Indiana football is actively working to schedule a Power Four non-conference opponent for the 2027 season, aligning with the impending 24-team College Football Playoff structure. The Athletic reported that athletic director Scott Dolson confirmed discussions are underway to add an opponent for the 2027 season.
College football scheduling is changing for athletic departments nationwide. While the expanded 24-team playoff format inches closer to official ratification, it brings with it new participation requirements that demand adjustments from programs long accustomed to more forgiving early-season slates.
Indiana Locks in Three Nonconference Games for 2027
As it stands, Indiana’s 2027 non-conference calendar features three matchups: Jacksonville State on August 28, Kennesaw State on September 4, and Indiana State on September 11. That slate reflects a historical scheduling approach designed to ease the path to postseason bowl eligibility.
Under former head coach Tom Allen, the Hoosiers opted out of a previously agreed-upon series with Louisville. That strategy aimed to lock in three reliable non-conference victories, recognizing the difficulty of playing a conference schedule that annually paired Indiana against traditional powerhouses like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State in the old Big Ten East.
Managing Availability Among Power Four Programs
The incoming playoff expansion changes the arithmetic. An initiative led by Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti carries a mandate requiring every conference team to play at least one non-conference game against a Power Four opponent. The SEC and ACC already enforce a similar rule.
Finding a willing dance partner for 2027 presents logistical hurdles. Because other major conferences already require a Power Four non-conference game, the vast majority of those programs have already filled their slates. However, a select group of non-Big Ten Power Four schools—including Arizona, Kansas, TCU, and Texas Tech—appear to have openings. Meanwhile, programs like Boston College and Georgia Tech hold multiple Power Four non-conference games and could potentially look to offload opponents.
Indiana joins Nebraska, Oregon, and USC as one of four Big Ten programs currently searching for a compatible Power Four opponent for the 2027 campaign. Complicating matters further, conference office rulings—such as treating Washington State as a Power Four game for Washington—highlight the intricate administrative puzzle teams must solve as talks progress.
