A Hoosiers bench stumbles, fools and loses to Marcus Freeman's 'Fighting Irish' as head coaches across the country miss selection committee meetings and lament their teams not being invited to the College Football Playoff. There was nothing the man could do except scratch his head.
With the heart of the 27-17 loss still fresh in his mind, Indiana University head coach Curt Cignetti highlighted the Hoosiers' shortcomings and the decision to punt away the ball late in the fourth quarter when his team was already trailing by 17 points. He was being asked for answers regarding his questionable decision.
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“I didn't want to punt, but the offense couldn't do anything and the defense was fighting,” Cininetti said. by Larry Brown Sports. “Really, the only positive thing I could tie was our defense was still fighting because our offense wasn’t doing anything.”
The head coach was right in at least one respect, but his offense was terrible.
Despite Cininetti's proud declarations of the Hoosiers' “win.”[ing] Among the top 25 teams, Indiana collected the second-fewest points of the season against Notre Dame, but didn't find the end zone until less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The final score of the contest was 27-17, but the numbers seemingly didn't do justice to Indiana's lack of offensive ability.
And on the punt-inducing drive in question, like many before it, the Hoosiers showed no signs of life.
The offense took control at its own 40-yard line and advanced to Notre Dame's 48-yard line.
Facing a fourth-and-11 with 10:34 left in the final frame, Cininetti sent out a punt unit.
“I didn’t want to go. [for it on] It was a fourth-and-10,” he told reporters after the game. “I guess I'm just hoping and hoping.”
The head coach continued: “There's no evidence that you can convert a No. 4 and a No. 10 at that point. [And] There's still time to punt and win the game. That was the reason. I didn't want to do it, but I felt it was the best thing to do.”
The Fighting Irish took over with 22 points on their own, but had no problem moving up and down the field.
Quarterback Riley Leonard capped off a nine-play, 78-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 27-3.
Cininetti's decision to punt on broadcasters and fans alike.
“I don't understand it… It doesn't make sense,” Greg McElroy said.
“I just don't get it. He's really punting…that's a headache for me,” Sean McDonough added.
The Fighting Irish will next face No. 2 Georgia on New Year's Day. Allstate Sugar Bowl kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET.
