Curt Cignetti's conspiracy theory about CFP rankings involves ESPN

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Curt Cignetti has ESPN-related conspiracy theory about the CFP rankings

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Nov 5, 2026 3:45 PM ET

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti thinks there’s a little bit of a fix going on when it comes to the weekly release of the College Football Playoff rankings.

Cignetti suggested that one of the key reasons behind the much-maligned first CFP rankings of the 2026 season is ESPN’s involvement with the SEC. On “Kirkwood & Dunn,” the Indiana coach

“These people, and there’s a whole bunch of them, they march out of the tent, and they’re given instructions on what to say, and they follow the company line, and I don’t need to go any further,” Cignetti said.

“SEC gets a lot of love from ESPN and all their writers that they don’t technically pay but march to their drum. That’s why you see all these SEC teams up there and some good two-loss teams from the Big Ten not quite as high.”

Curt Cignetti just COOKED ESPN https://t.co/Yyec3rPo7G
— Kirkwood & Dunn (@KirkwoodandDunn) November 5, 2026

Cignetti is essentially arguing that ESPN and the selection committee conspire to reward the SEC, since ESPN is the league’s primary television partner. It certainly seems like a bit of a stretch, especially considering these preliminary rankings do not mean anything, but one could argue that makes it even more likely that the powers at me would tamper with them.

The selection committee did not do itself many favors by putting out a bizarre initial set of rankings. A 5-2 Alabama team came in at No. 5., and a two-loss Ole Miss squad came in ranked ahead of 7-1 Notre Dame.

Ultimately, Cignetti does not think much of the SEC, and he has demonstrated that on multiple occasions. They also make for an easy foil when he tries to motivate his team and run on a disrespect narrative. That may have more to do with his comments than anything else.

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