Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti declares ‘best season in Indiana history,’ but says Hoosiers must earn everything moving forward

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti didn’t hesitate to make a bold proclamation on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

“Year one is in the books. 126 years of Indiana football. Best season in Indiana history. No. 1 out of 126,” Cignetti said Wednesday.

Coming off one of the most remarkable first-year turnarounds in college football, the 2024 Home Depot National Coach of the Year quickly redefined Bloomington's expectations. But Cignetti made it clear that the accolades from 2024 mean nothing in 2025 unless the Hoosiers keep earning it.

After inheriting a struggling program, the former James Madison coach brought immediate results, revitalizing the Hoosiers on the field and beyond.

“It’s helped the university at all levels, fundraising, academics, athletics, you name it,” Cignetti said. “Indiana has the second-largest alumni base in America after Texas. There was a lot of Hoosier pride out there.”

That pride translated into momentum on the recruiting trail. Where Indiana once had to sell promises, Cignetti said, now the results speak for themselves.

“All the Coach Cignetti pictures in the buildings on game days get them off the walls,” he said. “Everything is earned, not given now. Nothing good in life comes easy. What’s cheap won’t last. What lasts isn’t cheap.”

Cignetti stressed a team-first mentality as Indiana looks to build on last year’s success in its second season under his leadership.

“You can’t ever have any selfishness on your team, regardless of who it is,” Cignetti said. “Personal goals are secondary to team goals. When a team is successful, everyone benefits.”

A big piece of the puzzle will be quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a transfer from Cal who joined the program with experience, mobility, and a strong arm.

“I watched a lot of his Cal tape. He’s played a lot of good football, has size, mobility, a quick release, and can extend plays,” Cignetti said. “He’s smart, and I really liked what I saw from him at the end of spring.”

Cignetti noted that Mendoza’s younger brother Alberto was committed to play for him at James Madison, which helped fuel the connection.

Indiana’s success in 2024 also helped raise the program’s national profile.

“We were selling promises in year one. Now we’ve put it on the field,” Cignetti said. “We had better-looking athletes walking through the doors, and it’s helped the university at all levels. Hoosier pride is real.”

Still, Cignetti is focused on what’s ahead, not what’s behind.

“Talking season will end here soon, and then let’s play the games and see where it stands at the end of the year,” he said.