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2w ago

Curt Cignetti Takes Aim at the SEC at Big Ten Media Days

The comments sharpen the Big Ten–SEC rivalry by pointing to the league’s three straight College Football Playoff titles as evidence of superiority.

Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti was his usual confident self during the Big Ten's media days in Chicago, on Thursday.
A fired up Curt Cignetti addresses the Hoosiers prior to the start of the College Football Playoff title game on January 19.
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Cignetti Calls His Shot (Again); Michigan Turns Page: 4 Takeaways From Big Ten Media Days

Overview

  • Curt Cignetti used his podium at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday to declare the Big Ten "the best league" and say the Midwest does not "run a hype machine" or "cry a river" when teams fall short.
  • The Big Ten’s three consecutive CFP champions — Michigan (2023), Ohio State (2024) and Indiana (2025) — provided the factual backbone Cignetti and conference officials cited to justify the claim.
  • Media outlets widely framed Cignetti’s remarks as a direct shot at the SEC, and Big Ten leaders including Commissioner Tony Petitti reiterated the conference’s recent playoff dominance.
  • Indiana enters the 2026 season defending its 16-0 national title while navigating major roster turnover after Heisman QB Fernando Mendoza was taken No. 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft and the program added transfer quarterback Josh Hoover plus other portal reinforcements.
  • Cignetti’s comments are likely to fuel preseason narratives and bulletin-board material for opponents as Indiana faces a tougher 2026 path that includes road games at Michigan and Washington and back-to-back October matchups with Ohio State and Michigan.