Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us If Indiana loses to Miami, is it the biggest letdown for neutral fans in sports history? | More Sports
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If Indiana loses to Miami, is it the biggest letdown for neutral fans in sports history?

Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:27 pm
Posted by karmew32
Scott, LA (born & raised in Ponchy)
Member since Jan 2017
1789 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:27 pm
Indiana is both the overwhelming betting favorite and overwhelming sentimental favorite. Nobody outside of south Florida and the Lafayette, IN metro wants Miami to win. We normally don't get this much overlap between a juggernaut and a feel-good story.

The only ones I can think of are the Vikings losing the 1998 NFCCG and Kansas State losing the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game. But neither of those were the ultimate championship game.

A lot of the other biggest letdowns for neutral fans involve the underdog coming up just short (2009 British Open, 2025 NBA Finals) or the sentimental favorite between 2 evenly matched teams losing despite outplaying their opponent (2002 NBA WCF, 2025 World Series).
Posted by Boodis Man
Member since Sep 2020
7762 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:29 pm to
IU has no chance of losing
Posted by usc6158
Member since Feb 2008
38741 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:30 pm to
The Gordon Hayward shot hitting back iron sucked
Posted by karmew32
Scott, LA (born & raised in Ponchy)
Member since Jan 2017
1789 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:34 pm to
Nobody thought the 1998 KSU Wildcats or 1998 Vikings would lose either.
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 2:36 pm
Posted by Kinderman
Member since Oct 2023
1219 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:39 pm to
Going to show my age here a bit, but I remember the 1995 AFC Championship Game being an exciting game for neutral fans. Seeing the Colts sneak into the playoffs led by Jim Harbaugh's resurgence at QB, won two road playoff games (including at #1 KC), went back-and-forth with Pittsburgh and ended up one play from the Super Bowl when a hail mary hit the WR right in the chest as he was falling down and he couldn't find it. shite was heartbreaking.
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 2:41 pm
Posted by theCAW
Polk County
Member since Dec 2023
8085 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:41 pm to
quote:

IU has no
t seen anything like Miami’s trenches
Posted by VADawg
Wherever
Member since Nov 2011
47912 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:58 pm to
Butler losing to Duke
Posted by UnluckyTiger
Member since Sep 2003
42080 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:18 pm to
Indiana is getting way too much hype. Miami can definitely beat them.
Posted by Alt26
Member since Mar 2010
34462 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:38 pm to
quote:

The only ones I can think of are the Vikings losing the 1998 NFCCG and Kansas State losing the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game. But neither of those were the ultimate championship game.


As a Saints fan aren't you leaving one out? The 2006 Saints.

Historically awful franchise with exactly 1 playoff history makes a run to the NFC Championship a year after the city is destroyed by Katrina
Posted by Boodis Man
Member since Sep 2020
7762 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:41 pm to
quote:

Indiana is getting way too much hype. Miami can definitely beat them.




a team that couldn't beat SMU and Louisville isnt going to beat IU.

The 2025 title winner deserves to be undefeated for the sake of the sport. Otherwise were just going to be NFL lite (eg 07 giants)
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 3:42 pm
Posted by Teddy Ruxpin
Member since Oct 2006
40638 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:42 pm to
IU is a great story, but if Miami wins this oddly enough there is a lot of post game entertainment if that happens.

The narrative is the SEC face planted and somehow that makes the Big 10 kings of the postseason, while the ACC is still regarded as trash.

If Miami finishes this run defeating two from each conference, the ACC crowing would be fun.
Posted by Teddy Ruxpin
Member since Oct 2006
40638 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:43 pm to
quote:


a team that couldn't beat SMU and Louisville isnt going to beat IU.


Why can't Miami beat a team where they have a mutual opponent that was back to back games for that opponent? A mutual opponent Miami played better against?

If we're using transitive property here that seems relevant.
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 3:46 pm
Posted by nvasil1
Hellinois
Member since Oct 2009
17509 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:48 pm to
quote:

a team that couldn't beat SMU and Louisville isnt going to beat IU.

Miami nearly won both of those games despite Beck throwing a combined 6 INTs.

If he takes care of the ball like he has done in the CFP thus far, of course they have a chance to win.
Posted by Adam Banks
District 5
Member since Sep 2009
36838 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:57 pm to
They cheat.


Miami needs to win for the integrity of the sport.
Posted by VermilionTiger
Member since Dec 2012
38972 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 4:06 pm to
quote:

They cheat.


lol what

Trust me, LSU has more cheating on their hands during the 2003, 2007, and 2019 title games than Indiana
Posted by Boodis Man
Member since Sep 2020
7762 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 4:11 pm to
quote:

They cheat.


Miami needs to win for the integrity of the sport.



oh look, a bitter LSU fan rooting for IU to lose so everyone doesn't consider it a greater team than LSU 2019. too bad brother, because IU will win a 3rd straight CFP blowout and be cemented as the GOAT
Posted by DBG
vermont
Member since May 2004
79540 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 4:19 pm to
Boodis man isn’t a serious sports fan. Doesn’t know ball very well.
Posted by Adam Banks
District 5
Member since Sep 2009
36838 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 4:25 pm to
quote:

lol what Trust me, LSU has more cheating on their hands during the 2003, 2007, and 2019 title games than Indiana


We didn’t hack and steal game plans and scripts.


Additionally we didn’t take a player from our opponent a week before game time to learn all the signals etc
Posted by cardswinagain
Member since Jun 2013
13264 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 5:12 pm to
I want Miami to win
Posted by deltadummy
Member since Mar 2025
1865 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 5:48 pm to
quote:

Indiana is both the overwhelming betting favorite and overwhelming sentimental favorite. Nobody outside of south Florida and the Lafayette, IN metro wants Miami to win. We normally don't get this much overlap between a juggernaut and a feel-good story.

The only ones I can think of are the Vikings losing the 1998 NFCCG and Kansas State losing the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game. But neither of those were the ultimate championship game.

A lot of the other biggest letdowns for neutral fans involve the underdog coming up just short (2009 British Open, 2025 NBA Finals) or the sentimental favorite between 2 evenly matched teams losing despite outplaying their opponent (2002 NBA WCF, 2025 World Series).


Don't think the Vikings or KS loss were a letdown for anyone. I know I didn't care. Just like good football. The Tom Watson debacle was a letdown for any nongolfers watching, I would think. I'd look at IU's loss the same way I look at the Pat's loss in the SB. It's not a letdown, but you realize how close to absolute greatness they came - I mean, no doubt, no argument, absolutely greatest of all time. Not sure IU would match that since we look at Nebraska's team (and to some extent, Alabama's 2020 team ) as the greatest, but it's in the same vein.
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 6:15 pm
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