Indiana coach Cignetti questions Notre Dame scheduling terms after series cancellation
Curt Cignetti’s remarks on the Big Ten Network highlight the logistical complexities of scheduling against an independent programme, following the collapse of a 2030-31 fixture.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has publicly questioned the terms of a proposed football series against Notre Dame, suggesting the Fighting Irish should host two games while Indiana hosts only one. The comment was made during an interview on the Big Ten Network, following the cancellation of a home-and-home series originally scheduled for the 2030-31 seasons.
Cignetti attributed the proposed imbalance to Notre Dame’s status as an independent programme not affiliated with a conference. “I’d like to play Notre Dame. They ought to come to our place twice, and we’ll go up there once, since they’re not in a conference,” Cignetti said. He described the potential matchup as a “great in-state game” but acknowledged there was a “backstory” to the scheduling dispute, without providing further detail.
The remark comes as Indiana enters the 2026 season as the defending College Football Playoff champion. Under Cignetti, the Hoosiers have achieved a combined record of 27-2 overall and 17-1 in Big Ten play across the 2024-25 seasons, reaching the College Football Playoff in both years. Notre Dame, meanwhile, finished the previous season 10-2 but was excluded from the playoff field.
Despite Indiana’s recent dominance, the historical record heavily favours Notre Dame. The all-time series stands at 5-24-1 in favour of the Fighting Irish, with Indiana’s last victory dating back to 1950. The two teams last met in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff in South Bend, where Indiana lost 27-17, marking their first encounter since a 1991 playoff game.
As the new season approaches, both programmes have set their opening fixtures. Indiana opens its 2026 campaign at home against North Texas on 5 September, with its Big Ten opener against Northwestern on 25 September. Notre Dame begins its season at home against Wisconsin on 6 September. The status of the cancelled 2030-31 series remains uncertain, with no indication of alternative arrangements being made.
