IUFB Offseason Updates

[Lebowski]

17 hours ago, Hardwood83 said:

2 questions: Let's say IU goes 10-2, dropping games @ Oregon & PSU.....still making the playoff? Gotta think in that scenario they will be a top 4 B1G team probably including Penn State, Oregon & O$U. 

Second, would you rather IU gets into the playoff again and loses similar to last year, not a blowout, but not really competitive either. OR goes to a Bowl game and wins? 

My answers are 1) Yes, 10-2 gets them back to playoff and 2) I'd rather win a bowl game then lose immediately in the playoff. 

1. Depends. Short answer, more than likely. But if there are multiple 10-2 teams it gets trickier. For example, if UM, Illini, a dark horse (say USC) and some SEC schools finish 10-2, then we got an uphill battle. Finishing undefeated or with one loss then we're back in the playoffs 100%. 

2. PLAYOFFS!! Aside from winning it, a CFP appearance is the most prestigious accomplishment in college football. It's the reason we're currently get hammered by the SEC media about our appearance last year. They want that spot for a reason. We broke the status quo by going 11-1 in the Big Ten conference. Now the selection committee is changing the criteria on getting an at-large selection. Going forward, we should be looking at playing in a non CFP bowl as a participation trophy. CFP gets the eyes of the 5 and 4 star recruits, it brings in more money to the program, it improves the brand, it is the whole enchilada. It's the new tradition now. Wanting to play in a bowl over the CFP is like saying you would rather walk to your vacation destination instead of flying to it.

[Stuhoo]

There are 136 College Football Playoff (FBS) eligible men's football teams.

• About 9% (12) make the playoffs. That is a special group that is notable. 
• Each year about 60% are bowl eligible - primarily because the FBS record is .500, and most all add an FCS win to their non-conference schedule. That is not notable.

FWIW --there are 365 NCAA eligible men's basketball teams.

• 18% (68) make the NCAA tournament.

[Lebowski]

23 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

There are 136 College Football Playoff (FBS) eligible men's football teams.

• About 9% (12) make the playoffs. That is a special group that is notable. 
• Each year about 60% are bowl eligible - primarily because the FBS record is .500, and most all add an FCS win to their non-conference schedule. That is not notable.

FWIW --there are 365 NCAA eligible men's basketball teams.

• 18% (68) make the NCAA tournament.

I can't wait until they expand to a 24 or 32 team playoff. Personally, I think they should go ahead and adopt the FCS format like, yesterday. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Seems moderately newsworthy from Osterman

IU is entering into a field-naming agreement with Merchants Bank. Effective immediately, the Memorial Stadium playing surface has been renamed Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Total commitment from Merchants is $50 million.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/08/21/indiana-football-field-merchants-bank-sponsor-why-money-college-sports-nil-revenue-share/85749126007/

[Pagoda]

49 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Seems moderately newsworthy from Osterman

IU is entering into a field-naming agreement with Merchants Bank. Effective immediately, the Memorial Stadium playing surface has been renamed Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Total commitment from Merchants is $50 million.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/08/21/indiana-football-field-merchants-bank-sponsor-why-money-college-sports-nil-revenue-share/85749126007/

Thanks.  I'd say very newsworthy.  Our athletic dept needs the money and this and the Lucas Oil sponsorship for the field suites, etc. all adds up.  This is like an extra home game worth of cash flow every year, or a little over 10% of our rev share costs.

The name sounds fine too -- Merchants Bank Field.  Sometimes sponsors names don't sound good.

[Hoosierfan2017]

These doofuses are insufferable. But I love IUFB being relevant enough to piss off the SEC shills. Yeah, IU’s non-conference stinks. Guess what, we play 9 conference games. The sheer stupidity of Finebaum lauding Alabama for playing freaking Wisconsin while ignoring that IU plays them too this season makes me laugh. We aren’t all lucky enough to get an FCS tune-up game in mid-November.

https://twitter.com/rygi13/status/1958264613725966708?s=46&t=LoczziaTWuqlhvyvHGT92A

[Demo]

26 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

These doofuses are insufferable. But I love IUFB being relevant enough to piss off the SEC shills. Yeah, IU’s non-conference stinks. Guess what, we play 9 conference games. The sheer stupidity of Finebaum lauding Alabama for playing freaking Wisconsin while ignoring that IU plays them too this season makes me laugh. We aren’t all lucky enough to get an FCS tune-up game in mid-November.

https://twitter.com/rygi13/status/1958264613725966708?s=46&t=LoczziaTWuqlhvyvHGT92A

The appeal of Paul Finebaum is, has and always will be utterly lost on me. Seriously, why on earth is that guy a thing?

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

These doofuses are insufferable. But I love IUFB being relevant enough to piss off the SEC shills. Yeah, IU’s non-conference stinks. Guess what, we play 9 conference games. The sheer stupidity of Finebaum lauding Alabama for playing freaking Wisconsin while ignoring that IU plays them too this season makes me laugh. We aren’t all lucky enough to get an FCS tune-up game in mid-November.

https://twitter.com/rygi13/status/1958264613725966708?s=46&t=LoczziaTWuqlhvyvHGT92A

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA

Paul Finebaum is maaad. And not especially 'truthy.' HE MAAAAAD!!

It would be kinda funny if he really understands the truth and is just trolling for ratings. But it would be truly delicious if he actually believes this stuff!

[Pagoda]

3 minutes ago, Hardwood83 said:

Gonna be tough for the SEC not coasting based off Bama's dominance anymore. They just got a pass for the last 15yrs because Bama was so good. Were they the best conference? Yeah most of the time, but things change and they are gonna have to earn it now without the 800lb gorilla to do all the heavy lifting. 

 

[Hovadipo]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA

Paul Finebaum is maaad. And not especially 'truthy.' HE MAAAAAD!!

It would be kinda funny if he really understands the truth and is just trolling for ratings. But it would be truly delicious if he actually believes this stuff!

It’s absolutely the former, unfortunately. 

[Stuhoo]

52 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

It’s absolutely the former, unfortunately. 

#baldFootballDakich

[Hoosierfan2017]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA

Paul Finebaum is maaad. And not especially 'truthy.' HE MAAAAAD!!

It would be kinda funny if he really understands the truth and is just trolling for ratings. But it would be truly delicious if he actually believes this stuff!

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

A tip of my hat @Hoosierfan2017

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Courtesy of The Daily Hoosier

[Hovadipo]

A national CFB writer dropping an assistant player personnel hiring seems noteworthy.

[Demo]

1 minute ago, Hovadipo said:

A national CFB writer dropping an assistant player personnel hiring seems noteworthy.

That, and a young guy looking to grow his career in college football LEFT GEORGIA FOR INDIANA. 
Have officially entered an alternate universe.

[DChoosier]

On 8/20/2025 at 1:21 PM, DChoosier said:

I am 110% on board with scheduling “sure win” non-conference games.  That being said, 2026 looks a little more interesting than this year but 2027 is absolutely putrid. You would think we could find a couple of “less crappy” crappy teams to play.

IU's non-league schedules

2025: ODU, Kennesaw St, Indiana St

2026: Howard, Colorado St, WKU

2027: Kennesaw St, Indiana St, UMass

2028: Austin Peay, Miami (Oh), E. Michigan

So the word is that the SEC is going to 9 conference games plus require a P4 OOC contest.  If that’s the case I am sure the Big Ten will match the P4 out of conference game requirement. I’ll bet Scott D wishes he didn’t give UVA $500,000 to get out of that series as UVA would have been a perfect way to meet the requirement (the downside is that the scintillating Kennesaw State rematch would not have been scheduled). 

If we have another great year, which I am expecting, it will be interesting to see if a UVA-type team will even want to play us as I’m sure that, when the deal was originally signed, UVA assumed they had a good chance of beating us.

In any case getting both conference on 9 conf games+1 P4 schedules will be a good thing for CFB.

[Lebowski]

3 hours ago, DChoosier said:

So the word is that the SEC is going to 9 conference games plus require a P4 OOC contest.  If that’s the case I am sure the Big Ten will match the P4 out of conference game requirement. I’ll bet Scott D wishes he didn’t give UVA $500,000 to get out of that series as UVA would have been a perfect way to meet the requirement (the downside is that the scintillating Kennesaw State rematch would not have been scheduled). 

If we have another great year, which I am expecting, it will be interesting to see if a UVA-type team will even want to play us as I’m sure that, when the deal was originally signed, UVA assumed they had a good chance of beating us.

In any case getting both conference on 9 conf games+1 P4 schedules will be a good thing for CFB.

Yeah hindsight is always 20/20. I foresee us dropping ISU in 2027, AP in 2028, and most likely Howard next year.  Ideally, picking up an SEC opponent would be preferred.  UK is the most likely fan favorite.  

[Pagoda]

4 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

Yeah hindsight is always 20/20. I foresee us dropping ISU in 2027, AP in 2028, and most likely Howard next year.  Ideally, picking up an SEC opponent would be preferred.  UK is the most likely fan favorite.  

UK may be tough to schedule -- I'd guess their P4 game will be Louisville?

[Hovadipo]

32 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

UK may be tough to schedule -- I'd guess their P4 game will be Louisville?

Got them booked through 2030. Not happenin’.