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By Cole Sullivan
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The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers entered Thursday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide as 7½-point favorites, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Despite this, Indiana is often underestimated—likely due to the program’s historical struggles. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, however, the Hoosiers have transformed, and they proved it on the biggest stage in program history, dominating Alabama 38-3 and never trailing.
After the game, Cignetti shared a viral postgame message when asked if the moment could have been too big for his Indiana squad, which features relatively few major recruits:
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"Well, I mean, why should it be too big? Because our name is Indiana?" Cignetti said. "We have a lot of veteran starters. They’ve played a lot of successful football in their careers. They have high character. There’s great leadership and character on this football team, and we’ve come through in clutch moments. So I’m proud of the way they responded, prepared, and met this challenge… it’s a great win."
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"Cignetti's got 'em believing. That’s coaching," a fan said.
Someone else added, "All time great post game quote."
Another person wrote, "Cig is so awesome."
"He reminds me of the best professor I ever had," one more fan commented .
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Curt Cignetti took over the Indiana program last season with the goal of revitalizing a team that had struggled for years.
In his first year, he led the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff, where they fell in the first round to Notre Dame. Now, in just his second season, Indiana is 14-0, Big Ten Champion, Rose Bowl Champion, and headed to the semifinals for a rematch against the Oregon Ducks, with a spot in the national championship on the line.
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