Curt Cignetti hammered for decision to punt late in CFP game vs. Notre Dame
Curt Cignetti went on the set of ESPN’s College GameDay on Friday before Indiana’s first-round College Football Playoff game against Notre Dame and thumped his chest.
“We don’t just beat Top 25 teams, we beat the shit out of them,” Cignetti told the ESPN panel.
Hours later, his team got manhandled by Notre Dame.
Not a great look for Cignetti.
But he certainly didn’t help himself. With the Hoosiers trailing 20-3 in the fourth quarter, Cignetti opted to punt from the Notre Dame 48-yard-line.
“I’m very surprised,” said ESPN play-by-play man Sean McDonough.
Added Greg McElroy: “I don’t understand. Especially with how Notre Dame’s been able to move the ball offensively, they’re down 30-20 in time of possession, it makes no sense.”
And after the punt netted 26 total yards, McDonough commented the decision was a “head-scratcher” from the national coach of the year.
Prior to the punt, Indiana had run 11 offensive plays in the second half and gained 5 total yards. Notre Dame dominated time of possession as it stretched its lead to 17 points.
Following the decision from Cignetti, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard walked in for a touchdown to put the Irish up 27-3. It capped a 9-play, 78-yard drive that milked 5:44 off the clock.
Cignetti coached conservatively and it bit him in the tail.
It also made him the butt of the joke on social media.
Curt Cignetti talks a big game and then punts down 17 with 11 mins left in the game.
“Google me”
— Walk-On Redshirts (@walkonredshirts) December 21, 2024
You CAN’T talk the shit Cignetti talks and Punt right there. What the hell was that?
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 21, 2024
Curt Cignetti punted in plus territory down 17 with 10:41 left in a playoff game.
Get this fraud out of here.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) December 21, 2024
Cignetti exposing himself as one of the biggest frauds in the country
— Unbiased Ev (@DoubleVodkaDon) December 21, 2024
Punting down 3 scores with 10:45 left?!
Curt Cignetti pic.twitter.com/1Db3vrIHRk
— The 4 Horsemen Podcast (@HorsemenPod) December 21, 2024
How many possessions does Cignetti think Indiana is going to get with 10:40 left? https://t.co/baWIKyJwxd
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) December 21, 2024
Cignetti is proving that he’s a fake tough guy by punting down 17 in plus territory.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) December 21, 2024
Curt Cignetti playing it safe here with the punt. Smart move. Keep it as close as possible and maybe the committee will still put them in the playoff.
— Jake (@JakeAndBall) December 21, 2024
For Curt Cignetti to talk the way he talked this season and then to coach this conservatively in THIS game.
It just doesn't make sense. At all.
— Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) December 21, 2024