Indiana Falls to No. 9 in CFP Rankings
The Hoosiers dropped five spots after their bye week in the second College Football Playoff rankings update.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Football
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Indiana fell five spots to No. 9 in the second College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, following its bye week. The Hoosiers are 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, with their lone loss coming against Ohio State.
Why it matters
Indiana's ranking will shape its playoff path, as the current bracket projects a first-round matchup with No. 8 Tennessee if the season ended today. Three more rankings will be released before the final bracket is set.
Indiana holds a 5-1 record against teams over .500 and ranks No. 8 in FPI and strength of record, but sits at No. 42 in strength of schedule. Future rankings could still shift these metrics before the bracket is finalized.
The players
Curt Cignetti
Cignetti is the head football coach at Indiana, who has commented publicly on the team's upcoming challenge against USC.
The details
Indiana's wins include Northwestern, at Nebraska, at Michigan and Minnesota, and its only defeat came against Ohio State. The Hoosiers played nine straight games to open the season before their bye week, and USC rose two spots to No. 18 after an off week.
Timeline
Tuesday night: Second CFP rankings released, with Indiana falling to No. 9.
Monday: Curt Cignetti commented on the upcoming USC challenge.
Sunday, Dec. 6: Final College Football Playoff bracket to be revealed.
Season Trajectory
Indiana's No. 9 position places it among the teams still contending for a first-round matchup with No. 8 Tennessee in the current projected bracket. The remaining three rankings will determine whether the Hoosiers can climb back toward the top eight seeds.
Indiana's current No. 9 position means its first-round playoff opponent and bracket path depend on the remaining ranking updates. Fans tracking playoff seeding should watch the next three releases for changes in Indiana's placement.
The takeaway
Indiana's ranking can still change significantly over the next three CFP updates, so its playoff position is not yet settled. Following each release will show how its metrics and schedule strength shape the final bracket.
What happens next
Three more College Football Playoff rankings will be released before the final bracket is revealed on Sunday, Dec. 6.
Further reading
For more on the Hoosiers' season, explore the latest Football coverage.
Live Poll
Do you plan to watch Indiana's game against USC this weekend?
