For nearly 60 minutes, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti looked like a man plotting the most creative ways to chew out his team. But after a wild, last-second comeback against Minnesota, he found himself in an unexpectedly sweet spot — literally.
With 24 seconds left, Minnesota nailed a 60-yard field goal to take a 16-13 lead. The Hoosiers had struggled all second half, and backup quarterback Grant Wilson had just replaced starter Josh Hoover. Hope seemed gone. Then Wilson fired a 33-yard strike to Charlie Becker, setting up Paddy McAteer's own 60-yarder as time expired. Overtime, anyone?
In OT, Wilson found Becker again for a touchdown on the first play. Minnesota tried to answer but stalled, and Indiana walked away with a 23-16 victory. The sideline erupted, and Cignetti looked like he'd just seen a ghost — until CBS's Jenny Dell handed him a Baby Ruth candy bar.
“Hey, Babe Ruth – he called his shot,” Cignetti joked, flashing a rare smile for the camera. It was a moment that perfectly captured the absurdity of the afternoon.
The win wasn't pretty, but it keeps the Hoosiers at 8-1 and ranked No. 4, firmly in the College Football Playoff hunt. They've got a bye next week before facing USC, Washington, and rival Purdue. That break couldn't come at a better time, especially with a quarterback controversy brewing.
Hoover struggled in the first half and got benched. Wilson wasn't spectacular, but he was efficient and, most importantly, delivered the win. Cignetti now has an extra week to decide who starts against the Trojans. Fans have already been calling for Hoover's benching, and this performance might seal the deal.
It's been a season of late-game heroics for Indiana, but this one was the wildest yet. The team that looked like the pre-Cignetti Hoosiers for 59 minutes suddenly remembered how to play football. And Cignetti, for once, was all smiles.
“We found a way,” he said, still shaking his head. “That's all that matters.”
The Hoosiers have a week to savor this one, then it's back to business. With the playoff race heating up, every game counts. And if Cignetti keeps getting candy, maybe he'll keep smiling.
