Curt Cignetti has established himself as the best coach in college football. What he's done at Indiana is nothing short of miraculous, as he's taken the program with the most losses in college football history to a National Championship in just two seasons. Cignetti has led the Hoosiers to new heights thanks to his elite ability to identify talent, develop players, and get the most out of his roster.
In the current NIL era, roster spending has become an increasingly important part of building a championship team. While Indiana has taken considerable steps in regard to giving the football program plenty of financial resources, Cignetti has shown that great coaching and talent evaluation can be just as––if not more––valuable as opening the checkbook.
Indiana isn't among college football's Top-10 biggest spenders
According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the Hoosiers aren't near the top of the list when it comes to college football's biggest spenders. Specifically, Feldman reports that Indiana spent in the $36-40 million range on its 2026 football roster. That estimated range puts the Hoosiers on the outside looking in when it comes to the Top-10 spenders in the sport.
Based on the 70 different sources The Athletic spoke to, Indiana's roster budget of $36-40 million ranks the Hoosiers 13th in the country in total roster spending. The Cream and Crimson also rank tied with Michigan for fourth in the Big Ten in roster spending, following Ohio State ($49-54 million), Oregon ($48-54 million), and USC ($37-40 million).
The range is about what Hoosier football fans should expect. Indiana is firmly in the mix, but it isn't dominating the NIL landscape. When you look at the teams spending more than the Hoosiers, though, it becomes clear just how much coaching matters.
Elite coaching and talent evaluation continue to be strengths for Indiana
Cignetti is a master when it comes to finding and evaluating talent. While other schools simply throw as much money as possible at big-name players, Cignetti is focused on finding the right players. A player could have all the talent in the world, but if he doesn't have the well-rounded traits that Cignetti looks for, the Hoosier head coach is more than happy passing on him.
Indiana's showdown against Ohio State now takes on heightened significance
Cignetti thrives at finding players whose skills, fit, and potential may not be fully reflected in recruiting rankings or NIL price tags. He then has an effective system in place to get the best out of his players. Look no further than Indiana's National Championship run last season.
The Hoosiers didn't have a roster full of 5-star recruits or players acquired from bottomless transfer portal spending. Indiana won it all because of Cignetti's unbelievable ability to get the most out of his players when it mattered most. With that formula, Hoosier fans have plenty to be excited about in 2026 and beyond with Cignetti at the helm.
In the end, a more expensive rosters don't automatically become the best teams. Strong coaching can create continuity, player development, elite culture and buy-in that high spending alone can't replicate. The ability to consistently turn overlooked or undervalued players into productive contributors can make a roster more effective than its price tag suggests.
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