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ATLANTA — Over the final month of the regular season, one college football team endured more criticism than any other: Indiana.
They played nobody!
Their strength of schedule stinks!
They shouldn’t even be considered for the playoff!
Well, as it turns out, the Hoosiers weren’t so bad after all. Their only two losses of the season came against each of the participants in the national championship game.
“Our two losses are to the No. 1 and No. 2 team in the country, on the road in their place in a hostile environment,” said IU coach Curt Cignetti. “I think everybody thought we were a great story until the College Football Playoff rankings came out and then everybody’s self interest took over and then it became political.”
Speaking in downtown Atlanta, a mile from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the site of Monday night’s title bout between Notre Dame and Ohio State, Cignetti offers, perhaps, the best scouting report of anyone in the country. He knows both teams, played both teams and lost to both teams.
In Columbus, Indiana led the Buckeyes 7-0, then had a punt blocked, allowed another to be returned and eventually lost 38-15. Against Notre Dame, in the first round of the playoff, the Hoosiers never led, trailed 20-3 at one point and lost 27-17.
Both teams “deserved” to beat the Hoosiers, he says. Indiana didn’t play well enough on special teams at Ohio State and didn’t play aggressive enough in South Bend.
In scouting the matchup, the coach points to the statistics. He’s a data guy.
“Great matchup. Two great coaches. No. 1 vs. No. 2-ranked defenses in the country,” he said. “Notre Dame actually scores more points a game than Ohio State, which would surprise 95% of the people, but Notre Dame scores points … they are No. 1 in the country on defensive touchdowns, No. 1 in blocked kicks with six and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/how-will-national-championship-play-out-two-key-coaches-weigh-in-on-ohio-state-vs-notre-dame-183526642.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2025-01-19 18:35:00
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