Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti has stirred the pot at Big Ten Media Days, taking a not-so-subtle jab at the scheduling practices of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The remark comes amid scrutiny of Indiana's non-conference scheduling, particularly after the cancellation of a home-and-home series with Virginia. This decision leaves the Hoosiers with a future non-conference slate largely comprised of Group of Five (G5) or Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponents.
Cignetti addressed the scheduling criticism head-on, stating that Indiana was simply adopting an "SEC scheduling philosophy". He pointed out that a significant number of SEC teams play three G5 or FCS teams annually and play one less conference game than Big Ten teams. Cignetti stated, "12 of the 16 SEC teams play three G5 or an FCS game... Twelve of those teams play 36 games – 29 G5 games and seven FCS games, and have one less conference game. All right, so we figured we'd just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy".
This comment arrives after Indiana's inaugural College Football Playoff appearance last season, which itself followed a regular season where they went 11-1. The Hoosiers' strength of schedule was questioned by some, especially those in the SEC who felt their own teams were more deserving of a playoff berth. While Indiana lost in the opening round to Notre Dame, Cignetti seems keen to defend his program and its approach to scheduling.
The decision to cancel the Virginia series, which was slated to begin in 2027, frees up Indiana to schedule three home games against Kennesaw State (2027), Austin Peay (2028), and Eastern Illinois (2029). This move guarantees an extra home game each year and, according to Cignetti, allows Indiana to focus on its nine-game conference schedule in the Big Ten.
Cignetti's remarks also touched on the broader topic of College Football Playoff selection. He voiced his support for the Big Ten receiving four automatic qualifying spots in the expanded playoff format. He also proposed play-in games between teams ranked 3-6 and 4-5 in the conference to determine the final playoff participants. Cignetti argued that playoff selection should be determined on the field, emphasizing the importance of a strong schedule for all teams. He said that "Nobody deserves to be in the playoffs because they've been in the playoffs four of the last five years. Do it on the field. If you get upset by a couple teams, you shouldn't get upset by it".
Prior to arriving at Indiana, Cignetti had a history of turning programs around. In December 2024, Cignetti was named the 30th head football coach in Indiana football history. In his first year, Cignetti led the Hoosiers to a record of 11-2. He previously held head coaching positions at James Madison University, Elon University, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Cignetti has been named a conference coach of the year five times and was the 2024 national coach of the year.
