IUFB Offseason Updates

[CSP]

Just now, DChoosier said:

“On paper” I’m not too worried about strength of schedule comments next year.
This year the first playoff reveal was on Nov 5th. At that point next year we will have played Illinois, at Iowa and at Oregon (and also UCLA which improved throughout the year) which should put our SOS in a better place than this year. 
I just hope we are in the conversation. If people are blowing us sh!te at least that means we are in the running.

And if we go 11-1, again, next regular season.... we'll be in the CFP, again. 

[Lebowski]

7 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

And if we go 11-1, again, next regular season.... we'll be in the CFP, again. 

I think it's safe to say this is the expectation and standard for IUFB. 

[steubenhoosier]

Regardless, I think we should at least be playing 1 P4 opponent out of conference each year. No right to criticize the SEC schools if we don’t, even if they play one less conference game.

As well, as the stature of the program continues to grow I think it will be imperative for season ticket sales to not start every season with three substandard opponents 

[go iu bb]

22 minutes ago, steubenhoosier said:

Regardless, I think we should at least be playing 1 P4 opponent out of conference each year. No right to criticize the SEC schools if we don’t, even if they play one less conference game.

As well, as the stature of the program continues to grow I think it will be imperative for season ticket sales to not start every season with three substandard opponents 

Do any SEC schools play more than 1 P4 school in the non-conference? I know Bama didn't. If not, IU plays 9 games against P4 schools as did Alabama. So you think IU should play more games against P4 schools than SEC schools do? Unless IU plays more P4 games we can't criticize the SEC for playing only 8 conference games? That makes no sense.

It takes time to build a program. Even going into next year, IU will still get less respect than an 11-1 record and a CFP birth should get. That's because it will be believed this year was a fluke. It'll take several seasons in a row of being good to start to get real respect. Getting wins against weak schools helps to pad the win/loss record. If they can win 2/3 or more of their games in conference the respect will come.

[CSP]

40 minutes ago, steubenhoosier said:

Regardless, I think we should at least be playing 1 P4 opponent out of conference each year. No right to criticize the SEC schools if we don’t, even if they play one less conference game.

As well, as the stature of the program continues to grow I think it will be imperative for season ticket sales to not start every season with three substandard opponents 

Mmmm.. sec schools play 8 conference games... absolutely a right to criticize them. 

9 P4 games vs 9 P4 games is equal.  Period. Literally the exact same # 

Tennessee scheduled big bad 6-6 NCST, Bama played 5-7 Wisconsin..... yeah I'm going to continue to criticize them playing 8 conference games. 

[steubenhoosier]

16 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

Do any SEC schools play more than 1 P4 school in the non-conference? I know Bama didn't. If not, IU plays 9 games against P4 schools as did Alabama. So you think IU should play more games against P4 schools than SEC schools do? Unless IU plays more P4 games we can't criticize the SEC for playing only 8 conference games? That makes no sense.

It takes time to build a program. Even going into next year, IU will still get less respect than an 11-1 record and a CFP birth should get. That's because it will be believed this year was a fluke. It'll take several seasons in a row of being good to start to get real respect. Getting wins against weak schools helps to pad the win/loss record. If they can win 2/3 or more of their games in conference the respect will come.

this past year...

 

Florida played 3--Miami, UCF and Florida State

LSU played 2--USC and UCLA

Everyone else played 1

[go iu bb]

8 minutes ago, steubenhoosier said:

this past year...

 

Florida played 3--Miami, UCF and Florida State

LSU played 2--USC and UCLA

Everyone else played 1

So none of the teams that made the CFP or had a real possibility to do so. The majority still only played 9 P4 teams, just like IU.

[Hoosierfan2017]

1 hour ago, steubenhoosier said:

Regardless, I think we should at least be playing 1 P4 opponent out of conference each year. No right to criticize the SEC schools if we don’t, even if they play one less conference game.

As well, as the stature of the program continues to grow I think it will be imperative for season ticket sales to not start every season with three substandard opponents 

This makes no sense. IU played 9 P4 opponents. How many SEC teams played more than 9 P4 opponents?

IU very obviously was not thinking “we’re playoff contenders, let’s build our SOS” when they selected these games 5 years ago. They were thinking “we’re playing OSU, Michigan, PSU, and MSU every single year. What’s our path to 6 wins?”

The moaning about out of conference games is silly. Few teams traditionally play marquee OOC games. 

[CSP]

35 minutes ago, steubenhoosier said:

this past year...

 

Florida played 3--Miami, UCF and Florida State

LSU played 2--USC and UCLA

Everyone else played 1

So 88% of the SEC plays the same amount of P4 teams that we do.... 

 

The football schedule is fine, our basketball schedule needs significant help, though. 

[BtownStrength]

2 hours ago, go iu bb said:

Do any SEC schools play more than 1 P4 school in the non-conference? I know Bama didn't. If not, IU plays 9 games against P4 schools as did Alabama. So you think IU should play more games against P4 schools than SEC schools do? Unless IU plays more P4 games we can't criticize the SEC for playing only 8 conference games? That makes no sense.

It takes time to build a program. Even going into next year, IU will still get less respect than an 11-1 record and a CFP birth should get. That's because it will be believed this year was a fluke. It'll take several seasons in a row of being good to start to get real respect. Getting wins against weak schools helps to pad the win/loss record. If they can win 2/3 or more of their games in conference the respect will come.

I agree with this. We will not get the respect that the name-brand schools will get. I wouldn't mind scheduling a little tougher, but you are right. We would be out if we lost one more, regardless of the schedule. 

And while I'm not defending Bama by any means (as I think the SEC honks are whiners beyond belief), they do have 2 P4 teams on the schedule every year from 2025-2034. I wouldn't be mad if we scheduled a Stanford or Arizona or someone along those lines to a home and home for 2026 and 2029 as those are the coming years we have an OOC P4 gap. 

[TheWatShot]

I wish we could get UK back on the schedule and always have it as the season opener. 

[Doctor Jones]

2 hours ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

So 88% of the SEC plays the same amount of P4 teams that we do.... 

 

The football schedule is fine, our basketball schedule needs significant help, though. 

How many did ND play?  

[CSP]

1 minute ago, Doctor Jones said:

How many did ND play?  

ohhhhhhh--- 8---- hellllluva question 

Plus--- in those 8 were Purdue and Stanford. Wow-- what a schedule! 

[Magnanimous]

[Jeff Flabjohns]

Let’s get MENDOZA

[Jeff Flabjohns]

Has the RB from Maryland signed yet?

[Hoosierfan1901]

5 minutes ago, DoctorP said:

Let’s get MENDOZA

Is he mobile? I think the sack stats are bit misleading for rushing yards 

[Hoosierfan1901]

Tough 2025 stretch (Weeks 4-6)looking at the schedule 

 Illinois 

At Oregon 

At Iowa 

[RoadRage]

6 hours ago, DoctorP said:

Let’s get MENDOZA

What worries me is his old coach is now the OC at UCLA....and UCLA wants him. 

[go iu bb]

I'm disappointed by the loss but it is something to build on. IU still made the the CFP, that can't be taken away. This can be used to sell recruits that they're what's needed to take the next step.