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Could Indiana still have "overachieved" without the Big Ten money though?
Remember Indiana started its "investment" on the football program about 15 years ago with its various major projects. Without the Big Ten money to help, could those projects still have come to fruition? If these major projects never existed, then would Indiana have been in the position (aka a potential attractive destination) to hire Cignetti away from JMU?
I have started to come to the conclusion that these type of discussion may really be a chicken and egg type discussion because it is likely you can't have one without the other. At least college athletics hasn't evolved like the NFL or likely the other major pro leagues who have a tendency to not make huge investments in their (practice) facilities. So when you say "Indiana gave every single school the roadmap," I'm not sure you can be as dismissive about the P2 money as you seem to be in the post. Otherwise, we should start to see Indiana-like schools from non-P2 conferences make somewhat regular deep runs in the FBS Playoffs going forward. I think even you would agree that is unlikely to happen because FBS Playoffs will likely be dominated by the P2s going forward. If a non-P2 school makes a deep run, then it will likely be a blue blood (i.e. Miami, FSU, etc.) or a perceived blue blood (i.e. Clemson) with an established pedigree.
Thread Replies (20)
Do you feel that this is a trial run for many programs not in the P2?
-- The_VT_Rock
Feb 04, 2026 at 03:33 PM ET
The_VT_Rock
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02/04/26 03:33 PM ET
It’s a semi open race for a few spots
-- RandomAsianGuy
Feb 04, 2026 at 11:04 PM ET
RandomAsianGuy
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02/04/26 11:04 PM ET
This entire discussion assumes no govenment interference
-- Vippie1
Feb 05, 2026 at 09:36 AM ET
Vippie1
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02/05/26 09:36 AM ET
Even if the non-P2s are pushed to the edge, Congress may still decide to
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 05, 2026 at 10:18 AM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/05/26 10:18 AM ET
yep the P2 could still do their own thing but
-- Vippie1
Feb 05, 2026 at 11:03 AM ET
Vippie1
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02/05/26 11:03 AM ET
I don't disagree that having antitrust exemption makes the situation much
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 05, 2026 at 11:41 AM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/05/26 11:41 AM ET
You dont go in tentative All the way,
-- 1947Sunbowl
Feb 04, 2026 at 07:48 PM ET
1947Sunbowl
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02/04/26 07:48 PM ET
Exactly. Whatever decision VT makes in terms of which path at the fork in
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 04, 2026 at 11:24 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/04/26 11:24 PM ET
In my humble opinion, I think we all put
-- Big12 guy
Feb 04, 2026 at 04:52 PM ET
Big12 guy
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02/04/26 04:52 PM ET
Agreed - particularly in the ACC
-- VT ChemE 1986
Feb 05, 2026 at 12:31 PM ET
VT ChemE 1986
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02/05/26 12:31 PM ET
But for how long will those top teams want to remain in the ACC though?
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 05, 2026 at 02:40 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/05/26 02:40 PM ET
Could Indiana still have "overachieved" without the Big Ten money though?
◄
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 04, 2026 at 06:23 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/04/26 06:23 PM ET
You’re leaving out IU’s Mark Cuban money. Also, billionaire Ken Griffin
-- HokieNeal
Feb 07, 2026 at 12:59 PM ET
HokieNeal
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02/07/26 12:59 PM ET
I found another article that talked about the upgrades Indiana did to the
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 08, 2026 at 10:36 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/08/26 10:36 PM ET
I believe Cuban's money is more recent though. My post was referring to
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 08, 2026 at 10:24 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/08/26 10:24 PM ET
When you break down the players, I think the answer
-- Big12 guy
Feb 04, 2026 at 07:02 PM ET
Big12 guy
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02/04/26 07:02 PM ET
Could Indiana have hired Cignetti though without the Big Ten money to pay
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 04, 2026 at 08:35 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/04/26 08:35 PM ET
Wait. You guys just paid big money to hire a coach without P2
-- Big12 guy
Feb 04, 2026 at 08:43 PM ET
Big12 guy
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02/04/26 08:43 PM ET
A reason VT and UNC made the coaching decisions is because they are trying
-- VTHokie2000
Feb 04, 2026 at 11:12 PM ET
VTHokie2000
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02/04/26 11:12 PM ET
I think some are trying to get in the P2...
-- The_VT_Rock
Feb 04, 2026 at 05:03 PM ET
The_VT_Rock
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02/04/26 05:03 PM ET
I can only speak for some in the B12. they
-- Big12 guy
Feb 04, 2026 at 05:16 PM ET
Big12 guy
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02/04/26 05:16 PM ET