‘How are we not right now seeded for a home game’: Curt Cignetti sounds off on CFP rankings, makes case for Indiana football to play host

While the Indiana football program patiently awaits its path for the College Football Playoff, head coach Curt Cignetti remains outspoken about his team and their season.

Ahead of the Big Ten Championship on CBS on Saturday night, Cignetti didn’t mince words when he discussed Indiana’s postseason outlook — and tried to make a case for being a host in the first round.

“Ninth in the CFP — here’s my question, right? There’s six one loss teams in the country, right? We lost to the second ranked team on the road. Penn State lost to the fourth ranked team at home. Texas lost the the fifth ranked team at home. Boise lost to the seventh ranked team. Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois and SMU lost to an unranked team at the time they played,” Cignetti said on CBS. “So how are we not right now seeded for a home game? That’s what I want to know. We have the largest margin of victory in the country. Take out the FCS and the G5, P4 only. We’re outscoring people 40-17, second in the country. Bu, because our name is Indiana and not Michigan, we’re ninth?”

As championship Saturday winds down, Indiana remains ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings and is seeded 10th — projected as a road game against Georgia in the first round.

The Hoosiers finished the regular season 11-1, it’s only loss coming at No. 2 Ohio State.

Indiana, who was picked 17th out of 18 Big Ten teams in the preseason poll, won a program record in games and set a program record in Big Ten wins, as well as finished the regular season with an unblemished home record.

IU also had five 30+ point wins, tying the program record for a season (1917).

In all likelihood it will be Indiana football on the road for its College Football Playoff opener. But, regardless, Curt Cignetti and his team are already for whatever is thrown at them.

And, Cignetti didn’t leave his CBS appearance without a recruiting pitch.

“Come to Indiana,” Cignetti said. “Play in the CFP. Win a lot of games.”

The final bracket is revealed on Sunday afternoon at Noon ET.

SEE ALSO: Indiana football, Curt Cignetti in ‘juggling act’ as critical recruiting month clashes with playoff push

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