Coach Curt Cignetti is doing the unthinkable for Indiana. The Hoosiers continued their high-flying momentum with an impressive win over Michigan on Saturday, scaling up to 10-0. Cignetti sees it as a gutty win and has some high words in the tight defense. When the Wolverines tried to get back to the game, Indiana’s defense forced a turnover. It might sound like a pretty common athletic gig on the field, but if you scout the history of the Hoosiers, this level of consistency was only a myth. They were 3-9 last season. Cignetti led the team to record a first-ever 10-win season over the reigning national champions in the past 50 years.

Indiana will enjoy an idle week and bulk up even more for the next game on the line against No. 2 Ohio State. They will wrap up a super productive season on November 30th with a game against Purdue. After Oregon, they are the only team that still lives up to their undefeated status. But despite all the good things happening for the first time with the Hosiers, the CFB ranking system ain’t finding them worth a good spot in the CFP or the weekly AP Poll list. After weeks of getting snubbed, they are finally rising to No. 8 in this week’s AP poll. If you think it’s a disrespect, there is more to your dismay. While we usually get busy analyzing the top-performing teams, the coaches, the true architects of his premium teams, are left behind in the dark. Now, it’s time to get them some credit. As Adam Breneman released a list of the top-tier coaches of the week, Curt Cignetti sits nowhere.

See it as a disrespect or a misjudgment, the snub prevails. Kalen DeBoer, leading his team to 7-2 after a blowout LSU win, grabs the top spot in the list, followed by Lane Kiffin and Shane Beamer. 

Technically, however, SMU Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee, Indiana Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti, and Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders turned around a preseason drought to a close playoff hope for their teams. For Indiana, Cignetting made his first year a breakout year with constant grit. Thanks to his exceptional organizational power and the priceless experience of making players NFL-ready alongside Nick Saban.

However, coming to the team collectively taking scorn from the CFB ranking disorder, Fox analyst Joel Klatt has the Hoosiers’ back.

Joel Clatt defends the Indiana Hoosiers from a ‘brand bias’

Indiana handed the offer to Curt Cignetti last November, letting him leave James Madison after five consecutive winning seasons. Ever since, the coach has kept beating the drums of IU. He has been instrumental in a recruitment resolution for the Hoosiers. Among many players who jumped ship to the Indiana camp, Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke, is a big name. Cignetti knows what he brings to the table and how his team performs, and he couldn’t care less about anything else.

When addressing the recent AP Poll disrespect, the coach said it doesn’t matter how they fit the ranking ladder. They continue to win games, and that’s what really matters.

But Joel Clatt spoke against the unfair treatment he sees from the CFB higher-ups; questioning Indiana’s previous week’s AP Poll standing, the veteran analyst accused the committee of brand bias.

However, if Indiana can win the rest of their games regardless of the bias theory, it might change the disrespect narrative for good. What’s your take on Curt Cignetti not being on the best-performing coaches’ list?