Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti Joins the College Football Playoff Politicking Circle

Everyone is ready to make their case.

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks the sideline. / Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Saturday, conferences across the college football landscape played their championship games, providing plenty of drama on the field.

There was also a lot of drama off the field, thanks to the impressive politicking coming from coaches and athletic directors across the country.

All week, teams on the playoff bubble—or in some cases, in the market for a potential first-round bye in the CFP—made their cases to the playoff selection committee through the media. Athletic directors at SMU and Iowa State traded barbs over the latest playoff ranking earlier in the week. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin had beef too, as did Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti joined the fray on Saturday, passionately making the case for the Hoosiers to host a home game in the first round of the CFP.

Cignetti noted that of all the one-loss teams in the country, the Hoosiers' loss (38–15 at Ohio State on Nov. 23) was not that bad, considering the Buckeyes were ranked No. 2 in the country at the time.

"How are we not, right now, seeded for a home game?" @IndianaFootball's Curt Cignetti has some questions about their current CFP ranking. pic.twitter.com/PAEWW0IRS7

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 7, 2024

Cignetti wasn’t the only coach to empty the notebook while making their case on Saturday. After a dominant win in the Big 12 championship, Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham sent a message to the playoff committee in his postgame interview.

"Last year, [the CFP Selection Committee] kept Florida State out because their quarterback didn't play. We're 11-1 with our quarterback. 11-1. And we're Big 12 champs. I think we should be treated like an 11-1 team." - Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham pic.twitter.com/hOPmN2Qldb

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024

The expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams has added plenty of new dimensions to the beloved, chaotic sport. One of them happens to be that coaches, athletic directors and players can’t help but plead their cases for playoff selection and ranking through the media.

On Sunday, the politicking will be over, and the first 12-team bracket will be released. If any coaches have any last exhibits they would like to show the jury before closing arguments, now is the time to do it.

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