 chance of them replacing Oregon as #1, if both win this weekend.

 

[Bowlmania]

You are correct, I just looked it up. After, losing to USC, IU fell to a ranking of # 22.

Wow. That's nuts we fell that far after losing by 11 to the top-ranked team.

 

[IndyResident16]

But nobody has, or will read your book. Therefore, it is irrelevant. What is Oregons SOS?...what is IU's SOS?.....Oregon is already #1, and would have beaten the same opponent,as IU'best win. There is 0 chance of them replacing Oregon as #1, if both win this weekend.

That's exactly what we're saying....IU SHOULD be #1 if they beat OSU on Saturday but won't because of brand bias.

 

[LifelongIU77]

That's exactly what we're saying....IU SHOULD be #1 if they beat OSU on Saturday but won't because of brand bias.

I can't agree. I think you sound like a small town Homer. There's a reason why you continue to leave out SOS

 

[IndyResident16]

I can't agree. I think you sound like a small town Homer. There's a reason why you continue to leave out SOS

Per Sagarin, IU's SOS is 77 and Oregon's is 52. And IU's SOS is going to take a significant jump once the Ohio State result is factored in. Oregon has played a "tougher" schedule but it's not a gauntlet by any means. IU has absolutely destroyed every team they've played sans Michigan. A win in Columbus is far more significant than a 1 point win at home against the same opponent.

If any SEC team had IU's metrics and margin of victory regardless of the schedule they would already be the #1 team in the country...a win against the #2 team in the country on the road would only further solidify that. But there is clearly a media narrative against IU this year. Nobody batted an eye last year when Georgia had a SOS near 100 heading into the last two weeks of the season. Nor Michigan either.

 

[Tammany Hall]

SOS is very sensitive to small differences in opponents record -- it's being overblown as a metric. For example the difference b/t 25th and 75th is not much.

 

[red hornet]

Here is my favorite:

View embedded media

Interesting factoid: # 79 for Bill Mallory's Indiana is Jeff Fryar, starting tackle on offense. His son is Josh Fryar, #70, is the starting tackle for OSU.

 

[Harry Hondo]

Here's a good piece from Matthew Glenesk of the IndyStar.

It's hard to argue with the five games he ranks at the top. Hard to believe one of them was just four years ago.

Some may argue that the 2007 Bucket game doesn't belong on the list. Neither team was ranked, Purdue had already clinched bowl eligibility, but we needed a seventh win that season to make a bowl, and we got it. The emotion of the game after Hep's passing, and the dramatic finish with Austin Starr's 49-yard FG, make it worthy, in my opinion, of Top 5 consideration. And the electricity in the stadium that afternoon/evening was the most I've ever experienced at the Rock.

Here's the link. If it's behind a paywall, my apologies. Just in case, these are the Top 5 (in addition to our game this Saturday) that rank among IU's all-time biggest games:

• 1945 Bucket game, capping the only undefeated season in IU history and a conference championship
• 1967 Bucket game, with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line
• 1987 IU at Michigan State for first place in the conference and a trip to the Rose Bowl (if we followed up a W in East Lansing with a W over Purdue). Sadly, we lost to the Spartans.
• 2007 Bucket/Play 13/Austin Starr game (see above)
• 2020 #9 IU at #3 Ohio State. Huge comeback and huge game for Michael Penix, but we came up a TD short.

Is Saturday's Indiana-Ohio State game the biggest in IU history? These 5 also have a case.

Saturday's Indiana vs. Ohio State game has the feel of the biggest in IU football's history. Here are 5 more games that belong on the list.

www.indystar.com

I think it’s the biggest game in IU football history. The rose bowl was big, but I don’t think IU was on the brink of establishing a winning tradition back then. Frankly, we sunk back into obscurity shortly after, so we got no real momentum from that achievement. If IU wins Saturday that will open doors for Cignetti to land recruits who are on a similar level as OSU recruits and will be a huge step in establishing IU as a football destination and power.

It’s not even a close argument, because it’s now or never, people.

 

[LifelongIU77]

Per Sagarin, IU's SOS is 77 and Oregon's is 52. And IU's SOS is going to take a significant jump once the Ohio State result is factored in. Oregon has played a "tougher" schedule but it's not a gauntlet by any means. IU has absolutely destroyed every team they've played sans Michigan. A win in Columbus is far more significant than a 1 point win at home against the same opponent.

If any SEC team had IU's metrics and margin of victory regardless of the schedule they would already be the #1 team in the country...a win against the #2 team in the country on the road would only further solidify that. But there is clearly a media narrative against IU this year. Nobody batted an eye last year when Georgia had a SOS near 100 heading into the last two weeks of the season. Nor Michigan either.

Ok..smh. Anyway...it's not going to be a worry. As much as I would love it to happen, I don't feel like they have a chance at OSU. I just don't think they can overcome the physical differences, and the road crowd at the same time.