Mark SchlabachCloseMark SchlabachESPN Senior WriterSenior college football writer Author of seven books on college football Graduate of the University of GeorgiaFollow on XAdam RittenbergCloseAdam RittenbergESPN Senior WriterCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on XOct 16, 2025, 04:25 PM ET
Coach Cignetti delivers message to Hoosiers fans after signing new deal (0:45)Indiana coach Curt Cignetti reiterates his commitment to the Hoosiers after signing an 8-year deal. (0:45)
Cignetti guided the Hoosiers to a 11-2 record and a surprising College Football Playoff appearance in his first season at the school in 2024. This season, the No. 3 Hoosiers are 6-0 heading into Saturday’s game against Michigan State.
In a video posted to Indiana’s social media accounts, Cignetti said, “I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier, and I plan on retiring as a Hoosier. The way that this state has embraced us and our success in football has meant more to me than anything else.”
“We didn’t come this far to only come this far,” Dolson told ESPN. “We’re all-in, and going to continue to invest and make certain that we’ve got our priorities in line. He’s Priority 1, and then it’s retaining our staff, and it’s having the resources to build a roster.”
Cignetti, 64, was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and national coach of the year by several organizations in 2024. The Hoosiers are 17-2 under Cignetti, including an 11-1 record against Big Ten opponents.
On Oct. 11, the Hoosiers stunned then-No. 3 Oregon 30-20 on the road. It was Indiana’s first victory against a top-five opponent since upsetting then-No. 3 Purdue 19-14 in 1967.
“At Indiana University, we are committed to performing at the highest levels in everything we do, and no one has exemplified that more than Coach Cignetti,” Indiana University president Pamela Whitten said in a statement. “Put simply, Cig is a winner. From last year’s College Football Playoff appearance to this year’s top-three national ranking, the IU football program’s success has been tremendous.”
Cignetti, who previously coached at James Madison, Elon and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, was expected to be one of the hottest names on the market before signing an extension with the Hoosiers.
Under his previous deal, Cignetti’s buyout was set to drop to $10 million on Dec. 1, a number that now climbs to $15 million under the new contract, sources tell ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
If Indiana fires Cignetti without cause during his new deal, his $93.25 million becomes fully guaranteed, sources tell Adam Rittenberg.
With the new deal now official, Indiana has seemingly eliminated any potential distractions around its coaching staff as it pursues a second consecutive College Football Playoff bid.
Using the transfer portal, Cignetti has transformed the once-woebegone Hoosiers into Big Ten title contenders. In the 127-year history of the program before his arrival, Indiana had never won 10 games in a season. The Hoosiers hadn’t had a winning record since going 6-2 in the 2020 season, which was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coach Cignetti delivers message to Hoosiers fans after signing new deal (0:45)Indiana coach Curt Cignetti reiterates his commitment to the Hoosiers after signing an 8-year deal. (0:45)
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti reiterates his commitment to the Hoosiers after signing an 8-year deal. (0:45)
CloseAdam RittenbergESPN Senior WriterCollege football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.Follow on X
Hoosiers athletic director Scott Dolson says Cignetti’s new deal shows the school is “all-in.”
The new deal with Cignetti goes through the 2033 regular season.
The Hoosiers went 9-27 in three seasons under Tom Allen before Cignetti’s hiring.
CloseMark SchlabachESPN Senior WriterSenior college football writer Author of seven books on college football Graduate of the University of GeorgiaFollow on X
In Bloomington to stay. ✍️🔗: https://t.co/y9cinJXwps pic.twitter.com/kVFx6AbeM7