Could a Future Notre Dame Opponent Cancel? Connecting the Dots

Indiana was supposed to have a three-game series with Louisville from 2023 to 2025, but just one of those games will end up being played. The two met in Indianapolis in 2023, but Indiana backed out of the home-and-home portion, citing Big Ten expansion as the reason.

Indiana's non-conference schedule in 2024 instead featured the likes of Florida International, Western Illinois, and Charlotte.

This fall the Hoosiers will play Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State to open the season.

Louisville isn't a football powerhouse by any means, but when compared to what Indiana has set up these two years, it looks like 2019 LSU.

More Cancellations by Indiana

To start the week, Indiana did it again. The Hoosiers have backed out of a home-and-home with another football powerhouse (sarcasm font), Virginia, to set up a significantly easier non-conference slate.

Indiana certainly seems to have a thing for scheduling the almighty Kennesaw State lately. Perhaps the two can start playing for a rivalry trophy each year?

What is clear is that Curt Cignetti and Indiana are trying to make the easiest non-conference path as possible with the lowest risks of speed bumps imaginable.

Will Indiana and Notre Dame Ultimately Play?

Based on actions, Indiana isn't serious about competing for a Big Ten championship in football. It won't play decent Power Four teams out of conference, let alone elite ones. That might set up Indiana for a situation like last year, where it can withstand a regular-season loss at Ohio State and still make the playoff, but it's not built with a real plan to compete against championship-level teams.

Cancelling a series against Notre Dame would bring significantly more pushback than canceling Virginia, but based on recent events, would anyone be surprised if Cignetti sought dates with Southeast Missouri State and Wabash College instead?