Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland kicked off his introductory press conference with a line that instantly aged badly: “We are here to win championships. If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana.”
That was already a risky swing, but it landed even harder because Indiana just won the CFP national championship. So when On3’s Andy Staples revisited Curt Cignetti’s old trash talk, he had a point about the timing - and the irony.
“Seemed nuts when Cignetti trash-talked Michigan and Ohio State in December 2023,” Staples said. “But somehow I doubt Cigs will respect the hustle come Old Oaken Bucket time.”
Cignetti, of course, made waves at his own introductory press conference with this line: “I've never taken a back seat to anybody and don't plan on starting now... Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State!”
And unlike most coachspeak that disappears the moment the games start, he backed it up.
He took a loss to Ohio State in 2024, then got the Buckeyes back in the Big Ten Championship game this past December. Indiana also beat Michigan during the 2024 season. The bold talk looked wild when he said it, but the results gave it teeth.
That’s what makes McClelland’s shot at Indiana feel so strange. Whether he meant to poke the football program, the basketball program, or just Indiana as a whole, it’s a tough line to stand behind when the Hoosiers are fresh off a national title. And it’s fair to wonder whether he fully grasped where Purdue sits on the field, or how Indiana’s hoops program could turn into a sleeping giant at any moment while the Boilermakers keep coming up short in the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State, at least, has a chance to give McClelland’s comment some accidental support. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers meet October 17 in Bloomington, and Ryan Day could help keep Indiana from another CFP run by handing it a home loss.
After that, the schedule is less clear. Indiana backed away from series with Notre Dame in 2030 and 2031, and the Big Ten ought to keep this matchup in play as often as possible. Even then, calling it a rivalry still feels like a stretch.
Ohio State’s place in this kind of conversation is simple: the Buckeyes have the resources to stay at the top, year after year. Indiana still has to prove it can sustain what it has built over the past two seasons. First a two-year wonder, then maybe a three-year wonder, and then whatever comes next.
That’s why McClelland’s line may not be as ridiculous as it sounded at first. With a little help from Ohio State, it might even end up looking right.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman RB Suddenly Has An Early Camp Problem
A few days into fall camp, Ohio State already has a small early wrinkle in its running back room. True freshman Legend Bey was sidelined for the opening day of practice after being suspended for a violation of team rules, leaving the Buckeyes to move forward with other backs while the newcomer watches from the side.
Ryan Day confirmed the suspension but offered no specifics, which leaves Beys status and any immediate path to playing time unsettled. For now, Ohio State can lean on options such as Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, but the situation is a reminder that even before the real competition starts, camp can bring its own off-field complications. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces New Jamier Brown Questions At A Tough Time
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Brown is now back at Huber Heights Wayne High School after that brief stop at Big Walnut, and the school confirmed he is no longer enrolled while declining to say more. For Ohio State, the timing only adds to the questions around a commitment that has been under the microscope, especially with Brian Hartline no longer in place as a recruiter to help steady things. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Closing In On A Huge Quarterback Recruiting Win
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Saturday now looms as the key date in this one, with Vargas set to make his decision and bring an end to the early speculation. For Ohio State, the appeal is obvious: landing a player with his profile this early would be a major statement in the class and a sign that the Buckeyes are winning the kind of head-to-head battles that matter on the recruiting trail. The final call is still ahead, but the sense around this recruitment is that the Buckeyes are in a strong position entering the announcement. [Read more 🡒]