In the world of college football, narratives are created in the blink of an eye. Teams rise and fall based on a few key moments, a season-defining upset, or an unforeseen catastrophe. But one thing is certain—some teams always seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to respect and recognition. And in light of Notre Dame’s stunning blowout victory over Georgia, it’s high time the college football world owes Indiana an apology.
To understand why, we have to rewind to the 2024 season when Indiana was largely written off by critics, media pundits, and even many fans, as a second-tier program in the Big Ten. Indiana, despite a strong season a year before, was dismissed as irrelevant, with many predicting a mediocre performance at best. Meanwhile, Georgia, a juggernaut under coach Kirby Smart, was considered an indomitable force in the Southeastern Conference and a national championship contender. But here’s where the narrative begins to fracture.
Indiana faced Notre Dame early that season in a game that saw the Hoosiers put up a valiant fight. Yet, the Irish came away with a hard-fought victory. Critics and analysts were quick to call it a fluke, excusing Indiana’s effort as an outlier in a long season. The Hoosiers were blamed for their lack of consistency and were quickly swept under the rug, their strong performance deemed irrelevant.
Fast forward to the recent clash between Notre Dame and Georgia. Many were shocked when the Irish decimated the Bulldogs, a team many had pegged as an unshakeable contender for the national title. Notre Dame’s 45-14 rout of Georgia wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. But here’s the critical point that many conveniently overlook: Indiana, a team written off as irrelevant, was the one that gave Notre Dame its toughest challenge of the season, pushing them to the brink.
If Indiana, with all of its perceived flaws, can push Notre Dame to such a close game, only for the Irish to turn around and make Georgia look pedestrian, it’s clear that there was more to Indiana’s season than meets the eye. Indiana’s performance against Notre Dame in 2024, despite the loss, suggested they were a far more formidable opponent than pundits gave them credit for. But this was brushed aside in favor of discussing Georgia’s dominance, Ohio State’s “elite” program, and the perennial talk of the “blue bloods.”
The result against Georgia now forces the issue—Indiana wasn’t just any team. It’s time to reassess what we’ve been told about the college football landscape. If Notre Dame can wipe the floor with Georgia after battling Indiana to a close game, it suggests that the Hoosiers were operating on a higher level than what the media narrative had presented. In short, Indiana deserves far more credit than it’s been given, and the college football world owes them an apology for its previous dismissive stance.
Indiana’s overlooked performance now carries weight, especially when contrasted with Georgia’s dismal showing. For all the talk of SEC supremacy, it’s hard to ignore the reality that the Big Ten had a real contender that few respected. Georgia’s embarrassing loss should have been a wake-up call for the media—maybe, just maybe, they misjudged Indiana’s potential.
It’s time for the college football world to admit it made a huge mistake in underestimating Indiana, and by extension, the real strength of Notre Dame’s schedule and victories. Those who dismissed the Hoosiers in favor of more marketable programs should take a hard look at the broader picture. After Notre Dame’s rout of Georgia, one thing is clear: Indiana’s challenge wasn’t an outlier—it was a true measure of the caliber of teams that lurk beneath the top-tier programs.
To Indiana fans, this should be a moment of vindication. To the pundits, it’s an opportunity to admit they were wrong. The college football world owes Indiana an apology—for failing to see the truth until Notre Dame’s victory over Georgia brought the real story to light.