Curt Cignetti Reacts to Purdue AD Shading Indiana With Remark About Championships

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti declined to respond to Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland's ill-advised dig at the Hoosiers.

During his introductory press conference, McClelland offered the usual comments about how he wants the Boilermakers to win championships. He then suggested that, "if you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana."

Many were left puzzled given Indiana won a national championship in football last season.

Asked about the remark, Cignetti said a lot without saying anything:

In a way, McClelland was simply emulating Cignetti.

The confidence and swagger the coach displayed after taking the Indiana job only looks cooler after he did exactly what he said he would. His viral "I win. Google me." presser was bound to spawn a lot of imitators.

And McClelland's quip would've landed a lot differently before 2024. On the gridiron, the Hoosiers were historically one of the least successful power-conference programs, and the men's basketball team is still chasing the heights of the Bobby Knight era.

Taunting your biggest rival becomes more difficult when said rival achieved what Indiana did in 2024 and 2025.

Cignetti also seemed to relish subjecting Purdue to as much punishment as possible. Indiana beat the Boilermakers 66-0 in his first year and followed that up with a 56-3 shellacking.

Not that anyone is expecting Purdue to contend for the College Football Playoff, but an upset of Indiana would be a way for the Boilermakers to back up McClelland's boast.

More likely, though, the AD put an even bigger target on the team's back in the next battle for the Old Oaken Bucket on Nov. 28.