Indiana Athletics just pulled off a major financial turnaround for the 2024–2025 fiscal year. After drowning in a deficit last year, safe to say they’ve finally cleared that headache and are now sitting on a $7 million cash pile. This turnaround is a direct result of the new energy under coach Curt Cignetti.

The Hoosiers faced a $3.1 million deficit last year. According to On3 reports, the Hoosiers posted a $10.4 million surplus in the 2025 fiscal year, mostly thanks to the record-breaking revenue of $183.4 million.

The excitement Cignetti brought to Bloomington was palpable, translating directly into dollars. Memorial Stadium became the place to be on Saturdays, driving ticket revenue from a modest $2.7 million to an impressive $12.7 million. This fan frenzy extended beyond the gates, with revenue from concessions and parking also doubling to nearly $3 million.

It’s similar to the success Coach Prime brought to Colorado when he arrived. When Deion Sanders arrived, he brought incredible attention to the University of Colorado. They generated over $3 billion in publicity. In 2023, the football program really made a splash, bringing in $142 million in revenue. That’s a ridiculous jump of $117 million from the previous year!

Similarly, the Curt Cignetti effect is in full flow. The program also benefited from the Big Ten’s recent success. The conference’s postseason performance helped boost Indiana’s TV payout by nearly $10 million to a total of $47.1 million.

Also, their basketball program alone made over $51 million. Overall, the athletic department had considerable revenue from various sources. Even more impressive is the way they handled their finances.

Last year, the budget was difficult because the school had to pay $15.5 million to former coach Tom Allen as a buyout. To fix this, the department made some tough but smart choices. They cut the budget by 10% and eliminated 25 staff jobs. By doing so, the Athletic division not only kept its department alive but also invested in Curt Cignetti’s $11.6 million in annual compensation.

The surplus is very important right now. Schools are now allowed to pay athletes directly through revenue-sharing. Indiana University has promised to spend $20.5 million on player compensation. You can bet they’re going to double down on the surplus in next year’s fiscal report.

This newfound financial stability is empowering Coach Cignetti to be more aggressive on the recruiting trail. He’s already targeting top-tier talent to build for the future. One of his primary targets is one of the best DL prospects in the Midwest.

Curt Cignetti is in pursuit of one of the nation’s finest DL prospects

The 6’4” David Folorunsho out of Chicago is one of the most sought-after prospects from the Midwest that everyone in the country wants. But after a recent junior day visit to Bloomington, it sounds like Indiana is sitting right at the front of the pack for the Class of 2027 star.

“The experience was great,” Folorunsho said of his most recent experience. “I was really able to understand how they intended to use me in their defense. Also got to understand the development piece. It’s definitely exciting to see what they are building and something I definitely want to be a part of.”

Standing 6’4″ and weighing around 280 lbs, he’s a versatile powerhouse who can play both defensive tackle and end. According to 247Sports, he ranks as the #66 defensive lineman in the country and is a top-20 player in the state of Illinois. He’s basically a three-star who has a pretty good chance of turning it into a four-star by the end of his senior season.

His recruitment has absolutely exploded lately. He has about 25 Division I offers on the table as of early 2026. His impressive numbers probably explain why all those big schools are hell-bent on him. During his 2025 junior season, he was a force on the field, racking up over 50 total tackles and living in the opponent’s backfield with 15 tackles-for-loss, and he grabbed 5 sacks while at it.

David is already scheduled to visit Bloomington on April 19 and can’t wait to see what’s happening there. However, there are some roadblocks along the way. The Mizzou Tigers will have their first shot on June 5. Then he has programs like Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Michigan in the mix. There’s still a long way to go.