Indiana University's football team faces a significant challenge as they prepare to take on the University of Alabama in the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals. According to 247 Sports composite rankings, Alabama's starting lineup boasts 14 former top-100 recruits, surpassing Ohio State's 10 in the Big Ten title game (Herald Times Online, 2025). This disparity is notable, as Alabama's roster features nearly double the number of former five-star recruits compared to Ohio State. Alabama's starting lineup includes several highly touted recruits, including wide receiver Ryan Williams, who was ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the 2024 class (247 Sports). Left tackle Kayden Proctor, the No. 10 recruit in the 2023 class, and cornerback Domani Jackson, the No. 5 ranked recruit in the 2022 class, also start for the Crimson Tide (Herald Times Online, 2025). In contrast, Indiana has not signed a five-star player straight out of high school in program history.
The Hoosiers' starting lineup features only two former four-star recruits: receivers E. J. Williams and Omar Cooper Jr. (Herald Times Online, 2025).
Indiana football faces the same kind of challenge in the CFP quarterfinals as it did in the Big Ten title game against Ohio State.Other related sources and context: Visit website
