Indiana recently agreed on a new eight-year contract with head coach Curt Cignetti, making him one of the highest-paid football coaches. The contract runs through 2033, and one interesting clause has emerged in the Hoosiers’ head coach’s contract.
Cignetti guided the Hoosiers to an 11-2 record last year and has completely reinvented the program. Indiana is currently 7-0 on the year following a recent victory against Oregon. They currently sit No.2 on the AP Poll Top 25 rankings and 3rd in PFSN’s overall ranking.
What is the Nick Saban Salary Clause That Curt Cignetti Also Has?
After recently reaching an agreement for an eight-year contract with the Hoosiers, the Indiana head coach also has a clause in his contract similar to one Nick Saban had during his time at Alabama. Saban signed his last contract in 2022.
Two interesting parts of Curt Cignetti’s new contract at Indiana: pic.twitter.com/4KsBq6P5xT
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 21, 2025
“If the parties fail to reach an agreement for a market adjustment of the coach’s compensation and do not offer terms that would make Coach’s active compensation no less than 3rd among active head coaches at institutions.” The contract read.
Similar to Cignetti, Saban also had a clause in his contract to ensure that he remained one of the highest-paid coaches in the sport until his retirement. However, the head coach retired at the end of the 2023 campaign.
Under the terms of his original contract, Saban met with Alabama’s board every February to ascertain the average salary of the five highest-paid coaches in the county. This is the same clause Cignetti has in his contract.
“The parties agree to jointly engage, if needed, any independent valuation expert to assist with determining market values.” Cignetti’s contract read.
With this clause, the Indiana head coach has not only secured his potential pay for the next eight years. But he has also guaranteed that no matter what, he shall remain as one of the highest-paid head coaches in College Football for the next eight years.
What is Curt Cignetti’s Contract Worth?
Cignetti’s new contract will run for eight years, and he’ll collect an average of around $11.6 million per year. In total, he’ll make around $92.8 million throughout the duration of his new deal. This makes him the third-highest-paid head coach in College Football.
Here’s the basics of Curt Cignetti’s salary breakdown. pic.twitter.com/tWDbtlleZn
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 21, 2025
In comparison, when Alabama gave Saban an eight-year contract extension in August 2022, the Crimson Tide head coach made about $10.7 million a year, placing him behind seven other head coaches in 2025.
The only head coaches making more than Cignetti are Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Ohio State’s Ryan Day. Meanwhile, Dan Lanning, Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley, and Steve Sarkisian are all making more than Saban did in 2022.
“I couldn’t be prouder to be a Hoosier, and I plan on retiring as a Hoosier. The way that this state has embraced us and our success in football has meant more to me than anything else.” Cignetti revealed after signing his contract.
Cignetti, 64, was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and national coach of the year by several organizations in 2024. A year later, the head coach is currently undefeated with a 10% chance of reaching the National Championship according to PFSN’s playoff meter.
