Cignetti wants a Clean Start from Indiana in Opener against North Texas

Jul 30, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Football head coach Curt Cignetti speaks during Big Ten Media Days at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Indiana football is officially into game week.

After weeks of fall camp, the Hoosiers will open the season Saturday against North Texas at Memorial Stadium. Curt Cignetti said Monday that his team is ready to move on from playing each other and get back to playing games.

“I know our guys are tired of hitting each other,” Cignetti said. “It will be exciting.”

Indiana will face a North Texas team that looks much different from the one that won 12 games last season. The Mean Green have a new coaching staff led by Neal Brown and a roster full of newcomers.

Cignetti said North Texas added around 50 transfers and about 70 new players overall, which makes preparation a little tougher than usual.

“It is different now,” Cignetti said. “Have never really played the game quite like this one where there’s just so many new faces, players to coaches.”

Indiana has gone through tape from several different teams to get ready. Cignetti said the Hoosiers have watched Baylor tape on offense and West Virginia and Texas tape on defense because of the new staff and players North Texas brings in.

Still, Cignetti said Indiana’s focus has to stay on itself.

“I think our whole thing has always been keeping the main thing the main thing, controlling the controllables,” Cignetti said. “It’s all about preparing to the best of our ability and putting it between the white lines against the first opponent.”

For Indiana, that starts with running the ball and stopping the run.

The Hoosiers return an experienced offensive line, and Cignetti said he thinks the group has a chance to be good. But he also said the opener will be the first real chance to see what that unit looks like when it matters.

“Running the football is obviously paramount for us, stopping the run on defense,” Cignetti said. “I think we have a chance to be pretty good. I’m anxious to see how we play, play in, play out.”

Indiana will also have to deal with North Texas running back Jahiem White. Cignetti said White is “really fast and elusive” and is especially dangerous once he gets into space.

On defense, Cignetti said he feels good about Indiana’s secondary heading into the season. He said Sharpe has been consistent during camp, Ferrell has had a strong camp, and the Hoosiers have veteran options at free safety and rover.

What Cignetti wants from that group is simple.

“Good coverage and good tackling,” he said. “Guys doing their job, doing what they’re supposed to do.”

Cignetti said Indiana is also in pretty good shape health-wise coming out of fall camp. Gibbs is questionable for Saturday, but Cignetti said he was the only player he was concerned about.

At center, Cignetti said veteran Bray Lynch will start.

“Bray Lynch will be the center,” Cignetti said. “He’s a veteran guy. He’s smart. Snaps the ball well. I feel good about it.”

Indiana’s biggest goal Saturday may be to avoid the kind of uneven start it had in last year’s opener against Old Dominion.

Cignetti pointed out that Indiana gave up a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of that game. The Hoosiers’ first score came on a 90-yard punt return, and Indiana struggled in the red zone despite eventually winning.

“I want us to play to a standard play in, play out, from the first play to the last play,” Cignetti said. “I want to feel good about our performance walking off the field.”

Memorial Stadium is expected to be sold out Saturday. Cignetti said he appreciates how much Indiana’s fan base has supported the program and encouraged fans to bring energy for the opener.

“Let’s be loud and proud,” Cignetti said. “Let’s give them something to be loud about.”

For Cignetti, the message heading into Year 3 remains simple. Last season is over. Camp is over. Now Indiana gets to find out what kind of team it has.

“This is a new football team,” Cignetti said. “We have a chance to be pretty good. We got to do it.”