Notre Dame football is still the best team in Indiana, says analyst

Most years, “who is the best team in Indiana?” is not even a question. Notre Dame football has been running the state for years. Decades. The better part of the last century.

Things have changed a little bit with Curt Cignetti's arrival in Bloomington. The Indiana Hoosiers are not only good but also playoff contenders. They’re undefeated, and their offense is one of the best in the country. 

So naturally, some college football analysts decided to do a thought experiment. Is Notre Dame football (who has a loss to lowly Northern Illinois on the resume) still the best team in the state of Indiana? Matt Fortuna stepped into the breach and gave the correct answer. Yes, the Irish are still best but Indiana is gaining and Purdue continues to not even be in the conversation.

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Notre Dame football still the best team in the state

“It’s a great question,” Fortuna started his response. “It's a fascinating question.  We're talking about the losingest program in FBS history against arguably the bluest of bluebloods in all of college football.”

“When you put it like that.  I mean, Rudy versus Hoosiers, same director.  Maybe we can get a playoff matchup on one of those campuses next month.  But no, Indiana, look, you can't take away from them, right?  I mean, they've not only won every game on their schedule. They’ve dominated their opposition.  They have yet to trail in a game this season.”

After Fortuna laid out the positives of their resume, he came back with why the Hoosiers aren’t quite there yet.

“That strength of schedule is right at 91st, according to Jeff Sagarin.  I don't want to take away from them.  I think if you want to say right now Indiana's better, I'm not going to argue with you.”

Then he laid out why Notre Dame football is still the king of the Hoosier State. 

“But I do think if they met on the field tomorrow, Notre Dame would win that game.  That Notre Dame defense is for real.  And I just don't think the Hoosiers have faced anything quite like it.”