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If the Nittany Lions were betting on Curt Cignetti to go to State College, they’d have to go to Plan B.
Indiana University agreed to a massive eight-year contract extension with Cignetti, their head football coach, making him the third-highest paid coach in college football.
Cignetti’s new deal is worth $93 million over eight years, giving him an estimated $11.6 million per year. season. The contract is set to run until 30 November 2033.
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Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks into Kinnick Stadium before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 27. (Jeffrey Becker/Imagn Images)
This extension comes after rumors that Cignetti is someone Penn State could pursue to replace James Franklin, who was fired after three carries this season.
“At Indiana University, we are committed to performing at the highest level in everything we do, and no one has exemplified that more than Coach Cignetti,” Pamela Whitten, Indiana University president, said in a statement. “Simply put, Cig is a winner.”
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Cignetti is behind only Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($13.3 million per season) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day ($12.6 million).
“From last year’s College Football Playoff appearance to this year’s top-3 national ranking, the success of the IU Football program has been tremendous. Curt and Manette Cignetti make their home in Indiana and are in awe that the Cignetti family will be Hoosiers for many years to come.”
Cignetti has truly turned the Hoosiers’ football program around. He won National and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors last season after Indiana finished 11-1 in the regular season to reach the College Football Playoff. They were knocked out by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but it was clear that Indiana was headed in the right direction.
Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti watches his team play against Oregon at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 11 in Eugene, Ore. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)
This season, with Heisman front-runner Fernando Mendoza leading the way at quarterback, the Hoosiers are 6-0. Only Ohio State owns the same record in the Big Ten through six games.
Indiana’s recent win over Oregon on their home court in Bloomington cemented the Hoosiers as a true national title contender this season.
Before the extension, Cignetti earned $8.3 million this season with no bonuses in his deal. That was the 18th-highest figure in college football, and just No. 7 in the Big Ten.
So with Penn State potentially lurking about taking Cignetti away from the Hoosiers, Indiana moved quickly to keep their coach in place to continue building its program. Arkansas is also looking for a new head coach.
Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti on the sideline against Oregon at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 11 in Eugene, Ore. (Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images)
Cignetti and the Hoosiers will look to remain undefeated this weekend in a matchup with Michigan State.
