Heading into Friday’s College Football Playoff opener, Curt Cignetti exuded confidence, almost boisterous, convinced his Indiana squad could go toe-to-toe with any competition.
Yet, when push came to shove late in the game, that swagger didn’t translate into the decisions on the field.
Staring down a 20-3 deficit with just over ten minutes left on the clock, Indiana was looking at a fourth-and-11 from Notre Dame’s 48-yard marker. Many, including those calling the shots from ESPN’s broadcast booth, expected the Hoosiers to go all-in with their season hanging by a thread.
But Cignetti opted for a different play. He sent out punter James Evans, who sent the ball sailing to the Fighting Irish 22-yard line.
The decision left the commentators, including Sean McDonough, scratching their heads. “I don’t get this at all. … He’s really punting it,” McDonough mused, baffled by the call.
If Indiana’s strategy was to pin Notre Dame deep and hope for a swift defensive stop, the plan fell short. A methodical nine-play, 78-yard drive culminated with Notre Dame’s quarterback, Riley Leonard, diving into the end zone from one yard out, stretching their lead to a commanding 27-3.
This turn of events was particularly striking considering Cignetti’s pre-game bravado on “College GameDay,” where he boldly declared a fearlessness against top-tier teams: “We don’t just beat top-25 teams, we beat the s–t out of them.”
But come game time, Indiana found it tough to walk that talk against Notre Dame.
