Curt Cignetti is back to defend his place as one of college football's most prolific coaches while also proving last season's 11-2 finish wasn't a "fluke" as much as ESPN's Paul Finebaum claims it was.
"You had two really good teams in the Big Ten last year," Finebaum said earlier this month. "Indiana wasn't great. They were a fluke."
Finebaum's theme remained a firm sticking point before last December's season-ending defeat against Notre Dame, claiming the Hoosiers had no business making the postseason after getting trounced by Ohio State in Columbus in November. The reason being? Their nonconference cupcakes.
"I feel like the biggest con job in the playoff is Indiana," Finebaum said at the time. "You said they bought their way out of that game; their other two games were Florida International and Charlotte. They're both disgraceful nonconference opponents. They did not have a legitimate nonconference opponent."
Nevertheless, SN's Bill Bender gave the Hoosiers the benefit of the doubt as he ranked Cignetti No. 17 in the outlet's annual preseason top 25 rankings.
"Do a quick internet search," Bender wrote. "Cignetti is the real deal. He led the Hoosiers to a dream season that included a berth in the College Football Playoff, and he pieced together back-to-back 11-win seasons with Indiana and James Madison with the help of his aggressive transfer portal approach. Cignetti won SN Coach of the Year honors as a result."'
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With a new quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, amongst other key pieces, it begs a million-dollar question.
"Will Cignetti build an "emerging superpower" at Indiana?" Bender pondered. "A tougher conference schedule in 2025 will provide an early answer."
The conference schedule is anything but a cakewalk for Cignetti and Co. For one, the Hoosiers welcome a surging Illinois team to open the conference slate Sept. 20. Their schedule also includes roadtrips to Iowa (Sept. 27), Oregon (Oct. 11) and Penn State (Nov. 8). To return to the College Football Playoff may require two wins out of those three games, or all three.
It remains to be seen whether the Hoosiers can get back to the postseason. Even so, reaching a bowl berth will prove they are anything but a so-called "fluke."
The Hoosiers host Old Dominion for their season opener, beginning a four-game home stand to start the year.