NOTEBOOK: Preparing for Big Ten Title Game Unknowns
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The unknown is coming. Curt Cignetti knows it. All the second-ranked Hoosiers (12-0) do as they prepare for Saturday night’s Big Ten title game against top-ranked Ohio State (12-0) at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Buckeyes haven’t displayed their full offensive arsenal, in part because head coach Ryan Day, aware of a potential long postseason, wanted to limit wear and tear by limiting offensive plays all while winning and -- in 11 of their games -- winning big.
They average 37.0 points and allow a national-leading 7.8 points. Their 29.3-point average margin of victory ranks second in the Big Ten to IU’s 33.4.
How, if you’re Cignetti, do you prepare for offensive unknowns sure to come? How do you and your staff thrive at in-game adjustments against such a formidable opponent?
“At this point of the year, you've seen almost everything,” Cignetti said during his weekly Monday press conference. “There's a lot of plays out there that we could run that we haven't run and I'm sure they could run that they haven't run, but we've got 12 games on them, they've got 12 games on us.
“We know their personnel pretty well, and they know our personnel pretty well. So, we've got an idea how we think they'll attack us. I'm sure they have an idea how they think we'll attack them. You put your best plan together to put your guys in position to make plays, and then you’ve got to execute it.”
Modern technology, and the rule allowing iPads to be used on the sidelines during games helps with making adjustments, Cignetti added.
“The thing about college football today with the pads on the sideline, you can see exactly what went on the series before. There's no gray area. In the old days, you used to get communication from guys on the bench and then come in Sunday and half of it was wrong.
“There is no gray area anymore, so you can make quicker adjustments now than you could in the past. It's made the game better.”
IU and Ohio State are the nation’s last undefeated teams. Add that to the No. 1 vs. No. 2 stakes and you have a huge national spotlight on this game, which could have major recruiting and college transfer portal implications.
The early national high school signing period runs Wednesday through Friday.
Cignetti said his focus is on Ohio State, but he did address recruiting.
“I'd like to think we're at the level of Ohio State in terms of recruiting, but we're not right now. Ohio State's in a league of its own for a lot of different reasons. A big part of it is their tradition, their winning history, and all the national championships (nine) that they've won, and the money that they've put into the program over a long, extended period of time.
“Are we closing that gap? Yeah, I think we're closing that gap. What would a successful performance do on Saturday? Well, it would do a lot, a whole lot.
“There's a lot of talk about the college football calendar right now. We're getting ready to play the Big Ten Championship game. Wednesday is the early signing period for the high school guys. Fortunately, they're all committed, and our recruiting department can handle most of that. Our coaches can focus on their preparation. I won't even get into the portal part of it.
"But there's no question there will be a lot of eyes on this game. It's a great matchup. I'm confident that we'll respond the right way.”
While Ohio State has dominated for nearly the entire season -- it’s won its last 11 games by at least 18 points after opening with a 14-7 win against Texas -- IU had to win cliffhangers at Iowa, at Oregon, and at Penn State. Could that provide a Saturday night edge?
“We've been in some close games and down-to-the-wire games,” Cignetti said. “When you're successful in those kinds of situations, it can only add to your confidence and belief that the next time you're in one, you're going to make it happen because you have in the past.”
Ohio State has never won back-to-back national titles. Recently, Georgia did it in 2021 and ’22. Alabama did it 2011 and ’12. Day said during Sunday’s Big Ten title game Zoom that’s among this season’s goals.
“We want to be the first Ohio State team to do that,” he said.
Saturday night’s game is a step in that process. Day said the Big Ten championship game -- and all conference championship games -- should be considered in how it affects the playoffs.
Last year, the Buckeyes didn’t play in the Big Ten title game but went on to win the national championship.
“We want to be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs,” Day said. “That’s what we’re fighting for. That’s the focus. It’s important to think how this game affects the playoffs and make sure it’s in alignment. It should mean something and I think it does. If we stay at 12 (playoff teams) or expand, make sure it’s all in alignment.”
The quarterback matchup between IU’s Fernando Mendoza and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin could have major implications.
Mendoza completes 72.0 percent of his passes for 2,758 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He’s also rushed for 243 yards and six TDs.
“He looks very intelligent in terms of being able to identify pre- and post-snap schemes,” Day said. “He’s accurate, sneaky athletic. He makes a lot of plays with his feet. He’s a great leader. He’ll be a really good challenge for our team.”
Sayin completes 78.9 percent of his passes for 3,065 yards, 30 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He's only rushed for 27 yards on 31 carries, with two touchdowns.
“He plays with a lot of poise,” Cignetti said. “He doesn't look like a guy that's in his first year as a starter. He looks like he sees the field very well, throws the ball on rhythm. He can really rip it. He's got a tight release, a lot of velocity on the ball, very accurate. They've done a nice job protecting him, and obviously he's got great weapons to throw to.
“I think a little bit like us they don't put the ball in his hands and say, ‘Win the game.’ They're balanced. They want to run and throw, as do we, and that takes some pressure off the quarterback. Whereas some teams are a little bit more into points, stats, whatever, they want to throw the ball more. Neither of these two teams do that.”
Cignetti grew up in a football family. His father, Frank Cignetti Sr., is a Hall of Fame coach with 199 collegiate victories. That’s among the reasons, Day says, why Cignetti has had so much coaching success, first as a long-time assistant coach at places such as Pitt, North Carolina State and Alabama, and then as a head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Elon, James Madison, and now IU.
“I have a respect for the way he grew up,” Day says. “He has a feel of the game. When you grow up in this game, you have a feel for people, you have a feel for situations.
“He's won wherever he's been. I know some people laugh at the comments, he's made, ‘Google him,’ but it's true. I've got a lot of respect for him. It's been great to see him as a competitor in the conference.”