Indiana football aims to add Power Four opponent to 2027 schedule

Indiana football is actively seeking to add a Power Four non-conference opponent to its 2027 schedule. The move comes in response to the incoming 24-team College Football Playoff structure that is nearing official approval across the sport.

College football scheduling is rarely a straightforward exercise in competition, especially when sweeping structural changes loom on the horizon. Athletic departments across the country constantly balance the delicate math of postseason qualification against the financial and competitive risks of high-profile matchups. For the Hoosiers, that calculus shifted notably under previous leadership and is now adapting once again to meet forthcoming national mandates.

Indiana is currently engaged in talks to add a Power Four opponent to its 2027 non-conference schedule, per a report by The Athletic. “We’ll make adjustments as soon as things are finalized. We’re already in talks” Scott Dolson said. #iufbhttps://t.co/kpHXxQWMvy pic.twitter.com/x1RIREEdA6

— https://x.com/ColinMcMahon31/status/2118815894537462139

Chasing the 24-Team Playoff Mandate

The push for a marquee non-conference game is directly tied to the developing 24-team College Football Playoff framework. According to reporting from The Daily Hoosier, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti led the initiative that carries a requirement that every Big Ten team play at least one non-conference game against a Power Four opponent. Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson confirmed to The Athletic that discussions are already underway to secure that necessary pairing for the 2027 season.

Right now, Indiana’s 2027 non-conference slate features Jacksonville State on August 28, Kennesaw State on September 4, and Indiana State on September 11. Finding an available partner from the SEC, ACC, Big 12, or Notre Dame will require managing a crowded group of schools. Other Big Ten programs like Nebraska, Oregon, and USC are also hunting for 2027 Power Four opponents.

Indiana football aims to add Power Four opponent to 2027 schedule — Photo: thedailyhoosier.com

A Shift Away from Past Scheduling Philosophy

Indiana’s recent non-conference strategy focused heavily on securing manageable wins to build postseason momentum. During the final year of Tom Allen’s tenure in 2023, the athletic department worked to cancel a previously agreed-upon series with Louisville. That decision aimed to smooth out the path to the six-win bowl eligibility threshold, particularly given the rigorous gauntlet of playing Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State annually within the old Big Ten East.

The Hoosiers have not played a Power Four non-conference opponent since facing Louisville at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2023. They also previously held Virginia on the 2027 schedule before opting out of that arrangement. Now, with Curt Cignetti leading the program and a new playoff model taking shape, the internal approach to roster construction and scheduling standards has evolved.

Indiana is in discussions about which power-4 football opponents it will add to its future non-conference schedules. #iufbhttps://t.co/1xZXrdMAso

— https://x.com/JeffRabjohns/status/2118811842273575206

Logistical Hurdles in 2027

Securing a suitable partner for 2027 is easier said than done. The SEC and ACC already enforce a mandatory Power Four non-conference game rule, meaning the vast majority of programs in those conferences have their schedules locked in. The Daily Hoosier notes that potential non-Big Ten options without a current Power Four opponent in 2027 include Arizona, Kansas, TCU, and Texas Tech. Meanwhile, schools like Boston College and Georgia Tech hold multiple Power Four non-conference games and could potentially look to offload opponents, while teams such as Cincinnati and Tennessee might also free up.

Complications remain. The Big Ten is making specific exceptions—such as deeming Washington State a Power Four game for Washington—which could shift how inventory is valued across the conference. Indiana athletic officials must find a willing dance partner in a market where available opponents are dwindling fast.