Curt Cignetti has guided Indiana to a 25-2 record in his second season as head coach, culminating in a Thursday blowout victory over Alabama in the College Football Playoff. This success activates a clause in his contract requiring a fair market value review within 120 days of the final game. Failure to rank in the top three among college coaches in annual salary would allow him to depart without paying the $15 million buyout.
Curt Cignetti, previously head coach at IUP, Elon, and James Madison, has transformed Indiana into a college football powerhouse. In his second year with the Hoosiers, the team achieved unprecedented success, including the dominant win over Alabama that advanced them in the playoff.
The victory unlocks a key provision in Cignetti's contract, as reported by Alex Schiffer of FrontOfficeSports.com. Within 120 days of the season's final game, Indiana must conduct a 'fair market review.' If the resulting offer does not place Cignetti among the top three highest-paid college coaches annually, he can leave without triggering the $15 million buyout clause.
Currently earning $11.6 million per year, Cignetti could see his salary increase to $13 million or more following the review. At age 64, with no prior NFL coaching experience and only two seasons in major college football, his profile raises questions about potential professional interest. His name has not surfaced as a serious candidate for current NFL vacancies with the Titans and Giants, and the number of additional openings remains uncertain.
Sources close to potential hiring teams expressed skepticism. One high-level source from a team possibly seeking a new coach stated that Cignetti 'likely won’t be in play.' Another noted that any recommendation to ownership would require full conviction, given the buyout cost and need to exceed his current compensation, as he would not accept a pay cut.
Despite the challenges, Cignetti's winning record makes him an intriguing option in a year lacking obvious top candidates. With Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman recently signing a new deal, Cignetti stands out among college coaches. For instance, if the Raiders target Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, pairing him with Cignetti could be considered, given the team's 23-season drought since their last Super Bowl appearance, with only two playoff berths and no postseason wins.
