I’ve been saying since the beginning of time that college football respect is about history and tradition. It’s not about what you’ve done this year but it’s about what you’ve done over the long haul. It’s unfortunate but it’s true.
When the rankings come out in the preseason. It’s more about what you did the season prior to this foolishness and even several seasons prior to this foolishness than it does in the current moment.
That brings us to Sunday’s announcement of No.11 Indiana not being picked to play in a New Year’s Six Bowl. Talk about getting shafted!!! Instead, they’re playing on January 2 and they aren’t even playing a ranked opponent. They’ve got old dull Mississippi in the Outback Bowl and it’s at 12:30pm.
Not even a prime time television slot. It’s beyond bogus how this all works. These kids have played the season of a lifetime in Bloomington and this is how the powers that be reward their efforts.
Don’t get it twisted, No.4 Texas A&M got shafted too by having to play on January 2 too but at least they’re playing No.13 North Carolina in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl. They’re at least playing a legit Top 25 opponent.
The Hoosiers are playing Ole Miss!!! How did No.14 Northwestern get Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Years Day and the Hoosiers got Ole Miss the following day? Yeah, I know that Northwestern at least won their division in the Big Ten but the bowl committee isn’t looking at who won their freakin’ division when they’re choosing teams to play in their respective bowls.
It comes down to reputation, branding and history. IU has none of that. So therefore they’ve got to duplicate it’s 2020 success for the next several years in order to get the respect they deserve for this season. Then maybe they’ll get a reputable ranking in the preseason and they won’t get shafted when the selections are announced. It’s ridiculous but it’s the truth. Stop me when I start lyin’!
