Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has revived the Hoosiers football program after just one season with the team. However, the Hoosiers fell short in the postseason and now, Cignetti's attention is turned toward next year and, apparently, the Oregon Ducks.
On Thursday, Jan. 16, Cignetti shared a picture on social media of his work day on campus that included a sheet of paper that had his top five points of focus:
- National Champion
- Runner up
- Oregon
- Indiana/Penn State
- Penn St/Indiana
Get better today! Structured, organized and relentless work creates opportunities.#GoIU #IUFB pic.twitter.com/F92KdghxqZ
— Curt Cignetti (@CCignettiIU) January 16, 2025
For reference, the Ducks and the Hoosiers did not cross paths during the 2024 regular season or the postseason. Meanwhile, Indiana lost to both Ohio State and Notre Dame (the two teams in the National Championship game). Indiana and Penn State also didn't play in 2024 but are scheduled to in 2025, just like the Hoosiers and the Ducks.
There is no denying that Oregon took over the Big Ten this season. In their first year as a part of the conference, the Ducks not only went undefeated during the regular season but also defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship game.
Now, that Oregon has (at least partial) claim to ownership of the conference, head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks have placed themselves in the crosshairs of every other top team in the Big Ten.
While Cignetti may not have explained why he had those five bullet points written down any further, the Ducks can be proud that they have already become a point of focus for other teams in the conference – even when their matchup may be nine months away.
The Oregon Ducks and the Indiana Hoosiers are scheduled to clash in Eugene on Saturday, Oct. 11. The time and TV broadcast have yet to be announced for the game.