Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti. Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Curt Cignetti contract should keep Indiana relevant in Big Ten for foreseeable future

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Oct 16, 2025 5:52 PM ET

The gilded era of Indiana Hoosiers football is here to stay.

On Thursday, reports surfaced that head coach Curt Cignetti and Indiana agreed on a extension that runs through November 2033, keeping the highly touted architect of one of the greatest program turnarounds in college football history in Bloomington for the foreseeable future.

When Cignetti arrived at Indiana, the football team was an afterthought. But after a landmark road win at then-Associated Press No. 3 Oregon last Saturday — Indiana's first road win against an AP top-five team in program history — the Hoosiers are a bona fide Big Ten and national title contender.

Cignetti's extension is much deserved and keeps his status with the university from becoming a distraction. With Penn State and several other colleges already looking for their next head coach, Cignetti's name would have been at the top of most all wish-lists, but not anymore.

Curt Cignetti reaffirms commitment to Indiana

According to ESPN, Cignetti's eight-year contract is worth roughly $11.6M annually and replaces an eight-year contract he signed last November while guiding Indiana to a berth in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

Breaking: Curt Cignetti and Indiana have agreed to terms on a new eight-year contract with an average annual compensation of approximately $11.6M, the school announced.

The new contract runs through November 30, 2033. pic.twitter.com/0NsOnDDO0Z
— ESPN (@espn) October 16, 2025

That November 2024 contract was worth $8 million per year and set to run through the 2032 season.

Cignetti was initially hired as Indiana head coach on Nov. 30, 2023 after five seasons at James Madison. His first contract was for six years, $27M ($4.5M annually). In less than two years, he's more than doubled his yearly pay, and it's hard to fault Indiana considering the job he's done.

Before 2024, the Hoosiers, who finished the year with an 11-2 record, had never won 10 games in a season. From 1995-2023, the program had three winning seasons, and one of those was the condensed, optional 2020 season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indiana football had never been on this stage before, but with Cignetti, it's on track to become a perennial power. And thanks to his sizable new contract, that trajectory won't change.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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