FanPost

State of Indiana Power Rankings: Pre-Bye Week Edition

This week in Indiana college football featured some big wins and some close losses, though little movement. As the season goes on, you expect things to solidify like this.

The reason that this is the pre-bye week edition is that the power rankings will be going on a bye next week as my wife and I finally take our honeymoon, delayed from our July wedding. I won't be posting next week's rankings omn Sunday, if at all.

Now, on to the rankings.

1. NOTRE DAME (6-0) Notre Dame remains in the hunt for an FBS playoff spot by beating North Carolina 50-43. This win would be more impressive if North Carolina were better than 2-4. Last week: 1

2. PURDUE (3-4) Purdue turned what was expected to be a blowout loss against a top ten ranked Michigan State into a competitive game, one they actually had a chance to win, before losing 45-31. The Boilermakers may not be back, but they are dangerous. Last week: 3

3. INDIANA (3-3) The Hoosiers lost the game Saturday to Iowa 45-29 after losing their quarterback to a separated shoulder. Without their starting QB, their passing game disappeared, and they will need him back to be competitive. Last week: 2

4. INDIANA STATE (4-2) ISU met ISU on Saturday, and as expected, ISU won. Unfortunately for the Sycamores, that ISU was Illinois State, 20-18. Last week: 4

5. INDIANAPOLIS (5-1) The Greyhounds destroyed McKendree 52-7. This is the same squad that St. Joe's narrowly beat two weeks ago. That's the difference between number 5 and number 7 in these rankings. Last week: 5

6. BALL STATE (1-6) This is the last mention of the Iowa game for the Cardinals, as that game increasingly looks like a fluke. The Cardinals lost to Western Michigan 42-38. At least it wasn't Eastern Michigan. Last week: 2π

7. ST. JOSEPH'S (5-1) The Pumas rebounded from their first loss to beat Lincoln University (MO) 28-20. It's not a great win, but it's better than most of the teams on here. Last week: 8

8. BUTLER (3-3) The Bulldogs lost big to Campbell, 28-9. This season is looking quite lost for Butler. Last week: 7

9. VALPARAISO (2-4) Beat Missouri Baptist 55-7. No, that isn't a typo. So what's the catch? Missouri Baptist is NAIA. The Crusaders are 1-0 against NCAA non-members, 1-1 against Division 2, and 0-3 against FCS.

As usual, tell me what I did wrong in the comments.

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