I was going to do a full-blown write up on what needs to happen for Indiana to get in the NY6 but there are still too many variables in play. After Saturday it will be starting to come into focus. The Big Ten needs to have the crossover games out by late Sunday morning though!
I will share a few thoughts.
1) Yesterday my thought was Indiana just needed to win, even if was Purdue instead of Iowa in the crossover game. I've downgraded my position though. I think beating Iowa would probably be enough but beating Purdue might not be. It could be but too much discomfort for my taste. Nobody's going to care much about us beating Purdue (in the crossover game) unless we curb-stomp them. Which would be fun lol.
2) Who knows, we may not even play at all next week. (I don't like it being completely out of our hands.)
3) It's interesting the PAC-12 may not even have a champion. I assume if that happens the NY6 will invoke the Ohio St clause and put USC in (assuming they beat UCLA). Will the PAC-12 just kinda declare USC-Washington the Championship Game?
4) We have to root against Peyton Ramsey and Northwestern IMO. If NW beats the nuts they probably leap-frog us, especially if we don't play. Doubt the nuts would fall below us.
5) The Group of 5 question is still up in the air. Simplest outcome Cincinnati beats Tulsa on the 19th. This way a team from outside the CFP Top 12 doesn't swoop in and take a NY6 spot. I'm also rooting for Louisiana over Coastal Carolina in the re-match (CC won the first). Currently CC checks in at No. 13 and another Top 20 win might put them ahead of Indiana. That would be interesting, would the NY6 take two G5 teams over a 1-loss Indiana team?
6) Iowa St - Oklahoma doesn't seem to matter that much. Surely the loser drops behind Indiana (assuming we don't lose the crossover game)?
7) This could change but right now the (non-CFP) NY6 would be Nos. 5-11 plus (I'm kind of assuming) USC (or Washington). Which means we'd have to move up one spot. If we can somehow get to No. 10 I'd think we are safely in.
I will share a few thoughts.
1) Yesterday my thought was Indiana just needed to win, even if was Purdue instead of Iowa in the crossover game. I've downgraded my position though. I think beating Iowa would probably be enough but beating Purdue might not be. It could be but too much discomfort for my taste. Nobody's going to care much about us beating Purdue (in the crossover game) unless we curb-stomp them. Which would be fun lol.
2) Who knows, we may not even play at all next week. (I don't like it being completely out of our hands.)
3) It's interesting the PAC-12 may not even have a champion. I assume if that happens the NY6 will invoke the Ohio St clause and put USC in (assuming they beat UCLA). Will the PAC-12 just kinda declare USC-Washington the Championship Game?
4) We have to root against Peyton Ramsey and Northwestern IMO. If NW beats the nuts they probably leap-frog us, especially if we don't play. Doubt the nuts would fall below us.
5) The Group of 5 question is still up in the air. Simplest outcome Cincinnati beats Tulsa on the 19th. This way a team from outside the CFP Top 12 doesn't swoop in and take a NY6 spot. I'm also rooting for Louisiana over Coastal Carolina in the re-match (CC won the first). Currently CC checks in at No. 13 and another Top 20 win might put them ahead of Indiana. That would be interesting, would the NY6 take two G5 teams over a 1-loss Indiana team?
6) Iowa St - Oklahoma doesn't seem to matter that much. Surely the loser drops behind Indiana (assuming we don't lose the crossover game)?
7) This could change but right now the (non-CFP) NY6 would be Nos. 5-11 plus (I'm kind of assuming) USC (or Washington). Which means we'd have to move up one spot. If we can somehow get to No. 10 I'd think we are safely in.