Indiana HC Curt Cignetti takes a bold stance on upcoming CFP on Pat McAfee Show
The Indiana Hoosiers are getting ready for their first appearance in the College Football Playoff, and coach Curt Cignetti wants to make the most of it.
Speaking on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday, Cignetti clarified that the Hoosiers have no interest in just participating and he highlighted that their goal is to be as competitive as possible.
"I mean we're still in prep, we've had a good week. You know our guys will be excited to play and you know... We are in it to win it, we don't want a participation medal."
The Hoosiers have been one of the surprises of the season, as a team that went 3-9 in 2023 made a complete makeover for 2024 and ended the regular season 11-1 and ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Currently, the team is eighth in the national odds, with odds of +4000 to win the title, but just having made the playoff is a complete turnaround for the Hoosiers when compared to last year.
Cignettti also made sure to address any possible questions regarding his future with the Hoosiers, simply stating that he felt at home in Indiana:
"This is home right here, baby," he said. "This is where it ends for me."
He also provided a farewell message that is sure to bring hope into the hearts of Hoosiers everywhere:
"We’re just getting started, we’re just getting started here, OK."
This was Cignetti's first season in charge of Indiana, and his turnaround of the school has been recognized by the nation. He has already won the AP Coach of the Year, the Home Depot Coach of the Year, the Walter Camp Coach of the Year, the AFCA Coach of the Year and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year awards.
Who does Indiana play in the CFP first round?
Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers will open up the new 12-team CFP against the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday, December 20. The game will be played in South Bend, Indiana, at Notre Dame Stadium since the Fighting Irish are the more highly ranked team.
While both schools share a state, they aren't rivals, per se. The series has been so far dominated by Notre Dame, with a record of 23-5-1. Historically, things look bleak for the Hoosiers, who are looking for their first win against Notre Dame since 1950 and their first in South Bend since 1906.
According to the odds, the Irish are seven-point favorites and ESPN's game predictor gives Indiana only a 29.6% chance of winning the encounter.
The game will start at 8:00 p.m. ET and it will air on ABC and ESPN.