Curt Cignetti delivered his message at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday with a final statement defending Indiana’s back-to-back championship seasons.
“We don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest,” Cignetti said. “We believe everything is earned, not given. When we fall short, we say we fell short. We don’t cry a river and whine and complain, all right, and that’s why we’re the best.”
The comment included Big Ten pride and a response to SEC critics who questioned the Hoosiers’ non-conference scheduling during their championship runs.
Two years ago, Cignetti took offense to Indiana being picked 17th in preseason polls. He had been picked near the bottom twice before in his coaching career.
“In 2022 we won the conference championship and 2017 we had an 8-4 team and played JMU the last game of the year for the conference championship,” Cignetti said during that opening address. “I’m not into making predictions. That’s just a historical fact.”
Cignetti led Indiana to an 11-2 record and College Football Playoff appearance in his first season.
The Hoosiers won road games at Kinnick Stadium, Autzen Stadium and Beaver Stadium before beating No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten championship. They won the national title as one of the best Big Ten teams in program history.
Cignetti has changed the Big Ten’s power structure in two seasons. The conference was known as the “Big Two” for decades before Indiana’s rise.
“I thought we took some necessary steps forward last season in Year 2,” Cignetti said about the championship season.
“I’ll be stalking complacency,” Cignetti said. “I know that question is coming, but I like what I see so far.”
Year 3 Expectations
Cignetti was asked to compare this year’s team to last season’s squad, which featured eight NFL Draft picks including No. 1 selection Fernando Mendoza. Indiana had players drafted in every round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
“All of our teams have been successful because they have been more similar than different,” Cignetti said. “We don’t turn it over. We play smart. All three phases play off each other.”
The Hoosiers return key players including All-American tackle Carter Smith and receiver Charlie Becker on offense. Defensively, Tyrique Tucker, Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones are back.
Indiana added transfers including TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh and Boston College running back Turbo Richard. The offense averaged 41.6 points per game last season.
Hoover, a three-year starter at TCU, is the key addition. Cignetti expects him to follow the path of previous transfers Kurtis Rourke and Mendoza.
“We’re not going to put the ball in his hand and say go out and win the game and outscore people,” Cignetti said. “We’re going to go out and give him a run game, defense and special teams.”
Despite the success, Indiana was picked third in the Big Ten preseason poll by Cleveland.com behind Ohio State and Oregon. The Hoosiers went 3-0 against those teams last season.
Indiana could start 6-0 before facing the traditional powers from Oct. 17-24.
The Hoosiers host Ohio State with a chance to beat the Buckeyes in the regular season for the first time since 1990. Indiana hasn’t won at Michigan since 1967.
Schools like Michigan and Penn State – with first-year coaches Kyle Whittingham and Matt Campbell – and USC under Lincoln Riley are now chasing Indiana’s standard.
Cignetti delivered other notable comments during the press conference.
“I’ve been on vacation long enough,” he said. “I’m tired of being bossed around by my wife, I’m ready to boss somebody else around and develop a football team.”
When shown a jersey patch with the Google logo and “me” – referencing his famous podium moment – Cignetti brushed it off.
“Is it going to make us better?” he said. “If not, then I’m not interested.”
The Hoosiers are 27-2 in Cignetti’s two seasons.
“We have a way of doing things, we’ve got guys who have been together, and all we do is win,” Cignetti said.
