How does Indiana football stack up against the best in the country? ‘They can play with anybody’

Indiana football is one of the hottest discussed topics in the country. Why? Because people seem split on whether or not it is a ‘legit‘ 9-0 team and top-13 team in the country.

After remaining unbeaten — one of the four teams left in the country — with a 47-10 win over Michigan State, it is clear — Indiana football continues to make its way closer and closer to a College Football Playoff berth.

So, how do they rank among some of the top teams in the country? Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith is currently the only coach in the Big Ten that’s faced all three of Oregon, Ohio State and now Indiana this season. He offered his take on IU, and how it ranks following Saturday’s game.

“I think they can play with anybody,” Smith said about Indiana.

Despite its win, Indiana saw itself trailing for the first time this season on Saturday. It was a 10-0 deficit after one quarter. Then Indiana turned it on. It was 47 unanswered points and total dominance after 15 minutes.

The reason for that was the front seven performance — one that head coach Curt Cignetti doesn’t believe he’s ‘ever seen’ from a team he’s coached. Indiana had seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

They forced two turnovers and held Michigan State to -24 yards rushing on 32 carries.

“I think physicality, their d-line gave us issues,” Smith said of Indiana.  “I think they will match up pretty well there within that ball park. I think their execution — they do not beat themselves. When plays are there to be made, they are making it.”

IU’s 47 unanswered points was the largest run in program history. Its 9-0 start is the best in program history.

IU has won every game by double-digits this year.

“The whole team’s got a little edge, they’re relentless,” Cignetti said. “So they continue to play very consistently, never perfect, and they’re never satisfied, never satisfied.”

Never satisfied. That’s been Cignetti’s mantra all season. And, Indiana football has taken on that personality, lifting the program to heights it’s never seen.

Saturday’s win changes nothing.

“My job,” Cignetti said. “Is to make them the best they can be.”

SEE ALSO: Was Curt Cignetti concerned about Kurtis Rourke’s potential effectiveness after his injury — ‘That’s human nature’. Saturday’s performance put that all to rest.

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