Overview
- Tommy McClelland, introduced as Purdue's incoming athletic director, told reporters last week that recruits should come to Purdue if they want championships and added, "If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana," a line that immediately went viral.
- Social media mocked the remark because Indiana is seven months removed from an undefeated regular season and the 2025 national title, pressuring McClelland to acknowledge the comment as a misstep on The Pat McAfee Show.
- Indiana coach Curt Cignetti gave a short response when asked about the jab, saying "Not really," and declined to escalate the moment during a Monday appearance with reporters.
- McClelland is set to take over as Purdue's AD in January after three years at Rice, and Purdue officials have framed his hire around improving fundraising and NIL strategy even as the gaffe briefly shifted the preseason narrative.
- Indiana's rise under Cignetti has been swift and tangible—27-2 over two seasons with dominant wins over Purdue—and Indiana AD Scott Dolson says that football's success has lifted the athletic department's fortunes overall.