Indiana’s Curt Cignetti explains head-scratching call to punt in loss to Notre Dame: ‘Didn’t want to do it’
'We were doing nothing on offense, and our defense was fighting,' Cignetti said
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sometimes it’s best to save the trash talking until after the game’s been won.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti learned that lesson in primetime after the coach suffered a crushing loss to the Fighting Irish in the first round of the College Football Playoff 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. (IMAGN)
Cignetti had plenty to say during his pregame appearance on ESPN’s "College GameDay," noting that the Hoosiers "don’t just beat top-25 teams, we beat the s--- out of them."
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That was not evident in Friday’s 27-17 loss to Notre Dame. But perhaps more mystifying than the loss was Cignetti’s controversial decision to punt in the fourth quarter.
Trailing by 17 points with just over 10 minutes remaining, Indiana found itself at fourth-and-11 at the Notre Dame 48-yard line. All things considered, Indiana was expected to go for it. But that’s not what happened.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Instead, punter James Evans ran out on the field.
After the game, a deflated Cignetti was asked to explain his decision.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti watches against Notre Dame during the first half of the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I didn’t want to punt, but we were doing nothing on offense, and our defense was fighting. That was the only positive, really, that I could draw, is our defense was still fighting, because offense was doing nothing," he said.
"And I didn’t want to go fourth-and-10 – it’s like you’re just wishing and hoping. You have nothing to base it on that you can convert fourth-and-10 at that point, right? And there’s still time if you punt to win the game. So, that was the reason why. I didn’t want to do it, but I felt like it was the best move."
But the plan quickly backfired, and Notre Dame would extend their lead on the ensuing drive.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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)
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Notre Dame moves on to face SEC champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
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