Indiana football remains favorite against USC in top-20 matchup

Indiana is projected to win its upcoming top-20 matchup against USC at Memorial Stadium, though recent projections suggest a more competitive contest than previously anticipated. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) currently gives the Hoosiers a 78.2% chance of victory, a decrease from a previous projection of 86.7%.

While Indiana remains the favorite, the shift follows USC’s recent victory over Ohio State. The ESPN SP+ model projects a 31-20 win for Indiana with a 74% win probability. Oddsmakers have also adjusted their lines, moving from Indiana being a 10-point favorite to approximately 7.5 points.

Separately, discussions regarding media bias in college football rankings have emerged. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and Big Ten coach Kirk Ferentz have addressed potential financial incentives for networks like ESPN to favor SEC teams due to broadcasting contracts. Analysts note that while SEC bias exists, playoff rankings also show disparities between teams with identical records within the same conference.