Indiana football earns spot in AP Top 25 rankings for first time since 2021

Indiana football continues to put together a terrific start to the 2024 season and on Sunday, the Hoosiers earned a spot in the AP Top 25 rankings.

After earning votes in each of the last two weeks, Indiana jumped up to No. 23 overall. IU is also No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.

At 5-0, it is the best start for the program in 57 years. It is also the first five-game winning streak since 1987.

Indiana defeated Maryland on Saturday in its Big Ten home-opener, 42-28. That is the first time since 2015 that the Hoosiers have scored 40+ points in four-straight games. The Hoosiers also put together back-to-back games with 500+ yards of total offense for the first time since 2015

“We are what we are, and we have a blueprint and a plan and a philosophy how to play the game. It’s all about people and processes,” Cignetti said following the win. “I think we’ve got a chance to be a good football team. Todd Blackledge said at the end of the UCLA game that this is a good football team, Indiana. You’ve got to prove it every day, every play.

In addition to its record, Indiana has also been projected by a few ESPN analysts to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Right now, ESPN has Indiana at No. 16 overall in the FPI rankings, with a 39.6 percent chance of making the playoff — the 11th best percent in the country.

“We take a lot of pride in it. We take pride in every single win,” IU wideout Elijah Sarratt said. “But, we gotta go out there next week, do the same thing, put the work in in practice, and try to go 6-0.

Indiana takes the field next weekend at Northwestern.

SEE ALSO: ‘You’ve got to prove it every day’: Culture around the Indiana football program has changed — thanks to ‘blueprint’ leading IU to best start in 57 years

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