Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti is not one to shy away from the microphone. On Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas, Cignetti answered the critics who questioned Indiana’s non-conference scheduling philosophy.
“That was a scheduling philosophy that began before I was hired, but I did sign off on it upon being hired before our first season.” Cignetti said of Indiana’s now cancelled game with Virginia.
Indiana is not ducking the Cavaliers. Instead they are trying to balance a schedule that juggles nine conference games and 2027 is a year IU would have only had six home games.
“Look, here’s the bottom line, okay, we picked up an extra home game, and we play nine conference games.” Cignetti explained.
Much of the talk recently this offseason has been about IU’s weak non-conference schedule in 2025. A slate that features tow Group of Five teams (Old Dominion and Kennesaw St.) and an FCS foe (Indiana State). Much of the noise comes from the SEC as well as from Purdue head coach Barry Odom.
Cignetti had a message for them as well.
“12 of the 16 SEC teams play 3 G5 or an FCS game. 12 of those teams play 36 games, 29 G5 games, and seven FCS games and one less conference game. All right, so we figured we’d just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy.” Cignetti said.
Strength of schedule was a major argument for pro-SEC media against the Hoosiers making the 2024 College Football Playoff despite an 11-1 (8-1) record in the regular season. IU lost as the 10 seed to Notre Dame 27-17 in the first round.
There is a December 1st deadline to create a new CFP format for 2026. There has been much discussion about which model would work best.
“You want to decide that on the field.” Cignetti said of Playoff selection. “Make sure everybody’s strength of schedule is what it needs to be. Let’s make everybody play nine conference games and on championship weekend, 3 will play 6, 4, play 5, and there’s still room for another at-large in that format.”
The Hoosiers will have the chance to prove themselves on the field for another CFP run starting August 30th against the Old Dominion Monarchs.