It’s difficult to get college coaches to speak candidly on much of anything.
That’s why we like Athlon’s annual tradition of obtaining anonymous quotes from coaches from around the Big Ten containing candid thoughts about other programs in the league.
It’s bulletin board material — without a name attached.
What do Big Ten football coaches think about Indiana and third-year head coach Curt Cignetti after the program’s incredible undefeated national championship season?
The quotes below come from Athlon Sports’ 2026 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.
Here are the three quotes Athlon published regarding Indiana previewing the 2026 season:
“The biggest glaring thing is the production they lost in the receiver room. They’ve got some young guys coming in, and they paid a s— ton for [Michigan State transfer receiver] Nick Marsh, so we’ll see how he does. They’re just gonna be very young there.”
“Defensively, they still return most of their production. But to me, it’s hard to replicate what [Fernando] Mendoza did. [TCU transfer quarterback] Josh Hoover is a good player. I think he’s got some turnover issues. But other than that, they reloaded.”
“They’re gonna lose that rush of James Madison guys that they had the last two years, so they could definitely struggle in some areas of continuity where maybe the talent does have to take over, but I’m definitely not gonna underestimate Indiana again.”
Athlon publishes quotes like this around this same time each year. They’ve generally provided a fairly insightful look at what is to come.
There was a lot of praise ahead of 2025, and cautious optimism about Indiana before Cignetti’s first year.
Below is what was said ahead of the past two seasons.
AHEAD OF THE 2025 SEASON:
“Maybe the biggest culture change at a program in the history of the sport. IU is a case study for putting your money where your mouth is. They invested heavily in NIL and support. Cig [Curt Cignetti] is a fantastic coach, obviously, but he wouldn’t come without that commitment. That’s how they succeeded immediately.”
“I think they’ve improved the O-line enough to stay in games against top-level, physical defenses.”
“They’re leaning on the portal again in the secondary because they’re still a ways off on true, top-end depth for this league.”
“Everyone is asking who the next Indiana is, but there’s no real reason why it isn’t Indiana again. Will they win as many games? Probably not, but they’re going to be in the hunt for a playoff spot again.”
AHEAD OF THE 2024 SEASON:
“There’s a lot of talk about the program for the first time since any of us can remember.”
“Cig [Curt Cignetti] is a really good hire; it shows that the school wants to be competitive and respectable in football. They’re taking football seriously in NIL, too.”
“They brought in a few studs from James Madison, and they’ve worked the portal well.”
“The competition level in this league is still above them, but they should look more talented, especially on offense. The MAC quarterback [Kurtis Rourke] is pretty solid.”
“If you’re setting reasonable Year 1 expectations, I’d look for them to build an offensive identity to help recruiting.”
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