Indiana Football Prepares for Season Opener vs Old Dominion

Indiana Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti is preparing his 20th ranked team for a challenging season opener against Old Dominion, highlighting the Monarchs' strong rushing game and their history of close losses and upsets against Power Four teams. Cignetti emphasized the importance of mental intensity, preparation, and playing consistently from start to finish, noting Old Dominion's competitive performances, including narrow losses to South Carolina and victories over Virginia Tech. He praised the Sun Belt Conference's success against top programs and stressed that his team must respect Old Dominion despite their 5-7 record last season. With many new players on the roster, Cignetti expressed eagerness to see how the team responds under pressure. The game is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington and will be broadcast on FS1. Cignetti's experience with Sun Belt upsets and his detailed analysis of Old Dominion's strengths reflect a cautious but confident approach to the matchup.