Troy Aikman enthusiastically throws support behind SMU, Indiana ahead of penultimate College Football Playoff rankings reveal

We could see the fates of a few teams determined on Tuesday night with the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings. Two of them certainly will be the Indiana Hoosiers and SMU Mustangs, hoping to be included in the field ahead of championship weekend. SMU does play in the ACC Championship game and can earn an automatic bid by beating Clemson.

Yes, an odd combination but ESPN’s Troy Aikman is supporting both of them moving forward. He said as such when broadcasting the Monday Night Football game between Cleveland and Detroit.

“I’m on the Ponies bandwagon and the Hoosiers bandwagon,” Aikman said.

Aikman is really supporting his play-by-play when talking about Indiana. Joe Buck went to the university has has been all aboard the Curt Cignetti train this season. The two have joked about and discussed the Hoosiers on Monday Night Football a few times now, especially as the wins stacked up.

The connection to SMU is a little more obvious for Aikman. His time with the Dallas Cowboys might be over but Aikman still lives in the city, not too far from campus. Verbally shouting out the local program has to feel nice for the Mustangs and they enjoy heights they have not seen in a long time.

Indiana, SMU hoping to lock down spots in College Football Playoff

Prior to this season, neither Indiana nor SMU had come close to sniffing spots in the College Football Playoff. However, due to conference realignment and the format’s expansion, both have the opportunity to compete for a national championship.

SMU is fresh off a win against Cal in the season finale, finishing ACC play undefeated. Their lone loss of the year came against BYU in September. You have to imagine head coach Rhett Lashlee would like to take matters into their own hands by winning the ACC title game, not giving the committee a decision to make.

Indiana has been a topic of discussion, at least from the outside. The strength of schedule is not great but the 11-1 record is hard to deny. Ohio State, its perceived only tough game of the season, resulted in a loss. Beating Purdue while ranked No. 10 and not playing in the Big Ten Championship is presumed to be enough to be included in the 12-team field.