Curt Cignetti Credits Kansas for Indiana’s Game-Winning Fourth-Down Call
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Kansas football received national recognition Saturday after Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti revealed that the Hoosiers borrowed a key fourth-down play from the Jayhawks during their 20-17 comeback victory over Nebraska.
Indiana faced fourth-and-1 with 7:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, trailing 17-13. Instead of relying on a traditional rushing attempt to move the chains, the Hoosiers used a creative formation that left wide receiver Nick Marsh open downfield for a 44-yard touchdown. The score gave Indiana its first lead of the game, and the defense held on to secure the victory.
Following the game, Cignetti credited Kansas for the idea, pointing to the creativity the Jayhawks displayed during quarterback Jalon Daniels' time in Lawrence.
According to Heartland College Sports, Cignetti explained that he discovered the play while studying Kansas' red-zone film several years ago.
" Kansas made that one famous with a guy starting at quarterback for Tampa Bay," Cignetti said, referring to Daniels, who now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also praised the coach behind the concept, saying, "And that guy's a good coach."
The play reflects the offensive creativity Kansas developed under head coach Lance Leipold and current offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. During Daniels' time at Kansas, the Jayhawks frequently used unconventional formations and misdirection to create opportunities for their playmakers.
Indiana's version, which Cignetti called "Burger King," featured a tight formation designed to make Nebraska anticipate a short-yardage run. Instead, quarterback Josh Hoover found Marsh running free behind the defense for the go-ahead score.
The Hoosiers had used a variation of the play earlier in the season against Northwestern, but Saturday's execution came at a crucial moment. Marsh finished the game with six catches for 187 receiving yards, including a 75-yard touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter.
According to Yahoo Sports' coverage of Cignetti's comments, the Indiana coach said his staff had taken the idea from Kansas approximately five or six years ago.
For Kansas fans, the moment serves as a reminder that the program's influence extends beyond its own results. Even as the Jayhawks continue working to establish consistency in the Big 12, their offensive concepts have made an impression on one of college football's most successful programs.
Leipold and his staff have emphasized finding creative ways to put their players in advantageous situations. Seeing Indiana use a Kansas-inspired concept in a game-deciding moment demonstrates how those ideas can carry beyond Lawrence.
The Jayhawks will look to build on their own season as they prepare for their rivalry matchup against Kansas State. Meanwhile, Cignetti and Indiana will take the confidence from their comeback victory into their upcoming showdown with Ohio State.
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