Getty Picture / James Black
We’re getting right down to the nitty gritty of choosing what twelve groups will happen within the first expanded model of the Faculty Soccer playoffs. And, with lower than three weeks to go earlier than choice Sunday, the Indiana Hoosiers are on the heart of a lot of the dialog.
The ten-0 Hoosiers have an opportunity to primarily clinch a spot this weekend if they will beat the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus. However, ESPN analyst Joey Galloway, an Ohio State alum, doesn’t suppose the group ought to even play star quarterback Kurtis Rourke in a bid to protect their playoff bid.
The most recent version of the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings got here out on Tuesday, and Indiana remained robust at #5. At 10-0, and with a cupcake remaining sport subsequent week in opposition to Purdue, you’d suppose their possibilities at getting within the playoffs at 11-1 could be thought of a lock.
However, Indiana’s power of schedule is poor, rating round 100 in numerous metrics. It’s not their fault that Ohio State is the one group of the highest of the Huge Ten that was on its schedule this 12 months. However, that’s the way it labored out. Some suppose that if the Hoosiers get blown out on Saturday, they need to be ranked beneath the plethora of two-loss groups within the SEC as a result of lack of high quality wins. Ohio State is the one ranked group on the schedule, and the non-conference schedule was completely horrible.
So, Booger McFarland has an concept he thinks is fairly sensible. He instructed Indiana bench star switch quarterback Kurtis Rourke for the sport to ensure he doesn’t get injured. An harm to Rourke would doubtless imply Indiana misses the playoffs.
sure he did pic.twitter.com/AWrwo80Dys
— CJ Fogler ???? (@cjzero) November 20, 2024
Truthfully, if we consider in what our metrics are saying, If I’m Indiana, I don’t know if I’m taking part in Rourke in opposition to Ohio State. We see what occurred to Florida State final 12 months with Jordan Travis. What may hold Indiana out of this? getting their quarterback harm? We’ve seen it occur to Florida State final 12 months.
Sure, Joey. I’m certain the committee will love a group deliberately shedding a sport to maintain their quarterback wholesome. Regardless of what occurred to 13-0 Florida State final 12 months, who missed the CFP after an harm to star quarterback Jordan Travis, that’s not cause for Indiana to deliberately lose the largest sport within the historical past of Indiana soccer.
Rourke, a switch from Ohio, has been a revelation in Bloomington. Regardless of lacking a sport, he has over 2,400 yards passing, 21 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions this 12 months. In reality, he’s a fringe Heisman candidate. Indiana will want an enormous sport from him on Saturday to maintain tempo with the Buckeyes.
