Coaches Poll: Indiana Schedule Features Four Ranked Teams, Two More With Votes

USA TODAY Sports released the first AFCA football coaches poll on Monday, and Indiana's 2023 schedule included four ranked teams – Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin – and two additional opponents who received votes.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana will, again, play one of the nation's toughest schedules in 2023. 

USA TODAY Sports released the first AFCA football coaches poll on Monday, a weekly top-25 poll with input from 63 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools. And heading into coach Tom Allen's seventh season, Indiana has four ranked opponents on its schedule and two additional foes who received votes but are outside the top 25.

In the coaches poll, Michigan leads the way at No. 2 in the nation, followed by Indiana's Week 1 opponent, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State and No. 21 Wisconsin. In the receiving votes category, 10 votes came in for Maryland, and Illinois received seven.

According to ESPN's strength of schedule metric, Indiana will play the 10th most difficult schedule in the nation. Around the Big Ten, Minnesota's strength of schedule is No. 2, Maryland's is No. 4, Michigan State's is No. 7 and Rutgers' is No. 9. 

AFCA football coaches poll for Aug. 7:

(Indiana opponents in bold)

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Alabama
4. Ohio State
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. Tennessee
11. Washington
12. Texas
13. Notre Dame
14. Utah
15. Oregon
16. TCU
17. Kansas State
18. Oregon State
19. Oklahoma
20. North Carolina
21. Wisconsin
22. Ole Miss
23. Tulane
24. Texas Tech
25. Texas A&M

Others receiving votes: Iowa 169; South Carolina 89; Florida 63; Texas-San Antonio 59; Pittsburgh 52; UCLA 42; Kentucky 34; Baylor 28; Troy 25; Arkansas 20; NC State 19; Fresno State 19; Boise State 18; Auburn 18; Minnesota 16; Miami 16; Mississippi State 13; Oklahoma State 12; Missouri 11; Maryland 10; Southern Methodist 8; South Alabama 8; Illinois 7; Wake Forest 6; Air Force 6; Toledo 5; Washington State 4; Houston 3; Duke 2; Brigham Young 2; Arizona 2; Memphis 1; Kansas 1; James Madison 1.

Indiana kicks off the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against No. 4 Ohio State at 3:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. 

Here's the full 2023 Indiana football schedule. 

(All times Eastern Standard Time)

• Indiana vs. No. 4 Ohio State – Sept. 2, 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, CBS
• Indiana vs. Indiana State – Sept. 8, 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, BTN
• Indiana vs. Louisville – Sept. 16, Noon at Lucas Oil Stadium, BTN
• Indiana vs. Akron – Sept. 23 at Memorial Stadium, time TBD, TV TBD
• Indiana at Maryland – Sept. 30 at SECU Stadium, time TBD, TV TBD
• Indiana at No. 2 Michigan – Oct. 14 at Michigan Stadium, time TBD, TV TBD
• Indiana vs. Rutgers – Oct. 21 at Memorial Stadium, Noon TV TBD
• Indiana at No. 7 Penn State – Oct. 28 at Beaver Stadium, time TBD, TV TBD
• Indiana vs. No. 21 Wisconsin – Nov. 4 at Memorial Stadium, time TBD, TV TBD
• Indiana at Illinois – Nov. 11 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. time TBD, TV TBD
• Indiana vs. Michigan State – Nov. 18 at Memorial Stadium, time TBD, TV TBD
• Indiana at Purdue – Nov. 25 at Ross-Ade Stadium, time TBD, TV TBD

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