"He's won everywhere he's been": Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman gives credit to Curt Cignetti ahead of the CFP game against Indiana

Marcus Freeman and his Notre Dame team will host Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday. The Fighting Irish were seeded as the No. 7 team by the selection committee on Sunday and will go against the Hoosiers, who were seeded No. 10.

In his press conference session following the release of the final playoff ranking on Sunday, Marcus Freeman applauded the great job Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana this season. The Hoosiers made it to the playoff despite being projected to end up last in the Big Ten.

“Coach [Curt Cignetti] has done a wonderful job to take this program to win 11 games in a Big Ten season,” Freeman said. “And to have this team ready to make a run in the playoffs, it's a credit to the coach.”

“I didn't know much about him. I took a minute and Googled him and looked at some of the things he's done in the past at his other places. I mean, he's won everywhere he's been. So, he's done a great job, and we expect a great opponent. I've just briefly started looking at them.”

Before joining Indiana this season, Cignetti was in charge of IUP, Elon, and James Madison from 2011 to 2023. He compiled a record of 119-35 during those stops and led James Madison to the FCS national championship game in his first season in 2019.

Marcus Freeman on playing an in-state opponent in the playoffs

It will be an in-state contest when Notre Dame and Indiana square up in the first round of the 12-team playoff on Friday. This brings a unique dimension to the high-stakes game. Marcus Freeman offered his take on playing a team that is traveling from somewhere nearby.

"If we could have chosen, I think you would want a team that maybe comes from 80-degree weather,” Freeman said. “But listen, we'll have a home-field advantage just because of the first-ever playoff game in Notre Dame Stadium. And our crowd is going to be crazy.

“I can't wait for it. The weather obviously isn't going to give us a huge advantage with them not being too far south from here, but what a great storyline, and what a great opportunity it's going to be.”

Aside from not having a weather advantage, Notre Dame will have to face a tough offense against Indiana. The Hoosiers rank No. 1 in passing efficiency this season, and the Fighting Irish are expected to face a lot of threats through the air in South Bend on Friday.

Marcus Freeman believes his players have learned a lot from the final regular season game against USC, which they won 49-35, and will put that to use when they play Indiana. The Trojans gained 360 yards in the air during the loss to the Irish, teaching their opponent some valuable lessons on defense.