Things we know now

 So, alrighty, then. Ohio State is better.

But we knew that, right?

Yesterday the Buckeyes were better on offense, better on defense, better on special teams. To the tune of 38-15 -- a certified, can't-spin-it rump-roasting -- they were better. 

But we knew that.

Would have been a brighter day for Indiana if the Hoosiers hadn't turned it over in the red zone, or given up a back-breaking 79-yard punt return by Caleb Downs that put Curt Cignetti's team down two scores three minutes into the second half. Would have been a brighter day if the Buckeyes hadn't all but shut down Kurtis Rourke, and all but silenced IU's gaudy offense.

But they did. Rourke passed for 68 yards. The Hoosiers ran for 85 more. That's a measly 153 total yards if you're keeping score at home.

And the Hoosiers lost. Lost big.

Because they did, the people who vote in the College Football Playoff poll will have all the excuse they need today to push Indiana, with its tissue-y strength of schedule, down the elevator shaft and out of the playoff.

We know that, too.

What saves Indiana, or might save it, is some other stuff that happened yesterday. Ole Miss, ranked ninth, jacked around and lost to Florida. Alabama, ranked seventh, was floor-waxed by Oklahoma, 24-3, and now has three losses. Both of those schools were playoff-bound until yesterday.

Elsewhere, Colorado lost at Kansas, so the Buffaloes won't be moving up. Neither will BYU, which lost for the second straight week after starting the season 9-0. Neither will Texas A&M, upended in four overtimes by Auburn.

So that helps. A little. Maybe.

On the other hand, maybe nothing helps. Maybe Indiana goes on next week and beats a sorry Purdue team briskly about the neck and head with the Old Oaken Bucket, and it won't matter.

Maybe an 11-1 Big Ten team gets left out of the CFP anyway. It would be absurd on its face, an absolute howler, but it could happen.

One more thing we know.