College Football Playoff Rankings reactions: Penn State overrated, Indiana underrated in first top 25

The initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings for the 2024 season have sparked debate, particularly regarding the positioning of Penn State and Indiana.

Penn State, currently ranked No. 9, is facing criticism for what many perceive as an overrated standing. While the Nittany Lions have a strong record, their only notable win came against a struggling Iowa team. Penn State’s offense has lacked the explosive consistency seen from other top-tier teams, and their two losses — to top-ranked Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan — expose a gap in their ability to compete with elite competition. Critics argue that their high ranking doesn’t fully reflect the strength of their schedule and the relatively underwhelming performances against ranked opponents.

On the other hand, Indiana has been largely overlooked in the rankings, even though their season has featured several competitive performances against top teams. At 6-2, the Hoosiers have been a resilient squad in the Big Ten, with narrow losses to top-10 programs. Indiana’s defense has shown flashes of excellence, and their offense is improving steadily. Despite not having a marquee win, Indiana has played some of the toughest opponents in the conference and deserves more recognition than its absence from the rankings suggests. Some analysts believe the Hoosiers could make a late push to climb into the CFP picture with a strong finish to the season.

While the first CFP rankings are always subject to change, these positions have already generated significant debate. Fans and analysts alike will be watching how both Penn State and Indiana fare in the coming weeks to see if the rankings were justified or if the committee misjudged their relative strengths.