Indiana's Curt Cignetti Focused on Repeat After Historic Title Run

Cignetti is determined to maintain the winning culture he built at Indiana despite the Hoosiers' newfound success and heightened expectations.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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After leading Indiana to a shocking national championship in just his second season, head coach Curt Cignetti is solely focused on sustaining the Hoosiers' success. Cignetti has no interest in dwelling on last year's trophy haul, instead turning his attention to the upcoming season and replacing key contributors who have departed. The Indiana coach is determined to stick to the same blueprint that transformed the once-struggling program into a powerhouse, believing that continuing to follow his proven philosophy will lead to more victories.

Why it matters

Cignetti's rapid turnaround of the Indiana football program has inspired hope across college athletics, showing that even the most downtrodden teams can be rebuilt into champions with the right leadership and vision. However, maintaining that level of success presents a new challenge, as Cignetti must now navigate the pressure of being the hunted rather than the hunter. His ability to avoid complacency and keep his team focused will be crucial to Indiana's chances of repeating as national champions.

The details

After winning the national title, Cignetti gave his staff the day off to celebrate, but it was quickly back to business as usual. The coach has no interest in surrounding himself with physical reminders of the team's accomplishments, preferring to keep the focus on the work ahead. Cignetti has already begun the process of replacing key contributors who have departed, utilizing the transfer portal to bring in new talent like TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh, and Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Brunner. The Indiana coach is anxious to get spring practice underway to see how the new pieces fit into the winning culture he has built.

  • Cignetti's Indiana team won the national championship in Miami the previous month.
  • Cignetti gave his staff the day off after returning from the title game.

The players

Curt Cignetti

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, who led the once-struggling program to a national championship in just his second season.

Blake Jackson

The director of football operations at Indiana, who is currently housing the team's championship trophies.

Mike Shanahan

The offensive coordinator at Indiana, who has been with Cignetti since their days at Division II IUP.

Bryant Haines

The defensive coordinator at Indiana, who won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach this past season.

Fernando Mendoza

The presumptive No. 1 overall NFL draft pick who was a key contributor for Indiana's national championship team.

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What they’re saying

“We got to enjoy it that night in the hotel a little bit and then flew back, and there's a lot of work to be done.”

— Curt Cignetti, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers (CBS Sports)

“I guess it's a compliment of some kind, but what's happened here has happened because we have alignment from the president to the (athletic director), and we're on the same page as a staff. We have a philosophy that I've been doing for a while. Guys have been with me a while, and we're able to get everybody to kind of think alike.”

— Curt Cignetti, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers (CBS Sports)

“There's a lot of people who accept quite a few of those. I make enough money. I'm appreciative of the offers and the opportunities, but this is what I get paid to do.”

— Curt Cignetti, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers (CBS Sports)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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