Indiana Football Coach Embraces Transfer Portal

Curt Cignetti explains why Indiana will always use the transfer portal to supplement high school recruiting

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti discussed how the Hoosiers have used the transfer portal to build a winning program, but are now relying on it less as their high school recruiting has improved. Cignetti said they will continue to "dabble" in the transfer portal to fill critical needs, as 24-year-old transfers can often contribute more immediately than 18-year-old high school recruits.

Why it matters

The transfer portal has become an integral part of college football recruiting, allowing teams to quickly address roster needs. Indiana's approach of using the portal strategically while also building through high school recruiting shows how top programs are navigating the new landscape.

The details

Over the past three offseasons, Indiana has decreased its reliance on the transfer portal, going from 32 transfers in year one to just 17 this past year. Cignetti explained this is because as the Hoosiers have become a winning program, their high school recruiting has improved. However, he made clear they will continue to "dabble" in the portal to fill critical needs, as older transfers can contribute more immediately than 18-year-old freshmen.

  • Over the course of three offseasons, the Hoosiers have used the transfer portal less and less.

The players

Curt Cignetti

The head coach of the Indiana football program, who has led the Hoosiers to two consecutive College Football Playoff appearances and a national title.

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What they’re saying

“I think year one we took 32, year two we took 22, this year we took 17. So you see that number going down as high school recruiting builds. Now that we're winning, the high school recruiting is getting better. It still takes those guys a little while to develop, so they can play winning football, and I don't care.”

— Curt Cignetti, Head Coach, Indiana Football (The Triple Option* podcast)

“A 24-year-old is going to play better than an 18-year-old. So I don't think you're ever going to see the day when you're not dabbling in the portal. And you know, maybe next year we're at 14. Who knows? But you always have critical needs, and you always have to win every single year. That's just the way the business is now.”

— Curt Cignetti, Head Coach, Indiana Football (The Triple Option* podcast)

The takeaway

Indiana's approach to the transfer portal shows how top college football programs are balancing high school recruiting with strategic use of the portal to quickly address roster needs and build a winning program. Their decreasing reliance on transfers as their recruiting has improved demonstrates the portal's role as a supplemental tool, not a replacement for traditional recruiting.