BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — As the Indiana Hoosiers prepare for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Miami Hurricanes on January 19, 2025, head coach Curt Cignetti emphasizes a mindset of relentless improvement. Indiana enters the game with an impressive record of 15–0 and is seeking to secure its first national title in program history.
Cignetti, who has transformed Indiana into a competitive powerhouse, maintains a rigorous daily routine. He arrives at Memorial Stadium around 5 a.m. and often stays late to review game film. This dedication has contributed to Indiana’s remarkable success, as the Hoosiers have achieved a record of 26–2 in Cignetti’s two seasons. Senior tight end Riley Nowakowski noted that Cignetti approaches each day “like he hasn’t won a game in his life,” highlighting the coach’s commitment to continuous growth.
Indiana’s path to the championship has been marked by significant achievements, including a decisive 56–22 victory over No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl. This win allowed Cignetti to surpass previous records, making him the coach with the most wins in his first two years at a school in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The Hoosiers have also claimed victories against five teams ranked in the top ten at the time of the games.
Despite these accomplishments, Cignetti stresses the importance of maintaining focus and not allowing past successes to distract the team. After each game, Indiana players have only 24 hours to celebrate before shifting their attention to the next opponent. Senior linebacker Aiden Fisher explained, “We’re not satisfied with anything. We just want to earn more opportunities to prove ourselves.”
As the Hoosiers prepare for the championship, they are determined not to become complacent. They are aware of their status as a touchdown favorite but refuse to let it influence their preparation. “Every single game has to be approached the exact same way,” Nowakowski said, emphasizing Cignetti’s message about maintaining perspective.
To enhance their focus, the team actively avoids distractions, including social media discussions about their performance. Nowakowski demonstrated this by turning off an ESPN segment discussing the championship. “We don’t need to hear this,” he stated, underscoring the collective effort to eliminate outside noise.
Senior receiver Elijah Sarratt reiterated this commitment, stating that he deletes the app X, formerly known as Twitter, each week to adhere to Cignetti’s philosophy. The team’s approach is to treat the championship game the same as any other match, focusing on preparation rather than the hype surrounding the event.
Cignetti’s guidance has been pivotal in shaping the team’s mentality. He cautioned players against viewing the championship as a larger-than-life event, emphasizing that it should be treated like any other game. “The biggest mistake our guys can make is making this game bigger than it is,” he stated. “We have to be on point and totally prepared.”
The Hoosiers have shown an ability to thrive under pressure, routinely performing well in high-stakes situations. Fisher noted the need for commitment during the final week of preparation, ensuring they leave no room for regrets. “It’s just football,” he said, reminding his teammates that the fundamentals remain unchanged.
Center Pat Coogan, who played in last year’s national championship game with Notre Dame, encourages teammates to focus on the present. “At the end of the day, it’s another football game,” he said. Coogan’s advice centers on maximizing daily efforts and translating lessons learned into practice.
Cignetti’s influence permeates the team, as players adopt his philosophy of eliminating distractions. The coach’s teachings, which he refers to as avoiding “warm-fuzzies and rat poison,” stem from his time under Nick Saban at Alabama. The Hoosiers understand that external chatter has no bearing on their performance.
As the championship game approaches, Indiana’s players remain committed to their preparation strategies. The Hoosiers are aware of the significance of this moment in their history but are determined to focus on the task at hand. “We’re treating it like any other game,” Sarratt affirmed, emphasizing the importance of sticking to their routine.
With Cignetti leading the way, Indiana football is poised to make history. The bright lights of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium await, but the Hoosiers are ready to embrace the challenge, grounded in their coach’s unwavering commitment to improvement and a focus on the game itself.
