Curt Cignetti Blasts ESPN Over SEC Bias After Indiana’s No. 4 CFP Rank

Curt Cignetti Talks Josh Hoover’s Health, Indiana’s Offensive Struggles and CFP Rankings.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti joined Don Fischer for his weekly Inside Indiana Football radio show Wednesday night.

The show was moved up a day because the Hoosiers are entering their bye week.

Cignetti discussed Indiana’s quarterback situation, assessed the team’s recent performances, and offered pointed thoughts on the first College Football Playoff rankings.

Here are the key takeaways from his comments.

JOSH HOOVER IS RECOVERING, BUT QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS REMAIN.

Indiana’s bye week couldn’t have come at a much better time for Josh Hoover.

The starting quarterback has battled injuries since the Ohio State game.

His struggles continued Saturday against Minnesota before Cignetti turned to backup Grant Wilson at halftime.

“He got dinged up against Ohio State,” Cignetti said.

“It’s been a struggle and a little bit of a struggle offensively, too.”

Hoover completed just 8 of 19 passes for 119 yards, one touchdown and an interception against the Golden Gophers.

Wilson took over after halftime and helped Indiana erase a deficit.

He eventually connected with Charlie Becker for the winning touchdown in overtime.

Cignetti expressed confidence in Wilson, revealing he had considered making a quarterback change against Michigan the previous week.

“I have total confidence that he would come in and get the job done in the second half,” Cignetti said.

“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind.”

Still, Cignetti didn’t offer any indication of who will start when Indiana returns to action against USC.

“Josh is on the mend,” Cignetti said.

“It’s a good time to have an off week.

He should only get better, and right now, he’s resting.”

The extra time should help Hoover physically.

But Wilson’s performance has given Indiana another option if its offensive struggles persist.

CIGNETTI ACKNOWLEDGES INDIANA’S OFFENSE ISN’T MEETING EXPECTATIONS.

Indiana has developed a knack for winning close games.

But Cignetti isn’t confusing those victories with complete performances.

The Hoosiers needed overtime to defeat both Michigan and Minnesota.

Their defense has compensated for an inconsistent offense.

“Our defense the last four or five games has been really solid,” Cignetti said.

“Offensively, we’re not producing like we had the previous two years.

Our consistency is not there right now.”

Saturday’s win over Minnesota was frustrating because Indiana moved the ball effectively at times.

But the offense stalled in the red zone and committed costly turnovers.

CIGNETTI BLASTS ESPN AND THE SEC BIAS IN CFP RANKINGS.

Fischer asked Cignetti what he thought about the first College Football Playoff rankings and the media reaction.

Cignetti did not hold back.

“These people, and there are a whole bunch of them, they march out of the tent, and they’re given instructions on what to say, and they follow the company line,” Cignetti said.

“And I don’t need to go any further.”

He said the rankings will play out on the field.

“I think it’s gonna all play out on the field,” Cignetti said.

“A lot of these teams have to play each other yet.

It’ll be earned not given, but there will always be controversy somewhere whether it’s 12, 24, six or four (teams in the CFP).

There’s always gonna be somebody that feels left out, and deservedly so probably could build a case to be in.”

Then he took direct aim at the SEC and ESPN.

“You’ve got two of the top three are undefeated,” Cignetti said.

“You’ve got Georgia.

Kirby’s a great coach, Georgia’s a great program.

The SEC gets a lot of love from ESPN and all their writers that they don’t technically pay, but march to their drum.”

He said that’s why so many SEC teams are ranked high.

“That’s why you see all those SEC teams up there, and some good two-loss teams from the Big Ten not quite as high,” Cignetti said.

“Like I said, it’s all gonna be played out on the field, so it really doesn’t matter right now.”

Cignetti also defended his own team’s resume.

“One other thing I’d like to say because a lot of people are bashing our rating, we lost to Ohio State, but people fail to mention that they were at full strength, we knocked the quarterback out, and we missed a layup at the end of the game by four inches,” Cignetti said.

“And what was that game, 2 vs. 3 at the time?

But that’s all right.”

Later Wednesday evening, Cignetti posted on X a reference to wins over teams with a .500 record.

“Facts are stubborn things.

#GOIU,” he wrote.

THE BROADER CONTEXT OF THE CFP RANKINGS.

Indiana is ranked No. 4 in the first CFP rankings of 2026.

The Hoosiers are 8-1 with their lone loss coming to No. 12 Ohio State.