Indiana ranked sixth among ‘others receiving votes’ in Week 3 AP Top 25 poll

After defeating Idaho 56-14 on Saturday night, Indiana received 34 votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll for Week 3, which put the Hoosiers sixth among the teams in the “others receiving votes” section of the voting. In the AP poll for Week 2, Indiana was eighth among others receiving votes, which put the Hoosiers at effectively 33rd nationally, and they’re now the equivalent of No. 31.

UCF, TCU, Liberty, Michigan State and USC are the five teams currently ahead of Indiana in the others receiving votes category.

Indiana debuted at No. 17 in the preseason AP poll, which was the program’s first preseason ranking since the 1969 season, when the Hoosiers debuted at No. 14 after going 6-4 in the previous season. However, Indiana’s 34-6 loss at Iowa in Week 1 knocked the Hoosiers out of the AP poll in Week 2.

After Iowa knocked off then-No. 9 Iowa State 27-17 in Week 2, behind three interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown, Indiana’s Week 1 loss may age as well as a 28-point loss can age. That, in turn, could help pave the way for the Hoosiers to return to the AP Top 25 if they can continue to win.

They’ll have an opportunity for a premier non-conference win in Week 3, when No. 8 Cincinnati (2-0) travels to Bloomington. The game represents a chance for Indiana to beat a top-10 opponent at home for the second year in a row, as the Hoosiers opened the 2020 season with their now-famous win over No. 8 Penn State.

Indiana has been ranked three seasons in a row, which the program hasn’t accomplished since the three year span from 1967 to 1969.