Curt Cignetti analyzes the gap between programs like Indiana, Notre Dame

Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers saw their dream season come to an end this past Friday evening, as they fell to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by ten points, ending their run in the College Football Playoff.

While the year didn’t end the way Cignetti and company would’ve liked, with Indiana becoming the most miraculous champion in college football’s illustrious history, it’s incredible the Hoosiers even made it this far. After the loss, Cignetti reflected on the gap between his team and Notre Dame, trying to figure out where Indiana has to improve to take the next step in 2025.

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“They’ve probably got more depth than we do,” Cignetti said, regarding the difference between the two programs. “Probably have some front-line guys that are just a little bit bigger, stronger, faster than our guys.”

Even with the talent advantage the Fighting Irish possessed over Indiana, Cignetti’s team did not go quietly into their elimination. They fought until the very end, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, but their slow start was too much for the Hoosiers to overcome when the final whistle finally blew.

Whether it was nerves or the layoff between the end of the regular season and the start of the CFP, it was evident something was amiss with Indiana’s offense from the get-go. Once they couldn’t turn an early Riley Leonard interception into points, the writing seemed to be on the wall for the Hoosiers.

While they weren’t able to give Notre Dame a fright during their first round clash, it’s evident Cignetti is looking at 2024 as the beginning more than anything, believing this could be the launching point for years of success in Bloomington. It’s up to him to ensure they don’t squander their newfound momentum.

Even though they faltered a bit against the top teams on their schedule, like the aforementioned Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes, Indiana did secure some impressive wins in 2024. They went on the road and defeated UCLA by 29. Nebraska fell by 49 points against the Hoosiers. Even Michigan couldn’t best Cignetti’s team, losing by five in Bloomington.

Yes, there’s a gap between Indiana and other top programs at the moment, but that didn’t stop Curt Cignetti and company from making a run at the College Football Playoff. However, if they want to win a national title, it’ll be up to the head coach to continue the Hoosiers’ rise moving forward.