The Indiana Hoosiers’ Curt Cignetti has just become one of college football’s elite earners. The October 2025 extension vaults him into the top three nationally, just as programs like Penn State, Florida, and Auburn had begun circling with interest.
What Is Curt Cignetti’s New Salary?
Brett McMurphy broke the news on X early Thursday morning, revealing the details that vault Cignetti into elite company:
“Indiana & Curt Cignetti agree to new 8-year, $11.6 million per year deal thru Nov. 30, 2033. Sorry, Penn State, Florida, etc., etc.” Brett revealed.
Indiana & Curt Cignetti agree to new 8-year, $11.6 million per year deal thru Nov. 30, 2033. Sorry, Penn State, Florida, etc., etc.
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 16, 2025
That $11.6 million annual value ranks third nationally among all FBS head coaches, trailing only Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($13 million) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day ($12.5 million). Within the Big Ten, Cignetti now sits among the conference’s top two earners.
The timing reflects Indiana’s urgency. Cignetti had transformed the program from perennial doormat to national contender in just two seasons, posting an 11-2 record and the school’s first College Football Playoff berth in 2024. The Hoosiers then opened 2025 with a 6-0 start and climbed to No. 3 nationally.
Multiple programs had taken notice. CBS Sports insiders confirmed Penn State viewed Cignetti as a serious candidate after firing James Franklin in October 2025, while Florida and Auburn routinely listed him on coaching hot boards. Indiana responded by more than doubling his compensation from the $4.5 million he earned under his initial 2023 deal.
The contract extension also benefited from significant donor support, including billionaire alumnus Mark Cuban’s first-ever athletic contribution in December 2024. Indiana President Pamela Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson emphasized that securing Cignetti through 2033 signals the university’s commitment to competing with elite programs.
How Does Indiana’s 2025 Season Justify Cignetti’s Salary?
The Hoosiers have backed up the investment with elite on-field performance. Through six games, Indiana is unbeaten at 6-0 and has dominant performances on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, the Hoosiers have the seventh-ranked unit in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric with a 90.7 score and an A- grade. They’re averaging 44.8 points per game behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s 1423 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, and the running back tandem of Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, combining for over 800 yards on the ground.
The defense has been even more impressive. Indiana earned the first-ranked defense in PFSN’s Defense Impact metric with a 98.6 score and an A+ grade while allowing just 11.3 points per contest. The unit has forced 14 turnovers through six games and averages 4.2 sacks per outing.
That historic road victory at No. 3 Oregon on October 11 exemplified Cignetti’s program-building prowess. The defense held the Ducks to just 64 second-half yards while the offense exploited mismatches through balanced play-calling that generated 30 points in Eugene.
PFSN’s Playoff Meter projects 10.52 wins for Indiana and gives the Hoosiers an 83.79% chance to make the College Football Playoff. At 3-0 in Big Ten play, they control their own destiny in the conference’s East Division race.
Indiana’s willingness to pay top dollar reflects Cignetti’s proven formula. Before arriving in Bloomington, he turned around programs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Elon, and James Madison, compiling a 136-37 career record.
The $11.6 million annual salary keeps Cignetti in Bloomington despite interest from other programs. He’s transformed Indiana from afterthought to legitimate national championship contender in just 24 months, and the Hoosiers are betting he can sustain it through 2033.