Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

These stats point to HC Curt Cignetti's brilliance at Indiana

By Colby Colwell | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 10:12 PM ET

The Indiana Hoosiers have experienced a historic turnaround under head coach Curt Cignetti and are only two wins away from the program's first national title.

With a fourth-ranked offense (39.2 PPG) and the second-best defense (11.1 PPG), the Hoosiers (14-0) are as balanced as any team in the country and are coming off a rout of Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Even though most fans failed to give Indiana the "proper respect" leading up to the Rose Bowl, the Hoosiers continue to prove the doubters wrong and show why they are the No. 1 team in the country. The path Indiana has taken to achieve the success, though, speaks to the incredible job Cignetti has done to turn the program around.

Curt Cignetti's brilliance at Indiana summed up by these stats

Indiana had gone from 3-24 in Big Ten play and 9-27 overall in the three seasons before Cignetti's arrival. In the two seasons with him at the helm, the Hoosiers are 25-2 overall, 17-1 in Big Ten play and the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in program history.

The Hoosiers were 3-24 in Big Ten play from 2021-23.

They are now No. 1 in the country and a win away from playing for the national title.

The Curt Cignetti Effect pic.twitter.com/BLaa3cwcOG
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 7, 2026

Even more impressive, Indiana has accomplished all that with zero five-star recruits on its roster, per ESPN Insights. The other final four teams, Oregon (five), Ole Miss (one) and Miami (three), each have at least one five-star recruit, which speaks to Cignetti's coaching acumen, his ability to develop players and find talent through the transfer portal.

A Cig-nificant stat

1-seed Indiana | Zero 5-stars ⭐
5-seed Oregon | Five 5-stars ⭐
6-seed Ole Miss | One 5-star ⭐
10-seed Miami | Three 5-stars ⭐ pic.twitter.com/5ZKd0kCAvV
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) January 6, 2026

The Hoosiers have been led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who leads the nation with 36 pass TDs after transferring in from California.

Running backs Roman Hemby (Maryland) and Kaelon Black (James Madison) have combined for 15 rushing TDs, while wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (James Madison) leads the team with 13 TDs. Black and Sarratt followed Cignetti to Bloomington and have spent the last two seasons there.

Next up for Indiana is a rematch with fifth-seeded Oregon in Friday night's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). A national title game appearance is certainly in reach for the Hoosiers, especially considering they held the Ducks to 81 rush yards and forced two interceptions from QB Dante Moore in a 30-20 win back on Oct. 11.

Indiana has the second-most losses (715) in college football history, only behind Northwestern (718). If the Hoosiers close out the season the way they have played up to this point, they will finish 16-0 and complete arguably the greatest turnaround in the sport's history.

With Cignetti on the sidelines, it is hard to expect anything different for a coach who has won everywhere he has been.

Colby Colwell

Colby Colwell is a freelance contributor with a bachelor’s in Computer & Information Technology and a minor in Psychology from Western Kentucky University. With a deep passion for sports, especially NASCAR, he offers his substantial knowledge along with his adept writing skills. When he’s not writing, Colby enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his family

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