2024 In Review

With the hiring of Curt Cignetti the 2024 Indiana football program has reach heights of which have never been experienced. 

During the bye week prior to the Ohio State game Indiana agreed to a contract extension with Curt Cignetti amid the Hoosiers' unprecedented 10-0 start.

Cignetti's new eight-year contract runs through the 2032 season and will pay him an average of $8 million per year with an annual $1 million retention bonus, putting the total value of the new contract at $72 million.

"I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson," Cignetti said in a statement. 

Highlights and milestone moments in 2024 include:

Indiana's 77 - 3 victory over Western Illinois in Week 2 was the most lopsided in            school history and its 56-7 win over Nebraska six weeks later matched the school             record for margin of victory in league play until the 66-0 win over Purdue.

The Hoosiers 42-13 win over UCLA was their first ever at the Rose Bowl.

Indiana became the first bowl eligible team in the nation with a 41-24 victory at Northwestern.

They scored at least 40 points, eight times, won ten times by 14 or more points and have trailed only briefly all season.

They claim possession of both the Old Brass Spittoon and The Old Oaken Bucket with wins over rivals Michigan State and Purdue. 

The No. 5 rank in the polls In Week #13 is the highest placement in program history, 

The 66-0 victory over Purdue were the most points scored in the Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket and the first shutout since 1945 when Indiana won the Big Ten title.

Indiana's Offense Ledd the FBS in

Touchdowns scored (68) and

Passing Efficiency (179.08)

Cignetti was voted as the Big Ten and National coach of the year 

A total of eleven players were named to Big Ten honors.

A total of 21 high school freshmen were signed as part of the '24/'25 recruiting class on the first day of national signing day. 

Participating in the College Football Playoff would be a first in school history.  Ranked 8th and seeded 10th the Hoosiers traveled to South Bend to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20th.  

The Hoosiers finished with the most wins in program history.

postscript Indiana's two looses were to Ohio State and Notre Dame who would face each other for the 2025 National Championship with Ohio State winning 34-23.

 

    

College Football Playoffs

For the first time ever, Indiana is headed to the College Football Playoff. IU ranked #8 seeded number 10 will play at #7 Notre Dame in the first round on Friday December 20 at 8 pm at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend IN. The game will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

The winner of the first-round game will advance to face #2 Georgia. That game would be played on January 1 at 8:45 pm on ESPN in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA

Image copyright The Sporting News and Indiana University Athletics 

  

Curt Cignetti

 

Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson named Curt Cignetti the 30th head football coach in program history.

Cignetti posted an 11-1 record in 2023, his fifth season as James Madison head coach. He had an overall mark of 52-9 (.853), including a 19-4 run over 2022 and 2023, JMU's first two years as an FBS program.

Prior to his stint at James Madison, Cignetti amassed a 14-9 record in two years at Elon, a program that went 12-45 in the previous five campaigns. The Phoenix qualified for the FCS Playoffs in both seasons, just the second and third playoff berths in program history (2009).

Cignetti led Elon to a six-win improvement in 2017, going 8-4 and finishing second in the CAA at 6-2. He was named Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year as the Phoenix reached the postseason and finished 20th in the national rankings.

Cignetti's inaugural head-coaching opportunity came at IUP, where his father, Frank Cignetti Sr., patrolled the sidelines for 20 years. He went 53-17 with three playoff appearances and four Top 25s in six campaigns.

“We are going to change the culture, the mindset, the expectation level and the brand of Indiana Hoosiers football and there will be no self-imposed limitations on what we can accomplish. It’ll be a day-by-day process that is hinged on being focused on the present moment and improving as much as possible on a daily basis to put yourself in the best position, tomorrow. It’s how we do everything as coaches, players…everybody in the organization and there is one leader and he’s standing right here and everybody follows that lead. That’s one of the keys to success…We get everybody thinking alike.”

COACHING EXPERIENCE
James Madison University
2019-23: Head Coach
Elon University
2017-18: Head Coach
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
2011-16: Head Coach

University of Alabama
2007-10: Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers

North Carolina State University
2000-06: Recruiting Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Tight Ends

University of Pittsburgh
1993-99: Quarterbacks/Tight Ends

Temple University
1989-92: Quarterbacks

Rice University
1986-88: Quarterbacks

Davidson College
1985: Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers

University of Pittsburgh
1983-84: Graduate Assistant

Source:

Indiana University Athletics