Curt Cignetti’s rise hits new level after topping rival coach for Big Ten honor

Amid the chaos of Early National Signing, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti received affirmation of a different kind, and it had nothing to do with the recruiting trail.

For the second year in a row, Cignetti was named as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, once again edging out the NO. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes' coach Ryan Day, and the No. 5 Oregon Ducks' coach Dan Lanning.

In just two years, Cignetti had transformed the Indiana Hoosiers from a team that went 3-9 overall in 2023 to the team that is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation with a flawless 12-0 record and a spot in the conference championship.

Curt Cignetti has worked wonders at Indiana

Just last season, Day led the Buckeyes to a National Championship and has returned the team to the No. 1 spot once again this year. Over his four years with the Ducks, Lanning has led Oregon to an incredible 46-7 overall record, a Big Ten title, and two berths to the College Football Playoff.

So, yes, what Lanning and Day have done with their programs is impressive. However, Oregon and Ohio State are undeniably football institutions. Nobody thought what Cignetti is doing in Bloomington was even close to possible, yet here he is.

This year, he has led the Hoosiers to their first-ever undefeated regular season and their highest ranking in AP Poll history. Since 2024, he coached Indiana to the highest point-per-game margin in the nation as well as the highest turnover margin.

Not to mention, when it does come to recruiting, Cignetti has started to attract some big-name talents, securing success for Indiana down the road.

A year ago, the Hoosiers were only able to land the No. 53 nationally-ranked recruiting class in the country (earning them a third-to-last-place spot in the Big Ten standings). This year, Cignetti's class (which just went through Early National Signing Day) is ranked 30th in the nation and eighth in the conference.