In a moment of pure sporting theatre that swiftly captured the nation's attention, newly-crowned Big Ten champion coach Curt Cignetti delivered an awkward on-air snub to former Ohio State legend Urban Meyer. The incident occurred live on Fox Sports following Indiana's seismic 13-10 victory over the top-ranked Buckeyes, a win that propelled the Hoosiers to a perfect 13-0 record and a coveted spot in the College Football Playoffs.
A Viral Moment of Disregard
As the final whistle blew on a historic night in Indianapolis, Cignetti joined the Fox broadcast panel for a post-game interview. The panel included the celebrated, albeit now-embarrassed, former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. In a clip that rocketed across social media platforms, Meyer was seen extending his hand in a gesture of professional courtesy towards the victorious coach.
Before Meyer could complete the handshake, Cignetti's attention was pulled decisively elsewhere. He turned his body away, leaving the three-time national championship-winning coach to retract his offered hand empty-handed. The brief but intensely awkward exchange was captured in full and has since been viewed millions of times, sparking widespread debate about sportsmanship and rivalry in the heat of the moment.
Historic Victory for the Hoosiers
The snub, however dramatic, was merely a footnote to a monumental sporting achievement. The game itself was a classic defensive struggle between the country's top two ranked teams. Indiana's quarterback Fernando Mendoza engineered the crucial play, connecting with Elijah Sarratt on a 17-yard touchdown pass that secured the lead.
The Hoosiers' defence then heroically shut down the potent Ohio State offence for the remainder of the contest. The Buckeyes had a late chance to tie, but kicker Jayden Fielding pushed a 29-yard field goal attempt wide left with just 2:48 remaining on the clock. The victory was profoundly significant for Indiana, marking their first conference title since 1967 and their first outright championship since 1945.
Perhaps most impressively, the win snapped a demoralising 30-game losing streak against Ohio State that had persisted since 1988. Mendoza was deservedly named the game's Most Valuable Player for his role in ending one of college football's most enduring one-sided rivalries.
A Coaching Turnaround for the Ages
The context of Indiana's rise makes this victory all the more remarkable. In the season prior to Cignetti's arrival, the Hoosiers languished with a 3-9 record (1-8 in the Big Ten). His transformation of the programme in Bloomington has been nothing short of meteoric. So complete is this revival that even the snubbed Urban Meyer offered effusive praise for his counterpart's work in the build-up to the championship game.
Meyer had previously called Cignetti's season "the best coaching job I've seen certainly in my life - I think in the history of the sport." This praise adds a rich layer of irony to the post-game slight. Meyer, who led Ohio State to a national championship in 2015 during his own storied tenure, now watches as his former team, still the bookmakers' favourite for the national title despite this loss, has been dethroned by the very programme he lauded.
All eyes now turn to the College Football Playoffs, where the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers, masterminded by Curt Cignetti, will look to cap their fairy-tale season with the ultimate prize. Whether the handshake snub becomes a lasting meme or a forgotten blip will depend entirely on what happens next.
