Cignetti Takes Shot at SEC, Rhule Seeks Progress at Big Ten Media Days

The third and final day of Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago on Thursday featured Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, USC coach Lincoln Riley, and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti among those at the podium — with Cignetti delivering the session's most pointed remarks.

Cignetti, who stood beside Indiana's national championship trophy, was asked whether playing a Big Ten schedule helps or hurts a team in the College Football Playoff. The question prompted a direct rebuke of the SEC. He declared the Big Ten the best league in football, citing its physical teams and well-coached rosters, and argued that the conference's schedule directly prepares programs for playoff football.

We don't run a hype machine up here in the Midwest. We believe that everything is earned, not given. When we fall short, we say 'we fell short.' We don't cry a river, whine, and complain. And that's why we are the best.

— Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti

Rhule Calls for a Step Forward in Lincoln

Nebraska's Matt Rhule, entering his fourth season at 19-19, brought center Justin Evans, tight end Luke Lindenmeyer, and cornerback Andrew Marshall to Chicago. Evans, who started all 13 games in 2025 without allowing a sack, has been graded by PFF College as the top returning center in college football. Lindenmeyer recorded 29 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns last season, while Marshall posted 45 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, an interception, and four pass breakups, earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors. Rhule acknowledged that back-to-back 7-6 seasons are not the standard the program is chasing, and stated plainly that Nebraska must take a step in 2026. The Huskers will replace departed quarterback Dylan Raiola with Anthony Colandrea, who won Mountain West Player of the Year at UNLV after throwing for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 649 rushing yards and ten rushing scores.

We understand that we have to take a step this year.

— Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule

At USC, Lincoln Riley — entering his fifth season leading the Trojans — pointed to organizational stability as a foundation for the program's ambitions. He highlighted the arrivals of defensive coordinator Gary Patterson and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler as key offseason additions, and singled out quarterback Jayden Maiava's development as among the most extensive growth he has seen from any quarterback he has coached. Riley maintained that winning championships remains the program's annual expectation and expressed a desire to preserve the USC-Notre Dame rivalry while reestablishing the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as a dominant home environment. Nebraska opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at home against Ohio, with kickoff set for 11:00 a.m. on FS1.