ESPN finally gave Curt Cignetti the respect Indiana fans have been waiting for, naming the Hoosiers head coach the No. 1 coach in college football. But while ESPN got that ranking right, their latest Football Power Index (FPI) has fans across the country questioning how much faith anyone should put into the preseason metrics.

In today's episode of Locked On Hoosiers, Jacob Goins joins Locked On Ducks host Spencer McLaughlin and Locked On Nittany Lions host Zach Seyko for a college football crossover discussing ESPN's coaching rankings, Curt Cignetti's rise to the top of the sport, Dan Lanning's championship expectations at Oregon, James Franklin comparisons, and whether ESPN's FPI has become more misleading than useful.

The crew also debates Indiana's College Football Playoff chances, preseason rankings, coaching impact versus roster talent, and why Curt Cignetti continues to change the national conversation surrounding Indiana football.

Topics Covered:

Curt Cignetti ranked No. 1 by ESPN

Why Indiana's national championship changed everything

Dan Lanning vs. James Franklin debate

ESPN FPI reaction

Indiana's 2026 CFP outlook

Oregon and Penn State comparisons

Should preseason polls even exist?

If you enjoy Indiana Hoosiers football coverage, subscribe for daily episodes covering Curt Cignetti, recruiting, transfer portal news, Big Ten football, College Football Playoff discussions, and everything happening around IU Football.

00:00 ESPN Top 10 Coaches

01:04 ESPN Rankings Critique

02:14 Curt Cignetti Debate

03:35 Indiana’s Turnaround

04:05 Dan Lanning’s Ranking

05:54 Lanning vs Franklin

07:40 Lanning’s Title Chances

10:07 Sponsor Message

11:45 ESPN FPI Criticism

12:50 FPI Top 25 Issues

14:51 Penn State Ranking

15:54 Roster & Schedule Analysis

17:07 Polls and Playoff Impact

19:03 2023 FPI vs Outcomes

20:00 Coaching Impact on Rankings

21:19 Preseason Polls Debate

22:08 Oregon vs Indiana Playoff

24:51 Playoff Picks Reasoning

27:06 Preseason AP Poll Critique

28:47 Evaluating the System

30:03 Final Thoughts & Signoff

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Indiana Football is being ranked behind Oregon in the latest Big Ten power rankings from On3—but should the defending national champions really be No. 3? Jacob Goins joins Locked On Ducks and Locked On Nittany Lions to debate Oregon vs Indiana, Josh Hoover vs Dante Moore, Penn State's ranking, the new NCAA 5-and-5 eligibility rule, transfer portal changes, and what it all means for the future of college football.

0:00 Oregon ranked above Indiana

2:45 Oregon vs Indiana roster debate

7:00 Penn State discussion

12:30 Five-and-Five rule explained

17:00 Redshirts eliminated

24:20 Transfer portal changes

30:00 Future of college football

33:00 Wrap up

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Indiana Football just landed the biggest commitment in program history when five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales committed to Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers.

But is that actually the biggest story?

In today's episode, we discuss why this commitment could permanently change Indiana recruiting, how the Hoosiers can build on this momentum, ESPN highlighting Indiana in three of the biggest Big Ten games of 2026, and why Curt Cignetti has the program positioned to become a national powerhouse.

Topics include:

Monshun Sales commitment

Indiana recruiting

Curt Cignetti

ESPN Big Ten schedule

Ohio State

Michigan

Washington

College Football Playoff

Indiana Football dynasty?

00:00 Indiana's Biggest Commit

01:10 5-Star Recruitment Win

02:44 Steps for Sustained Success

03:44 Importance of Winning

04:57 Player Development Focus

05:55 Building on Five-Star

07:12 Impact on Future Recruits

09:05 Building a Dynasty

09:48 ESPN Top Games

12:04 Excitement for 2026 Schedule

13:10 Non-Conference Weakness

14:03 Key October Stretch

14:34 ESPN's Top Big Ten Games

16:05 Indiana vs Ohio State

17:43 Recruiting, Winning, Talent

18:25 Climbing to the Top

19:16 National Stage Matches

20:10 Trust in Coach Cignetti

20:28 Big Ten Media Days Announcement

22:00 Indiana's Media Day Participation

23:43 Media Days Plans & Content

24:43 Audience Input Requested

25:13 Show Wrap-Up

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Big Ten coaching rankings ignite debate as Curt Cignetti’s meteoric rise at Indiana challenges Ryan Day’s Ohio State dominance. Can Cignetti’s underdog playbook outshine traditional powerhouses if given equal resources? The discussion also spotlights Kyle Whittingham’s consistency, questions Dan Lanning’s performance in pressure games, and evaluates where Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies truly fit in the new Big Ten landscape. Washington’s daunting 2026 schedule faces scrutiny—can the Huskies surpass expectations with key matchups against USC, Oregon, Penn State, and Iowa? The conversation breaks down Washington’s roster strengths and weaknesses, Jedd Fisch’s offensive strategy, and what it will take for the Huskies to clear FanDuel’s 7.5 win total projection. Which Big Ten coach would you want leading your team through a gauntlet, and how will conference newcomers shake up the hierarchy?

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The biggest recruiting battle involving Indiana Football may finally be nearing its conclusion.

On today's episode of Locked On Hoosiers, Jacob Goins breaks down the latest update from five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales, whose recent social media post has Indiana fans buzzing. With a commitment announcement seemingly just around the corner, what does it mean for Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers? Is Indiana still leading the race, or are powerhouse programs like Texas, Ohio State, and Alabama making a late push?

Jacob explains why this recruitment could become one of the most important commitments of the Curt Cignetti era and why landing one of the nation's top wide receivers would further cement Indiana's rise among college football's elite recruiting programs.

The show also shifts to Indiana Basketball, where Darian DeVries and his staff have secured an official visit from elite 2027 center Darius Wabbington, one of the highest-rated post players in the country. Jacob discusses why Wabbington is such an important target, how Indiana's offensive system fits his skill set, and why this recruitment could reshape the future of the Hoosiers' frontcourt.

Finally, Pro Football Focus released its preseason Top 50 player rankings, and two Indiana stars made the list. Jacob breaks down why Carter Smith and Amare Ferrell earned national recognition, which Hoosiers were overlooked, and who could emerge as Top 50 players by season's end.

If you're an Indiana Hoosiers fan looking for daily coverage of Indiana Football, Indiana Basketball, recruiting, transfer portal news, and Big Ten analysis, you've found the right place.

Be sure to LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to Locked On Hoosiers, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

Topics Covered

Monshun Sales recruiting update

Indiana Football recruiting

Curt Cignetti

Darius Wabbington official visit

Indiana Basketball recruiting

Darian DeVries

Pro Football Focus Top 50

Carter Smith

Amare Farrell

Big Ten Football

Indiana Hoosiers news

Resources

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Football • Basketball • Recruiting • Transfer Portal • Big Ten News

00:00 Biggest recruiting news of the week

01:00 Indiana lands elite 2027 basketball visit

08:55 Monshun Sales hints commitment is near

20:30 Two Hoosiers ranked Top 50 by PFF

26:30 Final thoughts

Photo Credit - Robert Goddin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Can Indiana Football really compete with college football's biggest brands? A Penn State perspective might surprise you.

In this Locked On College Football crossover, Jacob Goins of Locked On Hoosiers joins Zach Seyko of Locked On Nittany Lions for a wide-ranging discussion about Indiana Football, Penn State, recruiting, and the future of the Big Ten.

The episode begins with one of the nation's biggest recruiting battles as five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales nears his college decision. Jacob explains why Curt Cignetti and Indiana remain firmly in the mix despite heavy competition from Texas, LSU, Ohio State, and other national powers. The discussion also dives into Indiana's recruiting philosophy, NIL strategy, and why the Hoosiers refuse to get caught in massive bidding wars.

Later, the conversation shifts to the national championship race. Are Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State really the three best teams in college football entering the season? How does Penn State fit into that conversation under Matt Campbell? The hosts compare the Big Ten against the SEC, Notre Dame, Texas, Georgia, and the rest of the country while debating who has the best chance to win it all.

If you're an Indiana Hoosiers fan looking for daily coverage of Indiana Football, recruiting, Curt Cignetti, Josh Hoover, Big Ten football, transfer portal news, and college football analysis, you've come to the right place.

Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications for daily Indiana Hoosiers coverage.

Topics Covered

Indiana Football

Curt Cignetti

Monshun Sales recruiting

Penn State Football

Matt Campbell

Josh Hoover

NIL recruiting

Big Ten Football

National Championship contenders

College Football Playoff

00:00 Recruiting Strategies Compared

01:19 Indiana Recruiting Sales

02:50 NIL and Commitment

04:00 Indiana, Penn State NIL

05:31 Desperation and Overpaying

06:44 Transfer Portal Alternatives

07:35 Roster Budget Approach

08:49 Importance of Team Balance

09:19 Penn State Spending Philosophy

09:51 Big Ten Title Contenders

12:09 Indiana as Contender

13:47 Non-SEC Threats

15:51 Notre Dame Threat Analysis

16:21 Coaching and Quarterbacks

18:01 Proving Quarterback Potential

19:35 Closing Remarks

Photo Credit - Matthew O'Haren via Imagn Images AND Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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On3’s latest quarterback and receiver rankings spark heated debate—can elite quarterback-receiver duos truly explain team success, or do inconsistencies between individual and duo rankings leave fans scratching their heads? The Locked On Big Ten Squad analyzes controversial placements: Why is Jayden Maiava ranked third among Big Ten quarterbacks, yet his top wideout drops to an honorable mention? Does the meteoric rise of Purdue’s Josh Hoover and Nick Marsh make sense, or is it pure off-season hype? Attention shifts to the Iowa Hawkeyes’ win total—set at 7.5 by FanDuel. Can Iowa’s new-look offense and a lean senior class maintain Kirk Ferentz’s historic winning consistency against heavyweights like Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington? Predictions fly, rivalries flare, and bold calls are made. Is an eight-win season realistic, or are the Hawkeyes set for a step back in a loaded Big Ten?

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