The ‘Google Me’ man Curt Cignetti failed to live up to his words. The man is known for his biggest flex. Remember the time when he became the first head coach in Indiana’s history to come off with a 10-0 record? Yes, he kept it lowkey with “Not bad.” But we know how highly the man thinks about himself. So what the Hoosiers end the season on a 27-17 loss to the No. 7 team in the College Football Playoff? Cignetti believes that they have “got a good nucleus.”
The HC has already started to plan for a big comeback. They have signed 21 players in the 2025 recruiting class. The Hoosiers have also been lucky to have their heavyweight phenom weighing 308 lbs, back. Sadly, that’s not enough to promise Cignetti good times.
What should be Curt Cignetti’s next priority?
Maybe Cignetti’s own words now continue to pain him. After all, he was the one who said “You win or go home and we’re in it to win it.” And we all know how his lofty thoughts about his program vanished like a puff! However, thanks to Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the 21-17 loss the cracks of the Hoosiers got exposed. Cignetti did not push it under the carpet. Instead pointed out how the “offense was doing nothing” when he basically went with a surrender punt early in the fourth quarter. And we gradually got to know Cignetti’s assessment wasn’t wrong. They finished with 278 yards of offense. They came up with 126 coming on their final two drives in garbage time. So, he needs to fix these loopholes ASAP!
On The Big Ten Huddle podcast, the host came up with a master plan. He addressed the elephant in the room, “Indiana’s offensive line, they need attention. Not just with bodies. You can’t just bring bodies in because that’s kind of what they have a little bit right now.” Right now, Indiana starting center Mike Katic and right tackle Trey Wedig are out of eligibility. So now Cignetti’s program is in dire need of someone “who can come in and compete.” The Indiana HC has already made a “great move.”
They landed Ohio State transfer Zen Michalski. In Ryan Day’s program, the offensive lineman had the ninth-highest grade for offense (61.8), and second-best run-blocking grade (73.8). Another big news is Deion Sanders’ weapon, Kahlil Benson returning to Indiana. This will be his first time under Cignetti after having spent 2020-2023 under Tom Allen. However, even after this, the Indiana HC can not let out a sigh of relief. The podcast host stated, “But those additions are not enough considering the injury concerns and the lack of depth remaining.” Now that’s surprising. After all, standing tall at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, Benson logged in 318 snaps across seven games for Colorado. Among the Buffs offensive linemen, he finished seventh in Pro Football Focus grade for offense (66.7), and fourth in run-blocking (66.4). Now what’s the advice for the Hoosiers HC?
Curt Cignetti roster revamp to face serious hurdles
The host advised, “One name Curt Cignetti could look at…the Notre Dame center, Pat Coogan.” Right now Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels turn out to be the biggest suitor to land Coogan. On January 24, Kiffin tweeted an article about Coogan’s possible transfer. But will the Ole Miss HC give Cignetti a chance? The 2024 season has been a lucky one for him as the debut HC. So when they made it to the playoffs, Cignetti just couldn’t keep his excitement under control.
“Nebraska was 25th in the coaches poll and we beat their a- -es 56-7…I’ve never beaten a top-25 team, well Coastal Carolina, back when we were little James Madison moving up to the Sun Belt… beat them 47-7, so we don’t just beat top-25 teams, we beat the s–t out of them,” Cignetti sounded all confident before the playoffs. But we know what the outcome was right? When it was time to rage across the gridiron, they lost 27-17 to Notre Dame.
Weeks later Lane Kiffin came up with the perfect clapback. Sharing Curt Cignetti’s bold quote on the Instagram story, the Ole Miss HC wrote, “I’m confused.” It was a classic case to make the Indiana HC’s wound get saltier. So, it’s highly unlikely that Kiffin would leave his ground for Cignetti to pounce upon Pat Coogan.
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