They are to college football what a supernova is to science. A supernova is described as a “powerful explosion of a star.” It happens — on average — about once a century. On the college football landscape at the FBS and Division III level, two teams — Indiana and Marietta, respectively — could be described as types of supernovas that have exploded on the sport’s landscape. The 9-0 Hoosiers are a much more well-known story but the Pioneers — better known for success in men’s basketball and baseball — should not be discounted. Each have a story tell. Each have opportunities ahead of itself to turn the Ohio college football landscape upside down. Let’s examine both: • In its 9-0 start, Indiana has won every game by at least 14 points and outscored its opponents by a combined 414-123, albeit against a schedule that ranks 103rd in the FBS. First-year coach Curt Cignnetti’s team hosts Michigan on Sept. 6 then after a week off play at Ohio State on Nov. 23. If the favored Hoosiers get by 5-4 Michigan, it will likely set up one of the biggest — if not the biggest — games in the series’ history. All of which has obviously caught the attention of Cignnetti. “I’m aware of it,” Cignnetti said to The Associated Press about the buzz building within his team. “But to get kind of caught up on that and lose your focus would be the kiss of death.” • Through eight games, Marietta has throttled its opponents by an average score of 47.1 to 7.5, and in average total yards, 480.5 to 197.6. The Pioneers — currently ranked in the D3football.com Top 25 poll for the first time in program history — have scored 52 touchdowns this season. Its opponents have scored seven. Marietta quarterback Connor Vierstra has thrown for 1,830 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading the Pioneers to an 8-0 record. Up next are games at Mount Union and at John Carroll to close the regular season. (Rebecca Wheeler — Marietta Athletics) Despite its huge success in 2024, Coach Andy Waddle has had success building the Pioneers’ once-struggling football program. In 2018, Marietta started started 6-0 for the first time since 1920. Last season, the team was 8-2, its best mark since an 8-1-1 season in 1995. What would it mean if Indiana and Marietta pull of the unthinkable — that being the Hoosiers beating Ohio State and Marietta defeating Mount and JCU in back-to-back weeks? In the college football world, just about everything. That’s because both programs would suddenly become national championship contenders — something that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago. The Hoosiers are 12-80-5 all-time against the Buckeyes, and have lost 29 straight in the series. IU’s shining moment against OSU occurred in 1987, when Anthony Thompson ran for 126 yards in a 31-10 win at Ohio Stadium that late Buckeyes coach Earle Bruce called the “Darkest day in Ohio State football since I have been associated with it.” For Marietta, two more wins starting Nov. 9 at Mount and then Nov. 16 at JCU would complete an improbable 10-0 season, an outright Ohio Athletic Conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. It won’t be easy. Marietta — led by quarterback Connor Vierstra (1,830 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes) — has lost 44 straight games to Mount Union since a win in the series in 1977. Against JCU, the Pioneers are 0-35-1 in their history. However, a handful of recent games against the Blue Streaks have been down to the wire. That includes a 31-28 road victory by JCU in 2023, a 23-21 Blue Streaks win in 2019, and a 27-24 result in 2018. For those keeping score, that’s a recent 0-29 mark for IU vs. Ohio State, and 0-79-1combined record for Marietta against Mount and JCU. The odds will certainly won’t be in the favor of the Hoosier and Pioneers but the opportunities are there in the coming weeks. Now it’s time to watch if one or both can truly stun the college football world.