A lot is spoken of and made of the relative benefits and pitfalls of playing a difficult conference schedule in college football – with SEC coaches and players inferring last week at their annual media gathering that their teams get beat up with the rigors of conference play before falling short of the ultimate prize.
Standing just to the left of his College Football Playoff national championship trophy, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti fired back at that logic Thursday on the final day of Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
“We don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest. We believe everything is earned, not given,” Cignetti declared. “And when we fall short, we say, ‘We fell short.’ We don’t cry a river, whine, and complain. That’s why we’re the best.”
It is hard to argue with Cignetti’s logic. The Hoosiers’ 16-0 campaign in 2025 – culminated with a 27-21 victory over Miami in the CFP title game – marked the third straight national title for the Big Ten. Indiana followed Ohio State’s run in 2024 and Michigan’s march in 2023.
The SEC did land five CFP teams in the 12-team bracket last year, with the Big Ten earning three bids. But the proof is in the hardware, with Cignetti’s shining brightly beside him Thursday on the stage.
"We don't run a hype machine up here in the Midwest. We believe everything is earned, not given."IU football head coach Curt Cignetti on playing in the Big Ten, which he considers the best conference, and how it prepared the Hoosiers for the College Football Playoff:#iufb pic.twitter.com/8mG7Af6XSa
— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) July 30, 2026 Prediction Markets College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026 Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Notre Dame 85% Ohio St. 77% Indiana 75% Oregon 75% Georgia 69% Miami (FL) 69% Texas 67% Texas Tech 65% Alabama 42% LSU 39% PredictCurt Cignetti takes aim at the SEC: ‘We believe everything is earned, not given’ Saturday Down South.
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