Indiana University Athletics
Media Monday: North Texas
8/31/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– The first game week of the 2026 season has arrived as North Texas is slated to come to Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium for a noon kickoff on FOX Saturday (September 5). Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti addressed the media inside the Don Croftcheck Football Team Room on Monday (August 31).
Below is a full transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: All right. Looking forward to prep for game week. I know our guys are tired of hitting each other. It will be exciting. Stacked days of meetings. Want to play well.
North Texas, team won 12 games last year. A new coaching staff. A lot of new players. I think it was 50 transfers and 70 total guys.
Neal Brown, good football coach. Accustomed to a setting like this. Beat LSU when he was at Troy a while back. We got to get ready to go.
On if there's any other message the team needs to hear…
CC: I think our whole thing has always been keeping the main thing the main thing, controlling the controllables. It's all about preparing to the best of our ability and putting it between the white lines against the first opponent.
That's why today's an important day, tomorrow is an important day. We'll focus on that. Got to have the right mindset and respect for the challenge that's forthcoming, play like we want to play, our brand of ball.
On scouting against teams with a new look staff and roster…
CC: Yeah, we got a scouting report on all the transfers. A lot of them once we get into Big Ten play we'll know. Like on the offensive side of the ball, a lot of Baylor tape, on the defensive side of the ball a lot of West Virginia tape, some Texas maybe.
It is different now. Have never really played the game quite like this one where there's just so many new faces, players to coaches.
On the offensive line…
CC: Well, I'm anxious to see how we do. Running the football is obviously paramount for us, stopping the run on defense. I think we have a chance to be pretty good. I'm anxious to see how we play, play in, play out.
On what attributes he looks for in a good kicker…
CC: Grant Cain does a good job of evaluating kickers. We've had quite a few portal guys at kickoff and punter and long snapper.
Nico (Radici) is just money in the bank. Really focused. His technique is good. He's had a great fall camp. We had a guy at JMU (Ethan) Ratke, very similar to him. Set an NCAA record. Just had a lot of confidence in him.
On North Texas' Jaheim White and the running game…
CC: I mean, they have a system, they had a system at West Virginia, now there's some unknowns. Things could change. See some things we haven't seen on tape. Jahiem White in particular, he was injured, missed some of last season, but he's really fast and elusive. He's great in space.
On scouting his former quarterback in Tayven Jackson…
CC: Tayven played really good football for us in '24. Came in at halftime in a Nebraska game and played a great second half. Started the next week against Washington, a game that we won. He saw action.
He's very talented. He's got a live arm. He can run. He's a good athlete. Started a number of games last season. He's a good player.
On what his scouting report is on his secondary…
CC: Good coverage and good tackling. Guys doing their job, doing what they're supposed to do. I think we have a chance to be good back there. Sharpe has had a consistent camp. We have A.J. (Harris) back competing with (Ryalnd) Gandy. (Amare) Ferrell has had a really good camp. The free safety spot, got two veterans there that can also play rover.
Wish we had a little bit more depth at the safety position, but we are where we are.
On how the team looks from a health standpoint…
CC: Yeah, we do. We didn't lose anyone other than probably (Trevor) Gibbs would be questionable for the game. He would be the only one.
On his message to the fanbase and the students…
CC: Let's be loud and proud. Let's give them something to be loud about. It's worth two touchdowns in my mind, no question about it.
On the excitement of opening the season at home…
CC: Yeah, our fan base, just so proud of the way they've turned out, really gotten behind this football team.
It's just nice to switch gears. Camp can get a little old near the end hitting each other. I know the guys are going to be really excited now to run out there and play.
On what he is looking for out of his team in the opener against North Texas…
CC: I want us to play to a standard play in, play out, from the first play to the last play, (indiscernible) on the things we emphasize. I want to feel good about our performance walking off the field.
Last year against ODU (Old Dominion) they ripped off a 75-yard touchdown first play. Our first touchdown was a 90-yard punt return. We scored our first offensive touchdown with 3:36 to go in the second quarter. We were inside the 10 six times and came away with 20 points, which isn't very good. Had the ball first and one on the opening drive, couldn't get in the end zone. We won the game, which is what we wanted to get done. Thinking there's a lot of work to get done. There's going to be a lot of work to get done regardless. I'd like to see us play a nice, clean game.
On doing things that increase the visibility of the program…
CC: I thought the Indy 500 was good. That's part of the fabric of state, national. I think State Farm been around a really long time.
We turned down a lot. Those are the ones we chose.
On how life is different two years later after just getting started at IU in year one…
CC: Really more same than different, to be quite honest with you. The biggest difference is I think now I know the building better, I know how to get around. Pregame, before we go out for warm-ups, I know where I'm going to dress and where I'm going to get away from everybody and things like that.
A lot more same than different.
On how the newcomers have embraced the program's culture
CC: I think up to this point well. Now we're going to find out. This is when it really counts. I believe you learn about your team every week. Every time you go out there and play a game you learn a lot about your team.
What's done is done. This is a new football team. We have a chance to be pretty good. We got to do it.
On the center position…
CC: Good. Bray Lynch will be the center. He's a veteran guy. He's smart. Snaps the ball well. I feel good about it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
#NeverDaunted
Below is a full transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening Statement
CC: All right. Looking forward to prep for game week. I know our guys are tired of hitting each other. It will be exciting. Stacked days of meetings. Want to play well.
North Texas, team won 12 games last year. A new coaching staff. A lot of new players. I think it was 50 transfers and 70 total guys.
Neal Brown, good football coach. Accustomed to a setting like this. Beat LSU when he was at Troy a while back. We got to get ready to go.
On if there's any other message the team needs to hear…
CC: I think our whole thing has always been keeping the main thing the main thing, controlling the controllables. It's all about preparing to the best of our ability and putting it between the white lines against the first opponent.
That's why today's an important day, tomorrow is an important day. We'll focus on that. Got to have the right mindset and respect for the challenge that's forthcoming, play like we want to play, our brand of ball.
On scouting against teams with a new look staff and roster…
CC: Yeah, we got a scouting report on all the transfers. A lot of them once we get into Big Ten play we'll know. Like on the offensive side of the ball, a lot of Baylor tape, on the defensive side of the ball a lot of West Virginia tape, some Texas maybe.
It is different now. Have never really played the game quite like this one where there's just so many new faces, players to coaches.
On the offensive line…
CC: Well, I'm anxious to see how we do. Running the football is obviously paramount for us, stopping the run on defense. I think we have a chance to be pretty good. I'm anxious to see how we play, play in, play out.
On what attributes he looks for in a good kicker…
CC: Grant Cain does a good job of evaluating kickers. We've had quite a few portal guys at kickoff and punter and long snapper.
Nico (Radici) is just money in the bank. Really focused. His technique is good. He's had a great fall camp. We had a guy at JMU (Ethan) Ratke, very similar to him. Set an NCAA record. Just had a lot of confidence in him.
On North Texas' Jaheim White and the running game…
CC: I mean, they have a system, they had a system at West Virginia, now there's some unknowns. Things could change. See some things we haven't seen on tape. Jahiem White in particular, he was injured, missed some of last season, but he's really fast and elusive. He's great in space.
On scouting his former quarterback in Tayven Jackson…
CC: Tayven played really good football for us in '24. Came in at halftime in a Nebraska game and played a great second half. Started the next week against Washington, a game that we won. He saw action.
He's very talented. He's got a live arm. He can run. He's a good athlete. Started a number of games last season. He's a good player.
On what his scouting report is on his secondary…
CC: Good coverage and good tackling. Guys doing their job, doing what they're supposed to do. I think we have a chance to be good back there. Sharpe has had a consistent camp. We have A.J. (Harris) back competing with (Ryalnd) Gandy. (Amare) Ferrell has had a really good camp. The free safety spot, got two veterans there that can also play rover.
Wish we had a little bit more depth at the safety position, but we are where we are.
On how the team looks from a health standpoint…
CC: Yeah, we do. We didn't lose anyone other than probably (Trevor) Gibbs would be questionable for the game. He would be the only one.
On his message to the fanbase and the students…
CC: Let's be loud and proud. Let's give them something to be loud about. It's worth two touchdowns in my mind, no question about it.
On the excitement of opening the season at home…
CC: Yeah, our fan base, just so proud of the way they've turned out, really gotten behind this football team.
It's just nice to switch gears. Camp can get a little old near the end hitting each other. I know the guys are going to be really excited now to run out there and play.
On what he is looking for out of his team in the opener against North Texas…
CC: I want us to play to a standard play in, play out, from the first play to the last play, (indiscernible) on the things we emphasize. I want to feel good about our performance walking off the field.
Last year against ODU (Old Dominion) they ripped off a 75-yard touchdown first play. Our first touchdown was a 90-yard punt return. We scored our first offensive touchdown with 3:36 to go in the second quarter. We were inside the 10 six times and came away with 20 points, which isn't very good. Had the ball first and one on the opening drive, couldn't get in the end zone. We won the game, which is what we wanted to get done. Thinking there's a lot of work to get done. There's going to be a lot of work to get done regardless. I'd like to see us play a nice, clean game.
On doing things that increase the visibility of the program…
CC: I thought the Indy 500 was good. That's part of the fabric of state, national. I think State Farm been around a really long time.
We turned down a lot. Those are the ones we chose.
On how life is different two years later after just getting started at IU in year one…
CC: Really more same than different, to be quite honest with you. The biggest difference is I think now I know the building better, I know how to get around. Pregame, before we go out for warm-ups, I know where I'm going to dress and where I'm going to get away from everybody and things like that.
A lot more same than different.
On how the newcomers have embraced the program's culture
CC: I think up to this point well. Now we're going to find out. This is when it really counts. I believe you learn about your team every week. Every time you go out there and play a game you learn a lot about your team.
What's done is done. This is a new football team. We have a chance to be pretty good. We got to do it.
On the center position…
CC: Good. Bray Lynch will be the center. He's a veteran guy. He's smart. Snaps the ball well. I feel good about it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
#NeverDaunted
Players Mentioned
OL
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Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Monday, August 24