Curt Cignetti, who spent the previous five years as the head coach of James Madison University, has helped flip Indiana from a 3-9 record last season to the most wins in program history this year going 11-2.
Indiana may have struggled in two big games versus Notre Dame and Ohio State but IU football had it's best season in school history under head coach Curt Cignetti in his first season.
Cignetti had one of the best season as a coach in post-season history as he was named The Associated Press Coach of the Year, BIG Ten conference Coach of the Year, the Walter Camp Foundation Coach of the Year, Home Depot Coach of the Year, American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and The Sporting News Coach of the Year.
Here's what Brad Crawford of 247Sports had to say about Curt Cignetti, who he ranked No. 8 overall:
"The rapid rise for Curt Cignetti hit its mountainous peak this fall during Indiana's 11-win regular season, an all-time best for the Hoosiers. Cignetti's portal-infused roster thrived in the Big Ten and Indiana was rewarded with the program's first playoff appearance as a result. Can Cignetti continue his ascension after success at James Madison then Year 1 fireworks in Bloomington? His fate in this coaches ranking for 2025 rests in the hands of transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza (California) among others."
.@BCrawford247 ranked the Top 25 college football head coaches heading into the 2025 season 👀
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) January 20, 2025
Who would you have higher?
Full Top 25 ranking 🔗 https://t.co/RJsx16c66p pic.twitter.com/uPaX9rH67Y
Do you agree with the head coaching rankings from 247Sports and Brad Crawford?