Mark Cuban is bankrolling Indiana’s football success

How did Indiana go from being the least successful program in college football to becoming a powerhouse overnight, beating the likes of Ohio State and Alabama? Hiring the right coaches and adding the right players is a big reason for it, but these days with NIL, you also have to have someone funding the operation. And the Hoosiers have one of their most famous — and richest — alums footing the bill.

Mark Cuban, who is a minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks and worth an estimated $6 billion, donated big money to the Indiana Hoosiers athletic department last year to help them build up for the 2025 season. The season has been a complete success, which led Cuban to donate even more money for 2026.

“Let’s just say they are happier this year than last year,” Cuban told Front Office Sports for a story published Wednesday.

Cuban was part of the 1981 graduating class at IU and has been known for hanging out in Bloomington, Ind., and treating students at local bars. He has historically donated money to Indiana University, but never to its athletic department until last year. The success of the football team during Curt Cignetti’s first season, coupled with a nice meeting with the coach, led him to donate. Now that the team is 14-0, he donated even more money to help them build for the 2026 season. That’s part of how they landed their new quarterback.

Obviously Indiana had some other alumni helping out to bring Cignetti to Bloomington and attract players for the 2024 season, prior to Cuban getting involved. But having a billionaire like him now involved can help keep the NIL wheels churning year after year, giving them the best chance of success.

He has historically donated money to Indiana University, but never to its athletic department until last year. The success of the football team during Curt Cignetti’s first season, coupled with a nice meeting with the coach, led him to donate. Now that the team is 14-0, he donated even more money to help them build for the 2026 season. That’s part of how they landed their new quarterback.