Many would have laughed two years ago if someone said Indiana football would win at Autzen Stadium, surviving a could-be heartbreaking pick-six only to answer with a game-clinching score and two interceptions to beat No. 2 Oregon.

Many would have forgotten the Hoosiers were the last Big Ten team to win at Autzen Stadium, that happening in 2004. Many laughed win Curt Cignetti said he wins, “Google me,” he proclaimed.

Or when Cignetti claimed at Assembly Hall he wasn’t taking a backseat to Ohio State or Michigan, which ended up being college football’s last two national champions.

There were likely eyerolls when Cignetti said he beats “the shit out of” ranked teams before losing at Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.

Or how about when Cignetti proclaimed Indiana was the “emerging superpower?”

Cignetti was correct, after all. His Hoosiers were more physical than No. 2 Oregon on Saturday, leading to a program-defining 30-20 win.

It introduced the Hoosiers to the college football elite, once the perennial losers. And all those who were laughing at Cignetti’s proclamations have turned about face (marching band term) and are singing his praises.

Here’s a look at some of those reactions from college football personalities.

Indiana averaged 4.1 victories a season in the 30 years prior to the arrival of Curt Cignetti. He’s is now 16-2 at IU. The only losses — at Ohio State and at Notre Dame.

Somehow no major program hired this guy until he was 61 years old.

And if you think he’s leaving…

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) October 11, 2025

Indiana has a really strong case to be ranked No. 1 in the country tomorrow, and I’m serious.

The best win of anyone in the country, and they pounded Illinois by a lot more than Ohio State did.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 11, 2025

The rise of Indiana football under Cignetti is one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen.

Just getting to a bowl game has long been the ceiling for that program. Then Cignetti comes in, goes to CFP in Year 1, legit top-5 team in Year 2.

That just doesn’t happen in CFB.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 11, 2025

Curt Cignetti is about to be 17-2 at Indiana, and he’s got his biggest win on the way at No. 3 Oregon. Indiana leads by 10 in final two minutes. Cignetti’s Hoosiers on track for consecutive CFP bids, which is simply astounding.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 11, 2025

Can’t express how irrelevant IU football has been. Tom Allen getting them to a Gator Bowl and Outback Bowl was like a Super Bowl. Just incredible. https://t.co/niI3ZNHe4p

— Taylor Tannebaum (@TaylorTannebaum) October 11, 2025

Curt Cignetti might be a little less quotable this season, but he has kept all the receipts for what was said about Indiana at the end of 2024. What a performance by the Hoosiers in Eugene.

This is a better IU team, seemingly with its toughest games behind it. What a story. pic.twitter.com/FxZ5AeWDqC

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 11, 2025

What Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana is one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of college football.

And it is completely unfair to all recent college football coaching hires.

— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) October 11, 2025

There’s no way around it: Curt Cignetti is building a college football power at Indiana.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 11, 2025

Curt Cignetti has Indiana flying further faster than any program in America.

They have no business being this good.

— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) October 11, 2025

Indiana intercepts Oregon and the Hoosiers are going to beat the No. 3 team in the country at their place to move to 6-0. In Curt Cignetti’s first 19 games in Bloomington, he’s lost twice.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 11, 2025

The Indiana Hoosiers have defeated the Oregon Ducks in Eugene.
Prior to the win, Indiana was 0-46 on the road vs. top 5 teams. Curt Cignetti’s team just delivered this program its best road win — EVER.

Oregon’s 23-game regular season W streak & 18-game home W streak? Over. Wow.

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) October 11, 2025

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: College football experts react to IU football win at Oregon, Curt Cignetti