RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesMIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 18: Head Coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers speaks during the CFP National Championship Head Coaches News Conference at JW Marriott Marquis Miami on January 18, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti addressed the media on Thursday afternoon during Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
There were jokes, poorly conceived and executed bits from the assembled media, thoughts on his new quarterback and still a few soundbites worth clipping and making a segment out of on daytime sports television. Here’s three takeaways from Cignetti’s turn at the main podium:
Curt Cignetti is ready to stop talking about 2025
We’ll have more to say on this one later, but it’s been interesting to see how quickly Indiana has moved to turn the page on 2025 this offseason.
Cignetti began his podium session by offering a summary of the 2025 season that touched on its length, fan support and, of course, the wins before saying the program “took some necessary steps forward” in year two. He followed that with a lengthy explanation of the program’s blueprint and process while noting that the results, be they playoff appearances or championships, aren’t discussed and the focus is on immediate improvement. That process talk dominated his opening statement, the only way a coach can put a message out that isn’t a response to a question. It’s telling that he chose that, but it’s nothing new. He did the same thing last year.
Cignetti’s focus on that process is what led Indiana to an 11-2 record in year one and a 16-0 record in year two. It’s all that matters right now. Not the trophies or the media hits or the past, that’s all irrelevant.
Fan support during the playoff made a huge impression on the program
I mean, duh.
Indiana was going to notice when the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and Hard Rock Stadium were filled with Hoosier crimson. The largest alumni base in the country flexed its muscles during this past playoff run and made itself known to the program and the wider college football world.
Cignetti commented on the fan presence throughout the playoff and said that expansion can’t come soon enough for Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. It isn’t the first time he’s made such a reference to stadium expansion and time will tell on where that line of thinking goes.
There’s still gonna be soundbites
Cignetti burst onto the scene in 2024 with several quotes that landed him, and Indiana as a program, in national headlines. He’s referenced toning down that means of capturing attention in 2025, with the results speaking well enough on their own, but he’s still good for a soundbite or two.
This one? Praise for the Big Ten with what can certainly be taken as a shot at the SEC .
“I mean, we don’t run a hype machine here in the Midwest, we believe everything’s earned, not given,” Cignetti said. “When we fall short we say ‘we fell short,” we don’t cry a river, whine and complain, alright? And that’s why we’re the best.“
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