Indiana's Curt Cignetti Responds to Scheduling Question, Sends Major Diss to SEC

Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti is no stranger to criticism of Indiana's strength of schedule, even after last season's College Football Playoff run and 11-2 record.

Indiana was scheduled to visit the Virginia Cavaliers in the first game of a home-and-home series in 2027 and 2028 but is no longer happening as first reported by On3's Sports Brett McMurphy

The Hoosiers also recently backed out of a home-and-home series with Louisville in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the 2024 matchups were replaced with FIU, they also played Western Illinois and Charlotte in 2024 non-conference which begs the question is Indiana scared to play top tier talent?

On Tuesday at the Big Ten's annual media day in Las Vegas, Nevada a reporter asked IU head coach Curt Cignetti about the cancellation and scheduling.

"Indiana's Curt Cignetti says he's "adopting an SEC scheduling philosophy""

"We figured we’d just adopt an SEC scheduling philosophy," saidf Cignetti via Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star

"Here's the bottom line: we picked up an extra home game, and we play nine conference games," Cignetti said. "The two best conferences in college football, any football guy that's objective will tell you, are the Big Ten and the SEC. Twelve of the 16 SEC teams play three G5 or an FCS team. Twelve of those teams play 36 games, 29 G5 games and seven FCS games, and one less conference game [than Big Ten teams].

"So, we figured we would just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy. Some people don't like it. I'm more focused in on those nine conference games." was the quote in full by Curt Cignetti

"It will all be done between the white lines," Cignetti also said. "Talking season will end here soon, and then let's play the games and see where it stands at the end of the year."

Indiana plays Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State this year, and their next major-conference non-league game in the regular season is currently scheduled for 2030 versus Notre Dame.

Indiana's non-league games
2025: ODU, Kennesaw St, Indiana State
2026: Colorado St, WKU
2027: Kennesaw State, Indiana St, UMass
2028: Austin Peay, E. Michigan
2029: Ball State, E. Illinois, WKU

During the ACC's media day SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee also had some harsh words for the mighty might SEC.

"The SEC has had the same six schools win the championship since 1964. Not a single one has been different since 1964," Lashlee said.

Here are some social media reactions on the Cignetti quote and diss around the internet as well from Unnecessary Roughness, Chris Phillips of SEC Unfiltered, Stewart Mandel and Barstool SEC.