Every college football season, there’s that one argument that refuses to die: “Is a team playing cupcakes on their schedule worth ranking above teams tackling a massive gauntlet?” And this time around, Paul Finebaum is once again back to dishing out a hot take on this matter. See, here’s the thing. Not all undefeated seasons are built the same. Some are forged in fire, like running through Tuscaloosa, Athens, and Death Valley in consecutive weeks. Others? Well, as Finebaum would agree, are built on soft defenses, group-of-five walkovers, and quarterbacks who haven’t faced a real pass rush since August.

Back on DawgNation, Finebaum makes it clear that he has a problem with one such team that is getting all these flowers for all the wrong reasons. “I’m thrilled that Indiana was able to come from behind against a flatline, comatose team that fired its coach four weeks ago… but that doesn’t make me feel any better about Indiana. I’d like to see them play Georgia’s schedule or Alabama’s schedule, go through that gauntlet, they couldn’t do it,” Finebaum said flatly. Now, SEC bias and Finebaum are synonymous, but can you really hate the man for pointing out how a team whose undefeated start has come against programs with a combined record of below .500, is ranked higher than Texas A&M, Bama, Georgia, and Ole Miss? Teams that have survived nationally ranked games.

Still, the Hoosiers’ fanbase has every reason to fire back. Keep in mind, this is Cignetti’s 2nd year with the boys, and he is once again in the playoff picture. All of this with a team that has probably never seen a positive season beforehand.

And to give credit where credit is due, Indiana handled a rank-3 Oregon team masterfully early on in the season. Also, that game-winning drive against Penn State was pure offensive perfection. Now you can argue, as Finebaum had pointed out, that the Nittany Lions were a “flatline comatose” team, but that still doesn’t take away from the fact that this team, under interim head coach Terry Smith, put up a masterclass on defense.

The Lions had Curt Cignetti’s Heisman hopeful QB Fernando Mendoza on the edge at all times, but he still came out on top. While Indiana and Cignetti’s undefeated run is nothing compared to what Alabama, Georgia, and even Ole Miss are facing, you cannot take away the fact that the Hoosiers are playing good ball. But then again, saying “Google me, I win,” and only having 2 ranked wins, but being ranked second in the country, is something even Josh Pate cannot digest.

The Curt Cignetti bias

“So, Indiana State at number two. A&M still at number three. I would switch those two right now. I would put A&M at number two.” Pate’s take on the matter isn’t that far off from what Finebaum pointed out today. Mike Elko and the Aggies have been on a massive roll.

A pitch-perfect 9-0 record with 3 ranked wins (On the road, mind you). See, the committee might say that they focus on “strength of schedule,” but the AP Polls have reflected otherwise. Both Indiana and Ohio State are ranked at a spot where, for some people like Pate or Finebaum, it just doesn’t make much sense.

Regardless, the fans already know that there is pretty much nothing stopping Indiana from going undefeated in the regular season. You have a 3-6 Badgers team that’s on life support and a Purdue team that was frankly never really good.

What will truly test Cignetti and the Hoosiers’ claim for the crown is maybe the B1G title game. Other than that, well, haters can hate, but Indiana is still going to remain undefeated.