Don’t be fooled by the final score of the Notre Dame vs. Indiana game, as it was not as close as it appears. The 7th-seeded Irish defeated 10th-seeded Indiana 27-17 on Friday night, but the game was well out of reach by the time it ended. Notre Dame was comfortably ahead 27-3 late in the fourth quarter, with their backups on the field. It wasn’t until Indiana scored a touchdown and recovered an onside kick late in the game that they added another score, making it seem closer than it actually was. This game ended up being a blowout, despite what the score indicates.
It’s unfortunate that the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff game ended in a blowout, as the expanded format was meant to deliver more competitive first-round matchups. Sadly, the inaugural game didn’t live up to those expectations. Social media buzzed throughout the game, with many questioning Indiana’s place in the playoff. It’s hard to deny that teams like Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss, or possibly Miami (FL) would have posed a much tougher challenge than Indiana did. However, the College Football Playoff committee didn’t see it that way.
The committee should be embarrassed for one crucial reason after this game: strength of schedule matters. Throughout the season, the CFP committee emphasized the importance of strength of schedule, yet their rankings didn’t reflect that. A prime example is Georgia, which dropped nine spots after a loss to a ranked Ole Miss team on the road, a fall that seemed excessive. In contrast, Miami didn’t drop nearly as far after a loss to a weaker opponent. Strength of schedule is why many believed teams like Alabama and Ole Miss deserved playoff spots over teams like SMU and Indiana, whose schedules were far less challenging. Both of these teams failed to secure a top-25 win, making their inclusion in the playoff seem questionable.
This first playoff game proves that strength of schedule really does matter. Many felt Indiana didn’t deserve a playoff spot due to their weak schedule, and this game confirmed those doubts, as Indiana didn’t appear to be a top-25 team, let alone a top-12 team. Hopefully, the committee takes this into account for next season, as sometimes the more deserving teams should be chosen over those who simply meet the technical requirements but aren’t truly competitive.
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