After playoff breakthrough, Indiana opens with a warning from Cignetti

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Curt Cignetti didn’t bother with big-picture talk or College Football Playoff reflections. As far as he is concerned, CFP is now officially a four-letter word.

He’s not worried about his team’s No. 20 national ranking or expectations or any talk of encore. And he’s hoping he’s driven that message home as his team prepares for its 2:30 p.m. opener Saturday against Old Dominion.

Cignetti, a Sun Belt alum himself, isn't about to overlook ODU. The Monarchs couldn't sneak up on Cignetti if they showed up for kickoff at 3 a.m. -- on a Friday.

“Now it’s time to go to war,” Cignetti said Monday at his first game-week news conference of the season. “It’s serious business now.”

By now, Cignetti’s Hoosiers know the story of ODU pushing South Carolina to the brink last season all too well. It’s a team that returns the Sun Belt’s top dual-threat quarterback in Colton Joseph and an All-American linebacker.

“All but one of Old Dominion’s losses last year were by one score or less,” Cignetti said. “Like I’ve told you in the past, they’ve beaten Virginia Tech twice in recent history, so we’ve got to be ready to go.”

Caution from experience

Cignetti knows exactly how dangerous Sun Belt teams can be — because he helped make them that way. His rise at James Madison elevated the league’s national profile, and he’s now using that same blueprint in Bloomington.

“Obviously, we’ve talked about the history of the Sun Belt teams, current members of the Sun Belt and the blue bloods that they have defeated,” he said. “It’s a who’s who in the top 15.”

He reminded reporters that Old Dominion led South Carolina late last season and lost only after two costly fumbles inside their own 10-yard line.

“South Carolina beat them by four,” Cignetti said. “It’s a hard place to play. I know that from being at Alabama… South Carolina’s touchdown drives were six and two yards. I mean, they were extremely fortunate to beat Old Dominion.”

This much is certain – Cignetti has plenty of up-close familiarity with his Week 1 opponent.

“The quarterback can beat you with his legs and his arm,” Cignetti said. “Touchdown/interception ratio was good… They try to create space through their alignments and take advantage to put themselves in the best play.”

And he had high praise for ODU linebacker Jason Henderson.

“He got hurt last season early in the year, red-shirted. Had 170 tackles in 2023,” Cignetti said. “I think he led the country in tackles.”

No assumptions, no shortcuts

Though Indiana returns a strong offensive line and added veteran transfers at quarterback and running back, Cignetti made it clear: nothing has been earned yet.

“The game is going to be hard,” he said. “You know, I expect a very tough challenge from Old Dominion, and we’re going to have to play really well from the first play to the last play.”

Asked about offensive identity, Cignetti said that story is still being written.

“The identity is sort of established throughout the season once you start playing the games,” he said. “At the end of the year we’ll be able to write the book, close the book on this football team.”

No distractions, just urgency

Asked about defensive back Louis Moore’s pending court case -- the player is suing the NCAA in an attempt to gain eligibility in 2025 -- Cignetti kept it brief.

“We’re handling it the best way we see fit.”

His overall message? No shortcuts. No easing in.

“They’re all excited to play, and now we’ve got to put the proper preparation in and understand that while they’re excited to play, the game is going to be hard,” he said. “We’ll learn a lot about our team in Game 1 like we did last season.”