In case there was any doubt about Curt Cignetti’s mindset heading into Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game against Miami, the Indiana head coach removed it during his latest press conference.<\/p>\n
“It is a close team,” he said. “I’ve witnessed quite a bit of sentimentalism throughout the week from some of our seniors who have been with us for quite a long time. I think it’s time to sharpen the saw now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Throw those warm fuzzies out the door, that sentimentalism. It’s time to go play a game against a great opponent. We’ve got to have a sharp edge going into this game. You don’t go to war with warm milk and cookies.”<\/p>\n
Cignetti’s efforts to keep his team focused are understandable, as Indiana has been the feel-good story of the college football season.<\/p>\n
After all, the Hoosiers have the second-most<\/a> total losses in college football history and have traditionally been a downtrodden program that is far better known for their basketball success than that on the gridiron.<\/p>\n But things have quickly changed under Cignetti, and they are now one win away from lifting the national championship trophy.<\/p>\n Yet that kind of turnaround, paired with quarterback Fernando Mendoza winning the Heisman Trophy and being the potential<\/a> No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, could lead to complacency and a tendency to reflect on all the accomplishments instead of locking in on what needs to be done Monday to win the title.<\/p>\n