Indiana football's Penn State win had Curt Cignetti thinking 'team of destiny'

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti usually concentrates on what his team is doing today. But the thrilling end to one game last season got him thinking — briefly — about grand possibilities. The Hoosiers had blown a 13-point, third-quarter lead at Penn State and trailed by four in the closing minutes.

Their 80-yard drive ending with Omar Cooper Jr. 's spectacular catch with 36 seconds left gave them a 27-24 victory. IU went on to earn an undefeated national championship.

"Had never seen anything quite like that before. They were playing with a lot more energy. They had made a change (firing coach James Franklin).

It was their first home game (since)," Cignetti told college football analyst Josh Pate . "I knew it was going to be a tough game. "We had an opportunity to distance ourselves in the third quarter, and didn't get it done.