Curt Cignetti wins National Championship in second season as Indiana HC | Joel Klatt Show
Joel Klatt reacted to Indiana and Curt Cignetti winning the National Championship in Cignetti's second season as head coach.
The cocky Curt Cignetti train rolled on through Big Ten Media Days this week, and it doesn't seem like it's slowing down any time soon.
Nor should it, by the way. Indiana is the defending national champs. Cignetti has earned the right to be cocky. He's earned the right to pick fights with the SEC, and any other conference he chooses.
BUT, it will come to a halt at some point, and fans of a certain conference are already foaming at the mouth.
For those who missed it, Cignetti took a nasty little shot at the SEC on Thursday, calling out some unnamed teams — unofficially, of course — for making excuses.
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on before the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025. (Robert Goddin/Imagn Images)
"I mean we don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest," Cignetti said. "We believe everything’s earned, not given. And when we fall short, we say, ‘We fell short.’ We don’t cry a river, whine and complain. All right? And that’s why we’re the best."
Take a look:
Indiana's schedule is hilarious
Lordy. Just a vicious shot at the SEC. Again, Cignetti has earned the right to make it. The Hoosiers were dominant last year. But ...
Let's not get crazy. All these things tend to come out in the wash, and Indiana's schedule this upcoming season ain't exactly murderer's row.
SEC fans, of course, were QUICK to point that out yesterday:
I could go on and on. It's a war zone over on Elon's app formerly known as Twitter. Just a war zone. Which is great, because that means college football is almost back.
Less than 30 days, folks. Hang tight for just a bit longer!
Look, I'm an SEC guy. I'm biased. I'll happily admit that. OutKick's Ian Miller is not an SEC guy. He hates us. I get it.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti speaks during media day ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana. The game will be played Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
I'm also a Florida Gators fan, and I'm man enough to admit the Hoosiers would probably crush us. They crushed just about everyone they faced last year, so it's safe to assume they'd do the same to us.
Now, they had a bunch of 30-year-old players on their team, but that's neither here nor there.
Relax, it's a joke! Sort of.
But, let's not act like Indiana is about to face the toughest schedule in the world. I mean, just look at that thing! It's hilariously bad.
- North Texas
- Howard
- WKU
- Northwestern
- Rutgers
- Nebraska
That's a pathetic first six weeks. Come on. Let's be fair here. In that same span, LSU plays Clemson, Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
Texas plays Ohio State (!!!), Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Georgia plays Oklahoma and Alabama.
Oklahoma plays Michigan, Georgia and Texas.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian walks into Camping World Stadium ahead of the Citrus Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 31, 2025. (aAustin American-Statesman via Getty Images)
Do we see the difference? Again, Cignetti can say what he wants and be as cocky as his heart desires. He's earned it. Indiana has earned it.
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But calling out the SEC for whining and complaining, while also knowing you have six straight bye weeks to open the season, is a ballsy move.
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We'll see how this thing pans out.
Welcome back, college football.
