Nick Saban on Indiana Football: “People Still Don’t Have the Proper Respect” - But They Should
Nick Saban doesn’t hand out compliments lightly. So when the legendary coach took a moment on The Pat McAfee Show to praise Indiana football, it wasn’t just lip service - it was a clear message to the college football world: it’s time to start taking the Hoosiers seriously.
Saban shared a story that perfectly captures how much of the public still underestimates what Curt Cignetti is building in Bloomington. While out on the golf course, a casual remark from a playing partner sparked the conversation.
“We’re on the first tee,” Saban recalled, “and a guy looks at me and says, ‘We should be able to beat Indiana. That should be a win for us.’
And I said, ‘What are you talking about? Indiana’s got a really good team.’”
Saban’s playing partner, like many fans across the country, still associated Indiana with basketball success - not football. But Saban didn’t let it slide.
“You better get it in your head because they’ve been good last year, and they’re really good this year,” he told him. “Did you watch them beat Ohio State and how physical they played?”
That last line should hit home. Indiana didn’t just sneak by Ohio State - they beat them and did it with physicality and poise, the kind of performance that turns heads in coaching circles, even if fans haven’t caught up yet.
The National Perception Problem
Saban didn’t hold back when talking about the disconnect between how coaches and hardcore observers view Indiana and how the broader public still sees the program.
“I think in the outside world, away from Indiana, people still don’t have the proper respect for Indiana,” he said. “Now I’m not saying that’s true for Alabama’s football team … I’m just saying from a fan perspective because fans don’t look at the game from a technical standpoint like we all do. Indiana is a damn good team.”
That’s not just coach-speak - that’s a nod of respect from someone who’s seen it all. And it’s worth noting: Saban isn’t just speaking from a distance.
He knows the people involved. Curt Cignetti was on Saban’s early Alabama staff, serving as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2007 to 2011.
Before that, Kalen DeBoer, now leading Alabama, spent time on Tom Allen’s Indiana staff. There’s familiarity, and more importantly, there’s respect.
Indiana’s Climb Is Real - Even If the Respect Isn’t Yet
Indiana fans don’t need a reminder of the uphill battle the program has faced in changing its football identity. For decades, the Hoosiers have been the team others circled as a likely win. That’s no longer the case - not for those who are paying attention.
What Indiana has accomplished over the past two seasons is nothing short of remarkable. They’ve turned into a program that can go toe-to-toe with the sport’s elite, and they’re doing it with toughness, discipline, and a chip on their shoulder.
But nationally? There’s still skepticism.
That’s what Saban was pointing out - and he’s right.
The casual fan still sees Indiana as a basketball school dabbling in football. That perception lags behind reality. And while that might frustrate Hoosier fans, it also sets the stage for a powerful narrative heading into the Rose Bowl and beyond.
A Team with Something to Prove - and the Talent to Do It
So here we are. Indiana is preparing for one of the biggest games in program history, and they’re still being treated like an underdog - not just by the betting lines, but by the national conversation. That’s fuel.
The “nobody believes in us” card is very real for this team, and it’s not just a motivational ploy. It reflects the actual landscape.
But if they keep playing the way they have - knocking off powerhouses, dominating in the trenches, and showing they belong on the sport’s biggest stages - the narrative will shift. Eventually.
Until then, Indiana will keep doing what it’s been doing: winning games, earning respect from the people who matter most in the sport, and letting the results speak louder than the reputation.
Nick Saban sees it. Coaches around the country see it. Now it’s just a matter of time before the rest of the world catches up.