IU football’s Curt Cignetti addresses whether the program can be a perennial power

IU football coach Curt Cignetti likes to say his team has to avoid the “noise and clutter” to stay focused from week to week.

But with Indiana experiencing unprecedented success, the noise is becoming difficult to ignore.

Major job openings seem to emerge by the week, and each time that happens, Cignetti’s name is mentioned as a desirable, even if unlikely, candidate.

Whether or not it is reaching the facilities in Bloomington, there’s significant outside noise and clutter attaching Cignetti’s name to the job opening at Penn State.  And whether or not someone like Cignetti would ever be interested in a job like that is likely impacted by how well supported football is at IU, and whether he believes the Hoosiers are equipped to be a regular in the College Football Playoff.

Cignetti’s 17-2 start at IU, including an 11-1 mark in the Big Ten leaves little doubt he can win in Bloomington.

But is it sustainable?  Indiana has been on top as one of college football’s best a few times in the past.  But staying there?  That’s always been the challenge.

With his name swirling in the coaching rumors, Cignetti was asked that very question by Fox’s Joel Klatt.

Can the Hoosiers be a perennial winner?

“We’ve come a long way in a short amount of time, and, and (IU President) Pam Whitten and  (AD) Scott Dolson have really committed to football financially,” Cignetti told Klatt on the Joel Klatt Show.

“And obviously, it takes a strong financial commitment. Being in the Big 10, obviously brings a few more dollars. We’ve come a long way, but you know, facility-wise, there’s things we wanna do, and obviously with revenue sharing and NIL, you want to be in the top third of the league in resources to be able to compete and get to where you want to get to.

“I don’t think that far down the road in terms of perennial this or that. I’m more focused in on today and trying to get the most out today. You know, which is today, you know, Michigan State, and  trying to get a few first downs to maybe kick a field goal.”