If you're wondering just how much a national championship season means to Indiana fans, here's your answer: $112,000. That’s what one die-hard supporter shelled out for Curt Cignetti’s game-worn headset from IU’s historic title run - a piece of sideline history that now stands as one of the most unique and high-priced memorabilia sales in recent college football memory.
The headset, worn by Cignetti during every snap of Indiana’s undefeated 16-0 season, went up for auction on Bison Drop, a relatively new online platform that specializes in IU Athletics memorabilia, experiences, and gear. And in the final hour of bidding, the price skyrocketed - jumping nearly $90,000 as fans jockeyed for a one-of-a-kind artifact from the Hoosiers' championship campaign.
Let’s put this in perspective: this wasn’t just any headset. This was the headset.
The one Cignetti wore as he orchestrated game plans, made real-time adjustments, and navigated IU through a dream season that ended with a national title win over Miami. Every play call, every moment of intensity, every sideline stare - it all came through that headset.
The auction listing captured the sentiment perfectly: “Feet planted. Arms set.
Headset on.” For Hoosier fans, it’s more than just equipment - it’s a symbol of belief, execution, and history.
Bison Drop, the platform behind the sale, is operated by Our Threads, LLC, an Indiana-based company working in direct partnership with IU Athletics. Every item on the site is officially authenticated by the university, and athletes benefit through formal NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) agreements tied to the gear. It’s a modern twist on fan engagement - and a clever way to keep Indiana competitive in the ever-shifting NIL landscape.
The platform has been running weekly auctions, Monday through Sunday, offering everything from game-used footballs and sideline towels to autographed memorabilia. They’ve even leaned into social media giveaways to build buzz and keep fans connected.
But this headset sale? That’s a new high-water mark, both in terms of price and significance.
And it aligns with the message Cignetti delivered loud and clear after hoisting the trophy: Indiana can’t afford to fall behind in the NIL arms race.
“I would like to say that our NIL is nowhere near where people think it is,” Cignetti said in his post-championship press conference. “So you can throw that out.”
Translation: the Hoosiers are winning on the field, but they know the off-field game - especially in the NIL era - is just as important. Platforms like Bison Drop are part of that strategy, giving fans a tangible way to support the program while owning a slice of history.
$112,000 for a headset might sound wild. But for Indiana fans, it’s a price worth paying to hold onto a piece of the magic.