Curt Cignetti defends punting decisions in Indiana's playoff loss to Notre Dame

Indiana lost 27-17 to Notre Dame in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Head coach Curt Cignetti faced criticism for his decision to punt twice in the second half while trailing by 17 points. Cignetti explained that he opted to punt due to the offense's struggles and the defense's performance. He felt that going for it on fourth down was too risky given the situation. The decision to punt allowed Notre Dame to extend their lead with a long touchdown drive, effectively ending Indiana's chances in the game.