Indiana University Athletics
Media Monday: at Purdue
11/24/2025 1:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– After the second bye week of the season, Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti addressed the media inside the Don Croftcheck Football Team Room on Monday (November 24) ahead of the 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday (November 28) at Purdue.
Below is a full transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: Coach (Barry) Odom has got them playing hard. They've been very competitive at home. You look at Purdue. They go to Michigan; they lose by five. They got Rutgers; they're ahead with four minutes to go in the game at home. Minnesota, they led the whole game and lost at the end. Ohio State was a competitive game for most of the first half. Then they went to Washington, and the game got away from them. That's a hard place to play.
So, we're certainly expecting their best shot, and we've got 100% focus all eyes on Purdue and are in the process of preparation to put ourselves in the best position to be successful.
Questions?
On the injury update from the guys who are hurt…
CC: Yeah, we expect (Mikail) Kamara will start. (Elijah) Sarratt will start. Drew Evans, we'll know more today, and him and the rest of them are working hard to get back on the field.
On the bye week ahead of an extended postseason for college football compared to recent years in the sport…
CC: Yeah, I look at it from a different perspective. It was a much-needed off week, playing six games in a row late in the year. I think everybody that's playing is banged up, and I think the entire organization was a little tired. I could feel it, sense it, Penn State week and Wisconsin week, so I think it came at a really good time.
Everybody seems to be refreshed. There was a lot of spirit at practice yesterday, and I can tell in the office everybody is rested up, so it's a good thing.
On style point wins and margin of victory…
CC: Yeah, it's not something I'm really thinking about, quite honestly. We've had some wins where we've won by a lot of points, and we've had some wins that are close. I think the most important thing is that you win.
On the special teams unit and Nico Radicic…
CC: Yeah, Nico has been money in the bank for two years. We've been pretty fortunate. About the last five of our field goal kickers have been that way. We have a certain thing we do with them that has worked up to this point. It's really all credit to the kickers and their ability to put the ball between the uprights.
I think our special teams have done a good job, you know, with blocked punts. We've had no catastrophic mistakes, so to speak. We've kicked some really key field goals. There's no doubt about that. Had some good punt returns. Not many opportunities in the kickoff return game.
So, we count those blocked punts as basically turnovers. I mean, we're No. 1 in the country in turnover ratio, plus 15. You add a few of those blocked punts, you're around plus 18. Those are winning edges.
On the timing of the Purdue game and his injured players…
CC: Look, we are 100% focused on Purdue and nothing else. We have respect for Purdue. If you don't respect your opponent, then you're starting in a bad spot.
I respect what I see on tape. They're playing hard. They're making plays. They're in games. They're doing a good job up there coaching, and we have to go up there prepared, and we got to play well.
I mean, we're going on the road to play a Big Ten football team, in-state rival. That's all we're thinking about.
On the balance of playing Elijah Sarratt back from injury and the emergence of Charlie Becker…
CC: I guess you'll see Friday night.
On what he has seen from Purdue in year one for Barry Odom…
CC: First of all, they're competing really hard. That's what I see. There's no give-up in that team, and I'm sure they're disappointed in the way it went out at Washington.
They're wide open on offense. Spread the output conflict, balance run and pass. Defensively really mix it up. Every play something different.
They attack. They've got an aggressive style on offense and defense and special teams, and I'm sure that's the personality of the head coach, who played linebacker in college, been a defensive guy. They attack. They're a physical football team.
On the rivalry and the history between Indiana and Purdue…
CC: I probably haven't been here long enough. We've played them one time. They probably weren't in a real good spot last year when we played them. The goal is to be successful. Maybe in five, six years I can answer that question better.
On what makes Fernando Mendoza's prep work special
CC: Well, I think it's because he wants to be great, and you know, he's willing to make the sacrifices and put the work in and has the discipline to do it day in and day out, and I think Chandler Whitmer has done a great job too of developing him and showing him the way, so to speak.
On if the cold weather Friday changes game planning…
CC: We still have to throw the ball (smiling). It probably is. I haven't asked him. It's going to be cold for everybody.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
Below is a full transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: Coach (Barry) Odom has got them playing hard. They've been very competitive at home. You look at Purdue. They go to Michigan; they lose by five. They got Rutgers; they're ahead with four minutes to go in the game at home. Minnesota, they led the whole game and lost at the end. Ohio State was a competitive game for most of the first half. Then they went to Washington, and the game got away from them. That's a hard place to play.
So, we're certainly expecting their best shot, and we've got 100% focus all eyes on Purdue and are in the process of preparation to put ourselves in the best position to be successful.
Questions?
On the injury update from the guys who are hurt…
CC: Yeah, we expect (Mikail) Kamara will start. (Elijah) Sarratt will start. Drew Evans, we'll know more today, and him and the rest of them are working hard to get back on the field.
On the bye week ahead of an extended postseason for college football compared to recent years in the sport…
CC: Yeah, I look at it from a different perspective. It was a much-needed off week, playing six games in a row late in the year. I think everybody that's playing is banged up, and I think the entire organization was a little tired. I could feel it, sense it, Penn State week and Wisconsin week, so I think it came at a really good time.
Everybody seems to be refreshed. There was a lot of spirit at practice yesterday, and I can tell in the office everybody is rested up, so it's a good thing.
On style point wins and margin of victory…
CC: Yeah, it's not something I'm really thinking about, quite honestly. We've had some wins where we've won by a lot of points, and we've had some wins that are close. I think the most important thing is that you win.
On the special teams unit and Nico Radicic…
CC: Yeah, Nico has been money in the bank for two years. We've been pretty fortunate. About the last five of our field goal kickers have been that way. We have a certain thing we do with them that has worked up to this point. It's really all credit to the kickers and their ability to put the ball between the uprights.
I think our special teams have done a good job, you know, with blocked punts. We've had no catastrophic mistakes, so to speak. We've kicked some really key field goals. There's no doubt about that. Had some good punt returns. Not many opportunities in the kickoff return game.
So, we count those blocked punts as basically turnovers. I mean, we're No. 1 in the country in turnover ratio, plus 15. You add a few of those blocked punts, you're around plus 18. Those are winning edges.
On the timing of the Purdue game and his injured players…
CC: Look, we are 100% focused on Purdue and nothing else. We have respect for Purdue. If you don't respect your opponent, then you're starting in a bad spot.
I respect what I see on tape. They're playing hard. They're making plays. They're in games. They're doing a good job up there coaching, and we have to go up there prepared, and we got to play well.
I mean, we're going on the road to play a Big Ten football team, in-state rival. That's all we're thinking about.
On the balance of playing Elijah Sarratt back from injury and the emergence of Charlie Becker…
CC: I guess you'll see Friday night.
On what he has seen from Purdue in year one for Barry Odom…
CC: First of all, they're competing really hard. That's what I see. There's no give-up in that team, and I'm sure they're disappointed in the way it went out at Washington.
They're wide open on offense. Spread the output conflict, balance run and pass. Defensively really mix it up. Every play something different.
They attack. They've got an aggressive style on offense and defense and special teams, and I'm sure that's the personality of the head coach, who played linebacker in college, been a defensive guy. They attack. They're a physical football team.
On the rivalry and the history between Indiana and Purdue…
CC: I probably haven't been here long enough. We've played them one time. They probably weren't in a real good spot last year when we played them. The goal is to be successful. Maybe in five, six years I can answer that question better.
On what makes Fernando Mendoza's prep work special
CC: Well, I think it's because he wants to be great, and you know, he's willing to make the sacrifices and put the work in and has the discipline to do it day in and day out, and I think Chandler Whitmer has done a great job too of developing him and showing him the way, so to speak.
On if the cold weather Friday changes game planning…
CC: We still have to throw the ball (smiling). It probably is. I haven't asked him. It's going to be cold for everybody.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
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