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By Andrew Gould
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The initial College Football Playoff rankings have drawn heated debate over several controversial decisions. Indiana's placement has particularly elicited backlash.
Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers start No. 4 in the CFP rankings despite falling to No. 6 in the latest AP poll. The defending champions are 6-1 with no victories against a ranked opponent.
ESPN's Jordan Rodgers blasted the selection committee for placing Indiana so high on Wednesday's "First Take."
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"Indiana at No. 4 is absurd," Rodgers declared. "... They are not the fourth-best team in the country. They have looked inept on offense the last four weeks."
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Indiana has scored 74 combined points over the last four games, obtaining all three victories by seven points or fewer. That stretch includes a 19-15 home loss to Ohio State, which ranks No. 12 after losing to USC without starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
Rodgers believes the rankings send a bad message to schools that strength of schedule is irrelevant.
"Eight spots ahead of Ohio State, who beat you? That is absolutely absurd," Rodgers repeated. "I don't see it. I don't understand how, in the metrics they shouldn't be that high. In the eye test, they shouldn't be that high. And Ohio State, really, if they hadn't played Texas, would be a one-loss team and they'd be ahead of Indiana. So the committee is literally saying, 'Schedule whoever you want. Schedule Howard and Western Kentucky. We don't care, as long as you win.'"
Chris "Mad Dog" Russo was also incredulous over Indiana's position in the preliminary CFP rankings after Saturday's close call over Minnesota. The Hoosiers salvaged a 23-16 win after Paddy McAteer sent the game into overtime with a 60-yard field goal at the end of regulation.
"They barely beat Nebraska on the road. They barely beat Michigan, where they had to go into overtime," Russo said. "And they were unbelievably lucky ... with the game against Minnesota. Very, very lucky. How are they the fourth-best team in the country? And they played nobody. They did nothing in the early part of the season. That is ridiculous. I was shocked that they had them fourth."
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