When it comes to college football's hottest topics, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has a simple philosophy: focus on what you can control. Speaking at a fan event in Carmel, Indiana on Thursday night, Cignetti addressed the growing buzz around further College Football Playoff expansion, but his response was classic Cignetti—all business, no distractions.

The college sports landscape is shifting fast. The NCAA Tournament just expanded to 76 teams, and the College Football Playoff jumped from four to 12 teams starting in 2024. That's the same year Cignetti took over a struggling Indiana program and led them to the playoffs in his debut season—then won it all a year later, becoming the first team to win a game after a first-round bye. Now, with whispers of a 24-team playoff gaining steam, Cignetti isn't getting caught up in the noise.

"I don't spend much time on things I can't control," Cignetti said, though he did voice support for Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who has backed a 24-team format. It's the same approach he takes to NIL, the transfer portal, and every other hot-button issue in college sports. His focus? Winning.

For Hoosiers fans, there's plenty more to watch. Indiana is getting expert predictions to land in-state five-star 2027 wide receiver Monshun Sales. The football program is also in the top five for four-star 2027 safety Davion Jones, with a visit set. On the recruiting trail, Indiana will host a four-star 2027 edge rusher this weekend and has scheduled a visit with in-state edge rusher Ifeanyi Emedobi.

Meanwhile, Indiana men's basketball has announced its home and away opponents for the 2026-27 season and landed transfer guard Justin Monden. The transfer portal's impact on Big Ten basketball in 2026 is already being felt, and the Hoosiers are making moves.

Whether it's playoff expansion or recruiting battles, Cignetti's message is clear: keep your head down, work hard, and let the results speak. For a program on the rise, that might just be the winning formula.