Indiana’s Curt Cignetti gets 8-year extension amid Penn State coaching rumors

abdulmanannet77@gmail.comOctober 16, 2025

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Indiana’s Curt Cignetti gets 8-year extension amid Penn State coaching rumors

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If the Nittany Lions were counting on Curt Cignetti to go to State College, they need to go to plan B.

Indiana University has 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 contract is worth $93 million over eight years, which pays him about $11.6 million per season. The contract runs until November 30, 2033.

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Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti enters Kinnick Stadium before a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on September 27. (Jeffrey Becker/Imagn Images)

The extension comes after rumors that Cignetti is a coach Penn State could pursue to replace James Franklin, who was fired after three straight losses this season.

“At Indiana University, we are committed to performing at the highest level in everything we do, and no one has exemplified that better than Coach Cignetti,” Indiana University President Pamela Whitten said in a statement. “Simply put, Cig is a winner.”

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Cignetti is behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($13.3 million per season) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day ($12.6 million).

“From making last year’s College Football Playoff to this year’s top 3 national ranking, the success of the IU football program has been tremendous. Curt and Manette Cignetti call Indiana home and are excited that the Cignetti family will be Hoosiers for many years to come,” Whitten continued.

Cignetti transformed the Hoosiers football program. He earned national and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors last season after Indiana finished 11-1 during the regular season to reach the College Football Playoff. They were eliminated 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 against Oregon at Autzen Stadium Oct. 11 in Eugene, Oregon. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)

This season, with Heisman favorite Fernando Mendoza leading the way at quarterback, the Hoosiers are 6-0. Only Ohio State has the same record in the Big Ten through six games.

Indiana’s recent victory over Oregon on its home field in Bloomington cemented the Hoosiers as national title contenders this season.

Before the extension, Cignetti was making $8.3 million this season with no bonuses in his contract. This is the 18th highest number in college football and the 7th highest in the Big Ten.

So while Penn State looked to potentially lure Cignetti away from the Hoosiers, Indiana moved quickly to keep its coach in place to continue building its program. Arkansas is also looking for a new head coach.