PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on before the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesIndiana football head coach Curt Cignetti ended his Big Ten Media Days press conference on Thursday with some remarks on the strength of the Big Ten.The Big Ten is the best league in football, Cignetti said. A lot of really good football teams, its hard to win on the road. Very physical football teams, very well coached. It definitely prepares you for the playoffs, theres no doubt about it, the numbers speak for themselves.Cignetti, of all coaches, would know. It was his team that faced and overcame dire situations on the road at Iowa and Penn State before running through the postseason all the way to a national championship.He wasnt done there either, invoking the Midwest with some additional thoughts that will certainly be taken pointedly by another major conference to the South.I mean, we dont run a hype machine here in the Midwest, we believe everythings earned, not given, Cignetti said. When we fall short we say we fell short, we dont cry a river, whine and complain, alright? And thats why were the best.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user accountand get:Improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreatecommunity postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts