Indiana Coach Cignetti Reveals Tampering Issues, Including $1M Offer to Player

Cignetti says Hoosiers have dealt with agents calling players and making lucrative offers from other programs.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 5:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti revealed that his team has faced issues with tampering in the Transfer Portal, including one of his players being offered $1 million by another program last year. Cignetti said it's a widespread problem across college football that is difficult to legislate, as agents are constantly calling players and making offers from other schools.

Why it matters

The Transfer Portal has become a critical part of building successful college football teams, but the issue of tampering has emerged as a major concern. Cignetti's comments highlight how even the reigning national champions are not immune to these problems, which can give certain programs an unfair recruiting advantage.

The details

Cignetti, the back-to-back AP Coach of the Year, said one of his players last year was offered $1 million by another program, which he described as a school that would 'shock' people. He said players have come into his office and talked about offers from other schools, and it's an issue he's had to deal with. Cignetti led Indiana to a 16-0 record and the program's first national championship this past season, relying heavily on transfers like quarterback Fernando Mendoza, running back Roman Hemby, and others.

  • In the 2022 season, one of Cignetti's players was offered $1 million by another program.
  • Cignetti made these comments on a podcast on February 4, 2026.

The players

Curt Cignetti

The head football coach at Indiana University, who led the Hoosiers to a national championship in 2025.

Fernando Mendoza

The Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at Indiana who transferred from Cal.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Well yeah, absolutely. We had a guy last year offered a million dollars, and you'd be shocked at the school. That's gone on this year. Guys walk in my office and talk to me. It's tough, man. It's hard. You've got these agents calling everyone across America... how do you legislate those guys? You try to do it the right way, but it's tough.”

— Curt Cignetti, Head Football Coach, Indiana University (The Triple Option Podcast)

What’s next

The NCAA is likely to continue examining the issue of tampering in the Transfer Portal, as high-profile cases like this one involving Indiana become more common.

The takeaway

The Transfer Portal has become a double-edged sword for college football programs, providing opportunities to reload rosters but also opening the door for unethical recruiting practices. Cignetti's comments underscore the widespread nature of the tampering problem and the challenges coaches face in trying to build teams the right way.