In the afterglow of a 38-31 win at Rutgers that lifted Illinois to 8-3 — and was so exciting in the late stages that it stole some thunder from higher-profile college football matchups of the day — Illini coach Bret Bielema was feeling the import of the moment.

The weekend before Thanksgiving often feels like the calm before the storm in college football. Saturday was different. The expanded College Football Playoff turned it into a tempest with postseason implications from the home of the Super Bowl champion Chiefs in Kansas City to the House that Ruth Built in the Bronx.

IU's loss to Ohio State won't keep Hoosiers from College Football Playoff with selection committee valuing wins over quality opponents.

Indiana should still make the College Football Playoff after Saturday’s 38-15 loss at No. 2 Ohio State. But if it wants to compete with the nation’s best, it must be able to protect quarterback Kurtis Rourke and be undeterred by crowd noise.

Indiana's special season ran into a brick wall Saturday afternoon as the fifth-ranked Hoosiers fell 38-15 on the road against No. 2 Ohio State. All week, questions about Indiana's legitimacy as a Big Ten power and a College Football Playoff competitor swirled.

Google that. Ohio State put the phrase up on the scoreboard alongside a picture of Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti in the final minute of the team’s 38-15 win over the Hoosiers on Saturday. There was nothing subtle about the message referencing the “Google me” quote that’s become Cignetti’s catchphrase.