Sometimes it’s best to leave the trash talking until the game has been won.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti learned that lesson in prime time after the coach suffered a crushing loss to the Fighting Irish in the first round of the championship. College Football Playoffs on Friday night.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday, Dec. 20 2024. , in South Bend. (IMAGE)
Cignetti had a lot to say during his pregame appearance on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” noting that the Hoosiers “Not only did we beat the top 25 teams, we beat them all.”
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That was not evident in Friday’s 27-17 loss to Notre Dame. But perhaps more disconcerting than the loss was Cignetti’s controversial decision to punt in the fourth quarter.
Trailing by 17 points with just over 10 minutes left, Indiana found itself on fourth-and-11 at the Notre Dame 48-yard line. Ultimately, Indiana was expected to try. But that’s not what happened.
Instead, punter James Evans ran onto the field.
After the match, a deflated Cignetti was asked to explain his decision.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti watches Notre Dame during the first half of the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Indiana. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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“I didn’t want to punt, but we weren’t doing anything on offense and our defense was fighting. That was the only positive, really, that I was able to tie, was that our defense was still fighting, because the offense wasn’t doing anything.” said.
“And I didn’t want to go on fourth-and-10; it’s like you’re just wishing and waiting. You don’t have anything to go on to be able to convert a fourth-and-10 at that point, right? And there’s still time if you punt to win the game. “So, that was the reason I didn’t want to do it, but I felt like it was the best move.”
But the plan quickly failed and Notre Dame would extend its lead the following season.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
Notre Dame goes on to face SEC Georgia Champion in the Sugar Bowl.
