Joel Klatt is tuning into the ongoing discussions surrounding Indiana and their standing in the College Football Playoff. He’s not buying into the negative narrative being spun by the national media regarding the Hoosiers and their schedule. Instead, he’s ready to defend their impressive performance this season.
Defending Indiana’s Dominance
During the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show, the FOX Sports analyst took a firm stance against those who seek to undermine Indiana’s achievements. While he acknowledges that the Hoosiers’ schedule may not be stellar, he believes the situation is more complex than the media portrays. Klatt emphasizes that you cannot overlook Indiana’s dominance on the field.
“What should a good team do against, let’s call it, a bad schedule, an easy schedule? They should be dominant. They should be dominant. They shouldn’t be eking out wins by three. They shouldn’t be going to overtime with teams that they have no business being in overtime with. They should be dominant in those games. That’s exactly what Indiana has done,” Klatt stated passionately.
Looking Back at the Schedule
Klatt makes a compelling argument about the external factors that have influenced Indiana’s schedule. While it may appear easier than anticipated, the Hoosiers have consistently outperformed their opponents. Reflecting on the schedule, Klatt points out that it looked much tougher when it was first released.
“I think that they’re much better than people realize,” he remarked. “Everybody is focused on their strength of schedule. And yet, and listen, it’s not great. I’m not here to defend their schedule. But what I am gonna defend are two things. One is that if you looked at that schedule in August, it looked vastly different.”
He continued, “They had Ohio State, Michigan, and Washington on their schedule. That was three of the top seven teams in the country from the end of last year, right before the bowl games. Nobody thought that Nick Saban was gonna leave, which was gonna prompt Kalen DeBoer to leave Washington and go down to Alabama, and Jim Harbaugh gets the Chargers job. When we were sitting here back then, no one was complaining about Indiana’s schedule. They’re complaining about it now.”
Indiana’s Impressive Performance
Klatt’s insights highlight a crucial point: Indiana has been nothing short of dominant this season. Their average margin of victory is among the best in the country, showcasing their ability to not just win, but to win decisively. “Nobody has a better margin of victory than Indiana this year. Their average margin of victory is up there with the best in the country. They have been dominant,” he added, underscoring the team’s performance.
He further elaborated, “The team, the players, the coaches, they have this schedule put in front of them. They prepare themselves to go and be as dominant as they can against the schedule in front of them. They have no control over what’s going to happen with those teams.”
Playoff Implications
As Indiana gears up for a crucial matchup against Ohio State this weekend, Klatt believes a win could solidify their position in the College Football Playoff conversation. “I don’t care how the (Ohio State) game goes. I think Indiana has done enough to this point where if they’re an 11-1 team, they’re probably going to be in the College Football Playoff and should be,” he asserted.
This notion raises an important question: should a team’s schedule dictate their worthiness for the playoff? Klatt argues against this idea, stating, “This notion that they have to somehow prove something just because their schedule is not great, I think, is laughable. I really do. I think it’s laughable. That is not their problem. It is not their problem.”
Perception vs. Reality
Klatt’s remarks also touch on the perception of teams based on their brand. He suggests that if Indiana were a different program, the scrutiny might not be as intense. “If this was a different brand, we wouldn’t be doing this. And do you know how I know that? Because there are bad resumes all around them, all around them with teams that have lost football games, which Indiana has not done,” he pointed out.
This perspective invites fans to consider how biases can shape narratives in college football. It’s essential to recognize that while strength of schedule is a factor, it shouldn’t overshadow a team’s performance and achievements.
The Road Ahead
As the season progresses, Indiana has the opportunity to silence critics with their performance against Ohio State. A victory would not only bolster their playoff hopes but also validate their season. Klatt’s passionate defense of the Hoosiers serves as a reminder that in college football, it’s not just about who you play, but how you play against them.
In the end, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee will have the final say. But for now, Klatt’s words resonate with fans who believe in the Hoosiers’ potential. Will Indiana rise to the occasion and prove their doubters wrong? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the excitement of college football is alive and well, and the Hoosiers are ready to make their mark.
