Has Curt Cignetti Built the Best Culture in the Big Ten?

When Curt Cignetti arrived at Indiana, the Hoosiers were a complete afterthought in the college football landscape. In fact, their biggest claim to fame was that the had lost more games than any other program in the country. Those losing seasons, inconsistent performances and low expectations had become the norm in Bloomington. Combine that with the fact that Hoosiers basketball ran the show in the state, and football just wasn't on anyone's radar. Now, Indiana football has established itself as one of the conference's premier programs, and the biggest reason might be the culture Cignetti has built.

But has he built the best culture in the entire Big Ten? There's certainly a compelling argument.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Cignetti's Indiana program is its consistency. The Hoosiers don't simply show up for marquee matchups. They approach every opponent with the same intensity, preparation and attention to detail.

That mentality has allowed Indiana to become a legitimate contender rather than a program occasionally capable of pulling off an upset.

Even when the offense struggles, as it has at times this season, Indiana continues finding ways to win. That's the mark of a program with an established identity rather than one dependent on individual performances.

One of Cignetti's defining characteristics is his demanding approach to preparation and execution. His teams are expected to avoid unnecessary penalties, minimize mental mistakes and handle their responsibilities.

That discipline extends beyond Saturday afternoons. Cignetti has established expectations throughout the week that carry over into games. It even goes back to the preseason when highly-touted transfer wide receiver Nick Marsh showed up to practice with gold cleats. Cignetti immediately sent his new star back inside to change and fall in line. 

Indiana's ability to remain competitive in difficult environments reflects that preparation. The Hoosiers rarely look overwhelmed by the moment, even against some of the nation's toughest opponents.

Indiana's transformation is especially apparent on defense.

The Hoosiers have developed one of the nation's most physical defensive units, consistently making opponents earn everything. Against Michigan, Indiana's defense carried the team through an offensive struggle in a gritty 13-6 overtime victory.

That mentality was evident again against Minnesota, when Indiana overcame mistakes and offensive inconsistency to escape with another overtime win.

Those aren't necessarily pretty victories, but they reveal something important about the program's mentality.

Indiana doesn't need everything to go perfectly to win football games.

What separates Cignetti from many of his conference counterparts is how quickly he's changed expectations.

Indiana was once a program hoping to reach bowl eligibility. Now, the conversation revolves around conference championships, College Football Playoff appearances and national contention.

Programs like Ohio State, Oregon and Michigan have established traditions and championship expectations, but Indiana's dramatic transformation makes Cignetti's cultural impact particularly impressive.

Is it definitively the Big Ten's best culture? That's subjective.

But when considering consistency, discipline, toughness and the ability to completely change a program's identity, Cignetti deserves to be at the very top of that conversation.