At the start of the 2024 college football season, few would have predicted that the Indiana Hoosiers would be in their first year under head coach Curt Cignetti would be one of the biggest stories in sports. At a perfect 8-0 and ranked No. 13 in the country, Indiana is already bowl eligible and has a chance to make the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. The Hoosiers are on par with the powerhouses and the top-ranked team in the country of Oregon, and are one of two teams alongside Army that have never trailed in a game this season.
Saturdays exclusively on PeacockIndiana will face Michigan State in pursuit of the Old Brass Spitoon, the trophy awarded to the winner of this match since 1950 (the legend of the Spitoon says the ship itself has been around for almost 200 years). Michigan State enters this matchup at 4-4 (2-3 in Big Ten play) and has already matched last season’s win total. First-year head coach Jonathan Smith is trying to make sure the Spartans are bowl eligible for the first time since the 2021 season. But after starting 3-0, Michigan State has lost four of its last five and will have a tough task correcting against this unexpectedly rolling Indiana team.
For all the information you need about this matchup, including how to watch exclusively on Peacock and exactly what history is at stake for Indiana, see below.
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Has college football in Indiana ever been 9-0?
The Indiana Hoosiers football team has never started a season 9-0. 2024 marks only the second 8-0 season in program history, with the first coming in 1967.
Curt Cignetti has the distinction of being the only coach in Indiana history to start his tenure as head coach 8-0 after getting James Madison off to a 10-0 start in the 2023 season.
Has Indiana ever made the College Football Playoff?
Indiana has never made the College Football playoffs and is attempting to do so this season for the first time in school history. Starting in week 10, they would be the first team of the twelve-team CFP based on the AP rankings (the first official CFP rankings will be released on Tuesday, November 5).
How to watch Indiana vs Michigan State college football
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