You know the “I win games. Google me” guy, right? Well, he’s back with another catchy quote! And this one, however, hits differently. Will someone please make shirts with his quotes on them already? As it sounds a bit more undermining something, or someone, shall we say? The improved No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers side is 10-0, so it’s only fair for their head coach Curt Cignetti to be a little cocky. But this ‘someone’ is quite special himself.

For Curt Cignetti, there’s no such thing as a “biggest game.” His perspective on the much-anticipated matchup with Ohio State is refreshingly direct: it’s important because it’s the next one. His recent comments, however, seemed to stir the pot. Offering a poke that many took as a swipe at Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s tendency to hype up games as monumental clashes, Cignetti’s “just another game” approach adds an interesting psychological twist heading into what fans and players alike know is one of Indiana’s biggest games in years. As reported by Michael Niziolek, the IU’s beat writer on X, “The biggest game in IU history? I mean it’s a big game because it’s the next game. It’s the only game coming up and that makes it a big game.” The Indiana coach’s words from his radio show.

Indiana has reason for optimism this week. Reports confirming that wide receiver Myles Price and running back Justice Ellison, who took some big hits in their game against Michigan, are back on the practice field. Price had 28 receptions for 361 yards, ranking third on the team entering the week. The fifth-year Red Raiders transfer is one of the most experienced players on the team. Cignetti’s announcement on his radio show couldn’t have come at a better time. He said, “The guys who took some hard hits vs Michigan are practicing this week,” reported by the founder of Indiana Illustrated Alec Lasley on X. Having key players on offense healthy and ready to go could be a game-changer, especially as Indiana faces an Ohio State team with one of the most dominant defenses in the Big Ten.

Meanwhile, the giant he is challenging is the No. 2 ranked Ryan Day army, the Buckeyes. After long weeks of analysts and insiders calling Cignetti’s side “soft” for not facing any big teams, Week 13 will be an opportunity to prove them wrong or right.

Slowly but surely, the insiders are hailing the unlikely hero, Curt Cignetti

All jokes would be on you if anyone would have said that this Hoosiers bunch is locked into the playoffs and the championship shot well under the radar. But no one’s laughing now. Well, expect Colin Cowherd! Regarding the Hoosiers’ prospects, the College Gameday host Rece Davis has discussed what will happen based on next week’s game.

“If you go and play well, you just happen not to beat a team that I think is capable of winning the national championship in their stadium, then I think Indiana is a lock,” Davis said on the Pat McAfee Show. “I think it’s far more likely than not that they will {make the playoff} regardless {of} what happens in Columbus.”

Cignetti’s comments could suggest that he’s banking on Ohio State being caught off-guard, possibly underestimating Indiana’s grit. Even more, his remarks might subtly play on Ohio State’s tendency to turn up the pressure in so-called “big games,” hoping they’ll trip on their own hype. Well, they are aware that this game is no ordinary contest, regardless of how Coach Cignetti frames it. The team’s veterans, like Price and Ellison, understand the stakes and will look to show Ohio State that the Hoosiers are no pushovers.