- Three publications ranked Curt Cignetti among the best college football coaches in the country. Here’s where the IU coach lands.
Curt Cignetti‘s first season as Indiana football coach seemed unimaginable one year ago: 11 wins, a top-10 national ranking and a College Football Playoff appearance.
Does that make him one of the nation’s 10 best coaches?
Cignetti is getting mentioned on lists with elites such as Ohio State‘s Ryan Day, Notre Dame‘s Marcus Freeman and several others from the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences.
Offense:Projecting IU’s two-deep depth chart ahead of spring practice
Why leave?:Cignetti didn’t have any issues retaining Indiana players
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Where Indiana’s Curt Cignetti ranks among college football coaches nationally
Andy Staples, On3: 12th
“Google him. He wins. Cignetti knew he’d be an excellent head coach even when no one else did. So he went from Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania to FCS Elon to FCS-then-FBS James Madison before landing in the Big Ten at Indiana. Is it fair to expect another 11-win season right away? Probably not. Should we expect the Hoosiers to stay good with Cignetti there? Absolutely.”
“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.”
Chris Wasser, Rotoballer: 10th
“This is simply not an easy list to compile. Coaches like Kalen DeBoer, Brian Kelly and others were left off this top 10. Each one can make a case, along with several others, to belong. However, there is something about Curt Cignetti. For better or for worse, one believes in the coach.
“Look at what Indiana managed this year. Yes, its playoff showing was not great but it made the playoff when schools like Ole Miss and Alabama did not.
“Now, Cignetti faces the same question coaches like this often do. OK, can you do it again? Indiana has a chance, although Michigan and Ohio State may have something to say about that, for starters. One thing is a given: Indiana will be a story in and of itself in 2025.”
Indiana football 2025 schedule
Aug. 30: vs. Old Dominion
Sept. 6: vs. Kennesaw State
Sept. 13: vs. Indiana State
Sept. 20: vs. Illinois
Sept. 27: at Iowa
Oct. 11: at Oregon
Oct. 18: vs. Michigan State
Oct. 25: vs. UCLA
Nov. 1: at Maryland
Nov. 8: at Penn State
Nov. 15: vs. Wisconsin
Nov. 29: at Purdue
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