Curt Cignetti will be USC’s opponent in one week. On November 14, Lincoln Riley will need to beat Cignetti and Indiana in order to have a shot at the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. This week, however, Cignetti is not USC’s opponent. Cignetti stood up for the Big Ten and roasted both ESPN and the SEC.
Cignetti said, in talking about the first College Football Playoff rankings show, that “These people — and there’s a whole bunch of them — they march out of the tent, they’re given instructions on what to say and follow the company line. I don’t need to go any further.”
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Cignetti was very clearly making a link between pro-SEC bias and ESPN, the network which televises SEC games in its contract with the conference. SEC teams, Alabama in particular, usually seem to get the benefit of the doubt in these rankings. Cignetti is telling us it is not an idle coincidence but an obvious product of real commercial pressure from and by the main stakeholders in the playoff and the sport of college football. Big Ten fans in the West, Midwest, and the East will all agree with the central point Curt Cignetti is making. They might not like Cignetti personally, but they can all stand with him when he takes aim at the SEC and stands behind the Big Ten.
USC plays Indiana on Saturday, November 14, with the game being televised by CBS at 12:30 p.m. Pacific time, 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. We will have plenty of USC-Indiana coverage throughout next week.
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Oct 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Helmets at the line of scrimmage as Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Gabe Vansickle (58) snaps the ball against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Oct 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Helmets at the line of scrimmage as Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Gabe Vansickle (58) snaps the ball against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Oct 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
(Gary A. Vasquez, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day reacts during the NCAA football game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) passes during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Oct 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Luke Fahey (13) moves out to pass against the Southern California Trojans during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
(Gary A. Vasquez, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Oct 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans running back King Miller (8) carries the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
USC Trojans tight end Mark Bowman (19) leaps over Ohio State Buckeyes safety Jaylen McClain (8) during the NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Oct 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive tackle Alex Vansumeren (91) celebrates after sacking Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Luke Fahey (13) in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
The torch is lit after the third quarter during the NCAA football game between Ohio State Buckeyes and USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
USC Trojans fans celebrate during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork yells at USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley following the NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
USC Trojans offensive lineman Elijah Vaikona (79) leaves as fans storms the field the following the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from USC’s 30-18 upset of Ohio State
Oct 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans fans storm the field after the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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