Curt Cignetti's Epic Pre-Game Quote Before 2025 Upset of Oregon Detailed in Book on Title Run

Before Indiana's October matchup against Oregon last season, head coach Curt Cignetti delivered a bold message to the Hoosiers that helped fuel their upset victory.

Per Zach Osterman of USA Today, IndyStar IU beat writer Zach Osterman and Bloomington Herald Times IU beat writer Michael Niziolek detailed Cignetti's epic pre-game moment in their forthcoming book, "Unthinkable to Unstoppable: How Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers Stunned College Football."

As the Hoosiers prepared to leave the locker room to face the Ducks in front of a raucous crowd at Oregon's Autzen Stadium, strength coach Derek Owings realized that they hadn't completed a key part of their pregame routine. Typically, Cignetti delivered a brief speech before leading his team in the Lord's Prayer, but he appeared to forget the usual agenda. Owings considered letting it go, but he eventually spoke up.

"Coach, are we going to pray?" Owings asked.

After checking his watch, Cignetti replied, "Ah, f--k it. Pray for Oregon."

Indiana proceeded to earn a 30-20 win over Oregon, sacking star quarterback Dante Moore six times and pressuring him on 20 of his 42 dropbacks. If that wasn't enough, the two teams met again in the College Football Playoff semifinals, with the Hoosiers earning an emphatic 56-22 victory on their way to completing an undefeated season and winning their first national championship in program history.

Indiana opened its national title defense with a 52-16 win over North Texas in Week 1 and will return to action to face Howard on Saturday.