Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks up the sidelines Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, during the 112th annual Rose Bowl game in Pasadena. Indiana Hoosiers defeated Alabama Crimson Tide, 38-3. USA TODAY Sports

Curt Cignetti is The Anti-Lane Kiffin

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Jan 23, 2026 11:52 AM ET

College football is full of bravado and swagger. And both words can easily be used to describe Lane Kiffin. On the other side of the spectrum is Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, whose approach just resulted in a National Championship.

Kiffin is a 24/7 reality television show. The limelight is tirelessly pointed at him and he embraces it. This show has taken him from Tennessee to USC, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss and now LSU, during which time he has compiled a 116-53 record as a head coach.

A .686 winning percentage in 14 seasons is good, but is it worth all the baggage that it comes with? Many other current head coaches have higher winning percentages, including Dabo Swinney, Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Brian Kelly and James Franklin, and they have accomplished this without constantly being on social media.

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks up the sidelines Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, during the 112th annual Rose Bowl game in Pasadena. Indiana Hoosiers defeated Alabama Crimson Tide, 38-3.

One can easily make the argument that Cignetti portrays confidence. And that could be defined as swagger, but it’s more of a quiet swagger. Also, considering Cignetti is 147-36 as a head coach (.803) and 79-11 as an FBS head coach (.877), some level of swagger is easily understandable.

If Kiffin had accomplished anything close to what Cignetti has, one can only imagine the level of bravado that would have flooded onto social media from his direction. But to this point, he has yet to reach the level of success that warrants it.

On top of this, Kiffin has shown zero devotion to any school. He has proven himself to be a mercenary who will quickly take a new job if the price is right. Cignetti, on the other hand, has signed an extension with Indiana, showing his allegiance to the program long-term.

Kiffin has the potential to achieve great things, especially with LSU’s deep pockets, so everyone should buckle up just in chase he ever reaches them.

But until he does, he is just a Cignetti wannabe.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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