Somehow Indiana replacing UMass on its 2027 schedule with Jacksonville State triggered another week of outrage about the Hoosiers’ approach to scheduling.
Let’s be clear — IU and head coach Curt Cignetti need to apologize to no one about that.
But what about the fact they play a soft early-season slate with no Power 4 competition outside of league play?
Sure, but what about back-to-back trips the College Football Playoff, including a 16-0 national championship season?
If Cignetti surveyed Indiana fans right now and said “Look, we know you don’t love our nonconference schedule, but we think it best positions us for the postseason. So are you okay if we continue with this model?”
The vast majority of the responses would be “Yep, fine with us.”
So until ordered to do otherwise, Indiana will march forward against an exhibition style start to the season while the rest of college football loses its mind about it.
This tired conversation appears to be nearing its end.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said Thursday the league is committed to making the first month of the season more interesting for fans.
“We need to play more good games,” Petitti said. “Like, I think we’ve been really clear about that. We think that the season could start way better than it does.”
The Big Ten is currently the only Power 4 conference not requiring its members to play an out-of-conference game against another P4 team.
But before Petitti will consider mandating P4 nonconference games, he wants the CFP expanded to 24 teams.
“If we get the 24-team playoff, you are going to see many more competitive games scheduled,” he said. “That’s my belief. We’ll commit to that. We don’t need to say we’ll do it. We’ll actually commit to doing it. We’re spending a lot of time trying to prepare for that.
“It takes a little bit of time to change schedules, as you know, as teams have commitments, but you’re going to see many more games. If 24 does happen, you’ll see the incentives change, and I really believe that you’ll see us start to schedule more (Power 4 games). We really want to do it. It’s the right thing for fans. It’s the right thing for our student-athletes and the competition. You know, I think it’s just got to be sequenced with the expansion of the playoff first.”
Cignetti knows the league mandate is coming. He said as much during Big Ten Media Day in July.
But it hasn’t made much sense to get out in front of that until its required. You know, 16-0 last year, 32-2 overall since Cignetti was hired?
And when it is required?
Somehow we suspect Indiana will be just fine.
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