Ohio State followed up its 2024/2025 CFP national championship with a dominant 12-0 regular season last year. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti doesn't seem to think that's possible for his Hoosiers, at least based on how he explained his team's 29-23 win over Northwestern on Friday night.
Cignetti once again touted his forewarning that the Wildcats would be a tough team to beat in Week 4 during the postgame press conference.
"I tried to tell everybody Northwestern's a good football team, but people weren't buying that. But two years ago at this time, people said, 'Indiana's a good football team.' You know, people weren't buying that stock either," Cignetti said.
"I'm sure everybody's disappointed because they still have the national championship hangover, but I can't do anything about that."
Yes, Cig. Everybody, outside of a few Big Ten towns, at least, is disappointed that a heavily favored IU needed the entire 60 minutes to keep down Northwestern. Chip Kelly's arrival wasn't supposed to make Aidan Chiles look like a 2013 Florida State Jameis Winston.
That was the second time in as many nights that Cignetti touted the difference between two years ago and now in Bloomington. He at least didn't get on his fanbase's case again for believing that dominance should be the new normal.
While the 2025/2026 CFP championship is still fresh in fans' minds, in this "what have you done for me lately?" sport, Cignetti knows he needs an impressive follow-up act.
He simply may not have one. Cignetti may be trying to warn Hoosier fans about the imminent drop-off without outright saying it, while keeping his image up as the stoic guy who's never too high or too low.
Cignetti may be extremely bothered by what comes next.
Indiana doesn't look built to beat Ohio State
Kelly's offense and Arthur Smith's system both rely on compression and a heavy run identity, so the blueprint to at least keep things close with Indiana in Bloomington in a few weeks is clear.
Factor in the talent disparity between the Buckeyes and Wildcats, and you can see a very clear path to wearing down Bryant Haines's defense during a 2025 Big Ten Championship Game rematch.
Haines's units have struggled in the second halves of games, and while Ohio State already has a noticeable second-half meltdown on its record this season against Texas, Ryan Day has to know that slipping like that again is unacceptable.
The Hoosiers may have to hope they get off to a good enough early lead against a more talented Buckeyes squad that may be considered better-coached by mid-October. There aren't as many chances to win that one for IU as previously thought.
Indiana may not be built to make the CFP again
Indiana's hangover may not have enough hair of the dog to get it back to life-of-the-party status in college football.
The Hoosiers may not be built to withstand a difficult Big Ten schedule ahead.
Beyond the Ohio State matchup, road tests at Nebraska, TTUN, and Washington loom, with a home date against USC slated for mid-November.
Are there three losses in that bunch? Based on the eye test from Friday night, there very well could be.
Cignetti better hope Week 4 was just rust against the first non-cupcake of the season.
The going is about to get tough, but will Indiana get going?
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