IU football claims program’s first perfect regular season and Big Ten championship game spot with win at Purdue

Photos from IU football's 56-3 win against Purdue.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two years ago next week, the then-newest Big Ten football hire made a trip up to Indianapolis to converse with a panel on the Big Ten Network ahead of the conference championship game between Michigan and Purdue.

Curt Cignetti joined Dave Revsine, Nicole Auerbach and Gerry DiNardo at the desk for his first interview as the 30th head coach in Indiana football history. As the interview concluded, Cignetti introduced himself to the Big Ten with a proclamation many initially mocked.

“I figured I had to make this trip up here, since we’ll be playing in this game next year,” he said.

Though he was off by a year, Cignetti’s crystal-ball prediction proved true as No. 2 Indiana punched its ticket to next week’s Big Ten championship game with a 56–3 win over rival Purdue on Friday night.

The only thing overshadowing the berth was the Hoosiers’ first undefeated season in program history. Their unblemished record makes them just the fifth Big Ten team since 2000 to finish a perfect 12–0 and the first since Michigan in 2023.

“It’s a great night for Indiana, for our fan base, our alums, our loyal supporters, everybody that cares about Indiana,” Cignetti said postgame. “This is something that a lot of people probably thought couldn’t happen, and it just goes to show that when you have a commitment and a plan, and you have the right people in place, anything is possible.”

Indiana entered rivalry week in firm control of its own destiny. There were no scenarios in which the Hoosiers needed help from the other programs to play in next week’s game. All that was required was a win on a bitterly cold night in West Lafayette against its in-state foe.

The crimson of Indiana sweaters and winter hats stood out throughout the stadium. Boos blanketed Ross-Ade as Purdue took the field, while chants of “Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers” drowned out the PA announcer after Indiana scores.

As the clock ticked down, Boilermaker fans flocked towards the exits, leaving only a sea of red remaining in the stands. Chants of “12-and-0” serenaded the team as they made their way to the locker room postgame. High fives were plentiful, and conversations ended with a joyful “See you in Indianapolis.”

“It’s great,” senior linebacker Aiden Fisher said. “Our fans travel extremely well, and I think we pretty much took the stadium over tonight. This game and this rivalry mean a lot to former players, alums, fans, everybody included in Indiana football.”

The game’s meaning spanned far beyond the field’s boundaries.

Two years ago, on the same field, fans watched as Tom Allen’s program ended another dreadful season with a loss to Purdue. Football interest was low, and after a brief 2020 surge, it seemed destined to be just another bridge to basketball.

Cignetti’s turnaround of the losingest program in the sport’s history into national dominance has taken the country by storm. His teams have gone 23-2 in his first two seasons and have beaten their in-state rival 122-3 over two games.

The surefire national coach of the year doesn’t take the credit for all of the success. At times, he’ll deflect the praise to his assistant coaches or his players. But he believes most of the credit goes to University President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson. They pledged significant financial support to the football program when he was hired in 2023.

“I’m extremely appreciative of President Pam Whitten and Scott Dolson for their leadership and support in making this possible,” he said. “Because it takes a commitment to make this possible.”

Cignetti revealed that the team lit victory cigars in the locker room, taking a moment to appreciate the magnitude of what they’d accomplished.

“That’s absolute,” Cignetti said. “Regardless of what happens from here on out, this team will always be the first team in Indiana history to go undefeated in the regular season.”

Indiana became the first team to secure a spot in Indianapolis and must now wait to learn its opponent. Whoever advances will face Cignetti and his red-hot Hoosiers.

Over 700 days later, Cignetti will lead his team onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, with a second-straight College Football Playoff berth secure and a first-round bye within reach.

Nothing seems to rattle the Pittsburgh native – except one minor detail: his prediction was off by a year.

“We’re a year late,” he said postgame, flashing his patented grin and a wink.

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