It’s simple accountable the dumb media. What do we all know?
Wouldn’t know elite from common if given the all-24 sport tape, and defined each play.
However this a disrespect goes a lot deeper — all the way in which to Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti’s personal y.
They’re not shopping for all issues Indiana. Apparently, they nonetheless need to see it to imagine it.
Nicely, right here comes imagine it — within the type of large model Ohio State Saturday in Bloomington.
The identical Ohio State that, if it have been in the midst of a 22-game successful streak that included a nationwide title, can be the No. 1 ranked staff in l. And it might be unanimous.
The carnival barkers at ESPN can be screeching about “the best staff ever,” and contemplating the fixed fluctuating state of the sport, “is Ryan Day because the biggest coach ever in Ohio State historical past?!”.
No totally different than if it have been Alabama on a 22-game heater. Or Georgia or LSU or Michigan or Notre Dame.
I imply, Notre Dame must win 22 in a row — however that’s e.
“Nice staff we’re taking part in,” Cignetti mentioned. “Undecided how good we’re but."
After all he’s, however that’s not the purpose.
Prefer it or not, Indiana remains to be coping with model blues. Or perhaps it’s simply envy.
Or perhaps — and right here’s the true kick within the shorts — if the coaches do deal with Indiana like Ohio State or Alabama or Georgia, it shines a really distinct mild on the method of successful.
And extra to the purpose, their very own failure at faculties — how can I say this? — who weren’t the armpit of the game once they took over.
You don’t want an enormous shiny new (or renovated) stadium, or an opulent football-only coaching facility, or deep-pocket boosters keen to spend $50 million on a roster. You simply want good teaching.
Sensible expertise analysis, and even higher participant growth. Placing gamers in place to succeed in their collective ceilings.
If it may be executed at Indiana, it may be executed anyplace. No extra excuses about power of convention, or location of your geographic recruiting footprint or that, hey, they’ve received good gamers, too.
Cignetti and the Hoosiers blew all of that sideways with n final season. Backed up the best turnaround in n historical past from 2024, with the best story in sports activities in 2025.
But when the preseason started, these good coaches who scoff on the dumb media ranked the Hoosiers No. 6 of their ballot with 14 first-place votes. This week, the Hoosiers are ranked No. 4 and 9 coaches on the prime of their ballots, however why a lot hesitation?
As a result of Indiana had a brand new quarterback?
Uh, fellas? Cignetti received Ohio switch Kurtis Rourke to play at an elite stage in 2024, and made Fernando Mendoza — a stable participant at California in 2024 — one of the best participant in faculty soccer in 2025. Cignetti then signed turnover-prone quarterback Josh Hoover from TCU, and declared “Josh’s greatest pals shall be a operating sport and an amazing protection."
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The quarterback who had 42 turnovers within the final three seasons at TCU, doesn’t have one in six video games at Indiana.
A yr earlier than Canetti arrived in Bloomington from JMU and took defensive coordinator Bryant Haines with him, Indiana was 111th within the nation in scoring protection, giving up 30 factors a sport.
The Hoosiers jumped 105 spots to the No.6 protection within the nation in 2024, giving up 15.6 ppg. Final yr, as much as No.2 at 11.7 ppg.
It’s not a one-off. What precisely are the voters within the coaches ballot ready for?
Indiana has gained 33 of 35 video games beneath Cignetti. The 2 losses have been to the 2024 nationwide champion (Ohio State) and nationwide runnerup (Notre Dame).
There have been large wins, assertion video games and street comebacks. Blowouts and white knuckles rides. You identify it, we’ve seen it — the attention take a look at is roofed, thanks.
The one saving grace for the 74 coaches who vote within the US LBM ballot is the dumb media. All of 1 voter within the Related Press media ballot that has the Hoosiers on prime.
Model blues, child.
Or perhaps simply pure envy.
s is the senior nationwide faculty soccer author for USA TODAY Sports activities Community. Observe him on X at B. Take heed to him every day, from 12-2 p.m., on e.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: n
