Indiana football: Three takeaways from Big Ten Media Days

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JUL 25 2024 Big Ten Football Media Days — Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Curt Cignetti makes his presence known.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana football finally got its turn in the spotlight during the third and final session of Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The last time head coach Curt Cignetti was in Lucas Oil Stadium was for the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game. He generated headlines in the moment for saying he figured he’d make the trip to Indianapolis since the Hoosiers will be playing in the title game in 2024.

Needless to say, he kept the quotes coming on Thursday. Here’s more on that and two other takeaways from Indianapolis:

Curt Cignetti takes center stage

Pair Curt Cignetti and a microphone and you’re just bound to get some fireworks.

Indiana’s new head coach makes the time he’s allotted to address the national media. He’s generated headlines and reactions across social media from day one on the job, during which he took a microphone at Assembly Hall to proclaim to a crowd of Hoosiers fans that, not only does Purdue suck, but so do Michigan and Ohio State.

Cignetti generated more quotes and a wave of reactions on Thursday.

Of the trip to UCLA, he said “The players are excited for all the wrong reasons. We’re just going to an old stadium to kick somebody’s ass. We’re not going on a cruise ship or a tour.”

On Indiana’s place in the Big Ten, he said “We want to be the best. You don’t bring your kids up to be fourth best … 10th best. Bullshit. We want to be the best.”

And he started his day off saying “I know you guys have been waiting for me to say something crazy.”

Cignetti owns the room and makes his presence known. He’s doing this on purpose to fire up his players and a fanbase in desperate need of excitement.

Indiana’s interesting roster mix

NCAA Football: Big Ten Football Media Days

Cignetti and the Hoosiers were very particular about which players they brought to Big Ten Media Day, and they chose these three for a reason.

One, Mike Katic, has been in Bloomington for the entirety of his college football career, electing to stay on board when Cignetti, a fellow yinzer, was hired. Another, Aiden Fisher, followed Cignetti to Indiana after playing for him at JMU. Finally, Justice Ellison joined the program out of Wake Forest.

So that’s a guy who’s been with the Hoosiers for a few years, a guy who’s been with Cignetti for a few seasons and one who’s been neither. That was on purpose and ultimately represents what this first year roster is.

Some players on last year’s roster were interested in returning after entering the transfer portal, but weren’t welcomed back. Cignetti has made that point clear time and again throughout the offseason.

But some, like Katic were. Then some JMU players who Cignetti judged to be good enough to play at the Big Ten level, like Fisher, were able to follow the staff to Indiana. Finally, players like Justice Ellison joined from other programs to fill in the gaps.

It’s a lot of new faces that are going to have to gel quickly to make Indiana work in year one of the Cignetti era.

It’s a brand new Big Ten

Oregon. Washington. UCLA. USC.

That makes 18 teams… in the Big *Ten*.

All of those programs have better history than Indiana. With their entrance has come an exit in some practices. Gone are divisions and Indiana’s annual three game gauntlet of Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

If Indiana wants to make a name for itself in the new world of college football, it’s going to have to start beating other programs considered at its level in the conference. The Marylands, Purdues, Illinois, Rutgers, maybe even the Minnesotas and Michigan States.

Then, when it comes time to face those titans, the Buckeyes, Wolverines, Ducks and Trojans, the Hoosiers are going to have to be ready to compete.