BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Even after throttling a then-top 10 Illinois in Week 4, the narrative hasn't fully gone away for Indiana .

All last season the Hoosiers had to fight back against a notion that they didn't play tough competition on their way to a College Football Playoff berth. Indiana was the surprise story of the 2024 season, ripping off 10 consecutive wins to start the Curt Cignetti tenure at a place known as a basketball-first school.

That 10-0 start included wins over Michigan , Washington and Nebraska , but the critics painted Indiana as a paper tiger. That criticism only amplified when Ohio State beat Indiana, 38-15, and every flaw came under the microscope during playoff campaigning season.

Add in a 27-17 loss to Notre Dame in the CFP opener and it was easy t

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