Indiana’s football program capped an unprecedented run with a 16‑0 record, the first perfect season for the Hoosiers since the legendary 1894 squad. Head coach Curt Cignetti, who has guided the team through a rapid ascent, now finds himself at the center of a broader conversation about the sport’s postseason structure.
A Perfect Season
The College Football Playoff has operated with a 12‑team field since its inception, and the arrangement will remain unchanged for the 2026 season. While the format’s future remains unsettled, a growing chorus of conferences is urging a shift toward a more expansive bracket.
Expansion Proposals
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has championed a 24‑team proposal that would reshape the playoff landscape, a plan that has garnered backing from the ACC and the Big 12. The American Football Coaches Association has also voiced support for expansion, recommending the removal of conference championship games as a pathway to the postseason.
Cignetti has publicly endorsed Petitti’s vision, praising the commissioner’s stewardship of the Big Ten. His stance mirrors the view of his athletic director, Scott Dolson, who has likewise thrown his weight behind the commissioner’s approach.
With a deadline of Dec. 1 each year to adjust the playoff parameters, the debate is far from settled. Yet the convergence of support from prominent figures like Cignetti and Dolson signals that the conversation will continue to gain momentum as the sport looks ahead.