The ESPN playoff lobby is off and running on SEC two loss schools - get ready to get _____.

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

There are so many other things riding on this game, I kinda doubt that Cig's speech 8-9 months ago, will mean much.

If they beat IU, I have no doubt they'll reference it. Their fans certainly will. But in terms of actually having an impact on the game...IU being a legitimate threat, the playoffs being on the line, Ryan Day's job being on the line...these will all have OSU more ready to play than Cig's bball game speech will.

With 2 Surratt drops and a questionable offensive pick play, the Michigan game was likely a 2 score win. Not every game is going to be a blowout.

 

[IUNorth]

Nobody scares me in 1 game. But winning 3 just seems impossible. Michigan really exposed a couple weaknesses and nearly everyone we’d play has that talent up front and on the backend.

Oh I think to actually win a natty, we'll need a favorable draw. Maybe getting Boise State in the first round, and then ACC or B12 champ in the 2nd round, somehow? Not sure we'd beat 3-4 of the best SEC/B10 teams in a row.

But I'd rather make it to the CFP, and lose, than not make it and win a bowl game, for certain.

 

[Middawg]

OT


Who are the holdover IU players with a redemption/revenge arc stemming from that TD loss in 2020 at an empty Shoe when both teams were 4-0?


That Penix pick 6 late and running out of time to win that game still get me fired up thinking about that game.

 

[ButHerEmails]

Playing devil’s advocate, if role’s were reversed and IU had played in SEC and had Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama or Ole Miss’s schedule, what would we be saying? Our weak schedule is a legit argument. Good news is we have the ability to silence everyone this weekend!

We played weak teams, but we also beat the holy f*** out of them like we should have. Damn near any IU team from the past 20-30 years would be 5-5 or 4-6 with this same schedule, and the wins would be less than 10 points. We hung on to beat MI with our starting quarterback having just had a surgical procedure on his throwing hand and missing the previous game.

This Saturday needs to be either a win, or a loss of 6 or less. Honestly, with the game being @OSU, if we lose, it probably needs to be on a last second field goal, or some other end-of-game drama that gives OSU the win in order for the committee to have respect for us. Conversely, if we win on a last second field goal I could see the committee saying “yeah, IU won, but barely”. I still get the feeling they’re looking for a reason to keep IU out because it’s IU and we’re not supposed to be there.

All that said, I believe it will take a nearly perfect game from us this Saturday to win. OSU is a damn good team and it’s in their house. I just don’t want boneheaded plays like false starts, off sides and late hits to be the deciding factor.

 

[hoosierfan13]

In many ways, its a bigger game for OSU than it is for us.

A couple of those ways.

1. IU can lose this game and still get in to the playoff, OSU likely can't.
2. I think Ryan Day loses his job if he loses to IU.
3. Our excitement for beating OSU could only be outdone by their embarrassment by losing to IU in the shoe.

Please, please...pretty please let it happen!!!

Betting odds have OSU (-20000) to make the playoff (99.5% chance). They are in as long as they don't lose to both IU and Mich.

Ryan Day won't lose his job if he loses to a 10-0 team ranked 5th in the country.