Curt Cignetti just made a statement that echoed across college football. The Indiana Hoosiers head coach went into Autzen Stadium and stunned the No. 2 Oregon Ducks, 30-20. In one night, Cignetti reminded everyone that the Hoosiers can hang with anybody, anywhere. And as a result, the Hoosiers rewarded their head coach with a long-term deal.

Indiana announced an eight-year deal worth around $11.6 million per season, keeping Cignetti in Bloomington through 2033. That’s nearly $93 million for a coach who’s proven he’s worth every dime. And no one could be happier than the former Cowboys QB Ben DiNucci, who has worked closely with Cignetti in the past.

“He’s come a long way from calling me a slappy first day of winter workouts in 2019 at JMU 🤣,” DiNucci wrote. “I owe this guy all the success I’ve had beyond college. Totally changed the way I played and thought about the quarterback position. 1 of 1 at the coaching position.” For anyone who knows their history, that message carried weight.

Their story goes back to the James Madison Dukes days. DiNucci, 28, played under Cignetti in 2018, and he became a completely different player. In two seasons with the Dukes, he went 479-of-687 passing for 5,716 yards with 45 touchdowns and just 18 interceptions. As a dual-threat, he also rushed 229 times for 1,002 yards with 16 touchdowns.

Eventually, that development paid off. The Cowboys took a shot on him in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He appeared in three games and earned one start as a rookie. Sure, his NFL path has had bumps, but his respect for his former coach never faded. And as for the Hoosiers’ HC, he plans to retire as a Hoosier.

Curt Cignetti addresses Hoosiers’ $93 million announcement

After the announcement, the Hoosiers dropped a video message from their head coach himself. “My wife, Manette, and I love Indiana University, Bloomington, the state of Indiana, the people we’ve met,” Cignetti said in the video. “We’ve accomplished a lot here in a short amount of time, but still have a lot of work to do. I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier, and I plan on retiring as a Hoosier.”

Cignetti took over the Hoosiers in 2024 and flipped the script instantly. From a struggling Big Ten team to a national contender, Cignetti made it look easy. Indiana went 11–1 in its first season under Curt and even punched a ticket to the first 12-team College Football Playoff.

This is already Cignetti’s second extension in less than two full seasons. When he first arrived, he signed a six-year, $27 million deal. Then, after just 10 games, Indiana handed him an eight-year deal worth $8.3 million per year plus a $1 million retention bonus. Now, less than a year later, he’s earned another major raise.

Honestly, the track record speaks for itself. From IUP to Elon to James Madison, Cignetti has won everywhere he’s gone. This year, he’s doing the same thing. Right now, the Hoosiers sit at 6–0 and share the top spot with the defending champs, Ohio State. So now, all eyes are on how he approaches each game after the big news.