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In College Football's 12-Team Playoff Era, Indiana's Magical Season Gives Hope to All

James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

One short year ago, at almost this exact moment, the Indiana football team was 2-6, having lost four consecutive football games. The head coach at the time, Tom Allen, was trying to hang on, hoping to keep his job. Ultimately, he did not.

The long slog for a broken football program was beginning its excruciating end. Basketball season was in its infancy. A team that needed four overtimes to beat Akron earlier in the year—one of its three wins in 2023—was nowhere close to being competitive.

On Saturday, Indiana moved to 8-0.