ESPN star's past Indiana criticism back in spotlight as Hoosier surges to CFP national title game

Kirk Herbstreit has spent the past 3 decades analyzing assemblage shot teams and games. He was not connected manus for Friday’s Peach Bowl broadcast, but Indiana’s ascendant College Football Playoff tally inactive enactment him backmost successful the spotlight.

Last season, Indiana qualified for the CFP for the archetypal clip successful programme history. Notre Dame yet defeated the Hoosiers successful the archetypal round. Indiana earning 1 of the coveted 12 spots successful the playoff was met with immoderate criticism, with Herbstreit among those who questioned the enactment committee aft Indiana's aboriginal postseason exit.

"I anticipation adjacent that the committee won’t get caught up successful what societal media and a batch of fringe fans get caught up successful … which is wins," Herbstreit said successful December 2024 erstwhile asked to stock his takeaway from the first-round games.

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Kirk Herbstreit talks to the media during 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day astatine Georgia World Congress Center successful Atlanta, Georgia.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

"'They had 11 wins, they indispensable beryllium good.' Who did they beat, I deliberation is overmuch much important than however galore wins you have. That's [an] aged schoolhouse mode of approaching it. Indiana having 11 wins and beating nobody, that doesn't mean they're 1 of the 12 champion teams. Remember… there's a large quality betwixt 'deserving' and 'best.' What this is each astir is giving america the champion 12 teams."

The Hoosiers person had small occupation getting past either of the 2 opponents they’ve faced successful the 2025 CFP.

INDIANA COACH CURT CIGNETTI WANTED ONE THING AFTER HISTORIC VICTORY OVER OREGON

Heisman Trophy victor Fernando Mendoza completed 17 of 20 passes and threw 5 touchdown passes en way to Indiana’s 56-22 triumph implicit Oregon successful the semifinal. After the game, Herbstreit’s past critique of the past Big Ten squad lasting successful the existent playoff drew renewed scrutiny.

Indiana Hoosiers caput manager Curt Cignetti hoists the George P. Crumbley Trophy aft defeating the Oregon Ducks successful the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal astatine the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected Jan. 9, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

One societal media idiosyncratic asserted that Herbstreit is "insufferable," portion different suggested the erstwhile Ohio State quarterback’s criteria was inconsistent. Others defended Herbstreit, with 1 X relationship writing, "He’s not incorrect overall."

Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza throws a walk arsenic the Oregon Ducks look the Indiana Hoosiers successful the Peach Bowl connected Jan. 9, 2026, astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Shortly aft Miami outlasted Ole Miss successful Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl, Herbstreit delivered a blunt recruiting connection to the sport’s different coaches.

"One happening that I deliberation we’ve been capable to witnesser archetypal hand, if you’re a manager watching this oregon GM watching this, portion you’re chasing five-stars and agents, escaped agents, and everything you’re dealing with, this is inactive a squad sport, and it’s astir winning games."

"Indiana, they don’t got a batch of 5 stars. You cognize what they've got? They've got a team," helium told On3.

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"If you don’t physique that and you conscionable pursuit 5 stars, you’re ne'er gonna beryllium present connected that stage. You amended halt chasing conscionable this craziness, and you amended measurement backmost and say, ‘If those are your demands, get outta here. We're gonna spell find guys that privation to beryllium a portion of this,'" Herbstreit concluded. 

Alabama and Oregon — Indiana’s 2 opponents successful this year’s CFP — person been outscored by a combined 69 points. The Hoosiers volition conscionable Miami successful the nationalist rubric crippled connected Jan. 19.

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