Curt Cignetti Defends Indiana Football’s CFP Bid After Breakout Season
In a packed press conference at Memorial Stadium, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti stood at the podium, calm and defiant. The Hoosiers had just completed a Cinderella run to the 2024 College Football Playoff, finishing the regular season 11-1 with signature wins over Michigan, Penn State, and a shocking road upset of Ohio State. But as debates raged across the nation about whether Indiana deserved their playoff berth, Cignetti made his position clear.
“Look at the tape. Look at the body of work. We didn’t sneak in — we earned this,” Cignetti said, eyes scanning the room filled with skeptical reporters. “We played blue-bloods, we beat them, and we did it with toughness, discipline, and belief.”
Indiana, long an afterthought in the Big Ten, had not reached 10 wins in a season since 1967. But 2024 was different. Cignetti, who arrived from James Madison just two years earlier, had overhauled the program with his trademark no-nonsense approach. He brought in a wave of talent via the transfer portal and implemented a relentless, tempo-driven offense that averaged 38.4 points per game — the second-best in the conference.
Quarterback Jalen Reese, a redshirt junior who transferred from Wake Forest, emerged as a Heisman contender, throwing for over 4,200 yards and 38 touchdowns. “Coach Cignetti believed in me when a lot of people didn’t,” Reese said. “He told us in August, ‘Why not us?’ And we believed it.”
But critics questioned Indiana’s schedule strength, citing close calls against Purdue and Rutgers, and pointing to the Big Ten’s uneven crossover matchups. Some argued a two-loss SEC team was more deserving. Cignetti, however, wasn’t having it.
“Everyone wants to move the goalposts when a program like Indiana breaks through,” he said. “But we beat three top-10 teams. We played nine Power Five opponents. Our guys lined up and delivered every week. If that’s not playoff-worthy, then what is?”
The College Football Playoff Committee ultimately agreed, seeding Indiana No. 4. They’ll face No. 1 Georgia in the Peach Bowl semifinal — a daunting task, but one Cignetti relishes. “They’re the kings of the hill. That’s fine. But don’t be surprised when we punch back.”
Behind the scenes, the Hoosiers have become a model of rapid program transformation. Cignetti revamped the weight room, recruited heavily from the Midwest and Southeast, and established a culture of accountability. Players say the difference is night and day.
“I came here during the dark years,” said senior linebacker Tyrese Clark. “Now? We expect to win. That’s all Coach Cignetti.”
For decades, Indiana football was the punchline of the Big Ten. In 2024, they became the story. And now, as they prepare for their biggest game in program history, Cignetti is ready to prove they belong.
“Football’s not about logos,” he said. “It’s about execution, preparation, and belief. We’ve got all three. So yes — Indiana is a playoff team. And we’re not done yet.”
