Curt Cignetti has spent two years turning Indiana into one of college football’s biggest stories, but he’s not walking into this season with any kind of victory lap.
That fits his style. Cignetti has built his reputation on a blunt approach, sky-high standards and an obsessive eye for detail, and Indiana has thrived under it.
He is 27-2 in two seasons with the Hoosiers, and last year’s perfect 16-0 run ended with a historic National Championship. The program’s national image has changed fast, and Indiana is once again being talked about as a contender.
Even with all of that, Cignetti isn’t assuming anything about what comes next.
Speaking on ESPN’s College GameDay, he made it clear that last season’s title is not something he plans to carry into this one as a crutch.
"I'd like to think we're good and okay, but I don't really know," said Cignetti.
Indiana’s opener, against North Texas, gives him and his staff the first real chance to see where this team stands. The Hoosiers are among the preseason favorites to chase another national title, but Cignetti is keeping the focus on the basics: preparation, mindset and respect for the opponent.
“It all begins with being prepared and having the right mindset, which I think we do," Cignetti told FOX's Jenny Taft on Saturday morning. "And respect for the opponent. We all saw Rutgers-UMass, right?”
That was a clear reference to Rutgers’ 37-21 loss to UMass on Thursday night, a result that stunned the college football world. Rutgers was a 29.5-point favorite at home and still lost by 16, despite reportedly paying UMass $1.55 million for the game. It was a rough night for Greg Schiano’s team, and Cignetti used it as a reminder that nothing gets handed out in this sport.
Indiana fans have plenty of reasons to believe Year 3 can be another big one. Cignetti is bringing back his entire coaching staff, along with key players such as WR Charlie Becker, OT Carter Smith, LB Rolijah Hardy and DT Tyrique Tucker. On top of that, the Hoosiers added the No.1-ranked transfer portal class in the country, according to On3.
So the ingredients are there for another serious run. But for Cignetti, it starts the same way it always has: no assumptions, no shortcuts, and no overlooking what’s in front of Indiana in Week 1.
In Other News...
Curt Cignetti Sends Early Message As IU Receiver Breaks Out
Davion Chandlers early-season burst has given Indiana another playmaker to lean on, and the freshman wideout has already made a big impression with just two catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. His latest score came with a little extra flair after he spiked the ball in celebration, a moment that fit the energy of a receiver who has quickly turned limited touches into game-changing production.
Curt Cignetti took the opportunity to reinforce the standard he wants his team to follow, making clear that Indiana prefers group celebrations over individual ones. It was not a new message from the head coach, either, since he has already addressed similar reactions from other players and made sure Chandler understood where that line is drawn. For a Hoosiers offense trying to build an identity, the playmaking matters, but so does the way the moment is handled afterward. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Loses Khobie Martin And The Backfield Question Gets Real
Curt Cignetti confirmed Monday that Indiana will be without running back Khobie Martin for a stretch after the arm injury he picked up in the season opener, with the junior expected back around midseason. Martin went down early and never got a carry before leaving the game, a frustrating turn for a back the Hoosiers had hoped to lean on as they settled into the fall.
For now, the backfield belongs to Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard, who are positioned to carry the load while Indiana adjusts. It is the kind of early-season setback that can change the shape of an offense quickly, and it leaves the Hoosiers with a real chance to learn something about their depth before Martin is able to rejoin the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Suddenly Has An Early Depth Problem It Can't Ignore
Indianas second week of the season is already carrying the kind of injury uncertainty that can force a staff to rethink its rotation before the calendar even settles in. The Hoosiers are dealing with multiple bumps from the opener, with starting cornerbacks Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris both leaving early and listed day-to-day, while running back Khobie Martin is expected to be out for several weeks before a midseason return.
The ripple effects do not stop there. Indiana also has questions at tight end and along the defensive line, where Trevor Gibbs and Blake Smythe are among the players sidelined but potentially on a quicker path back. For a team still trying to establish rhythm in the first stretch of the 2026 season, the issue is not just who can play next week - it is how long the Hoosiers can keep absorbing these losses before the depth chart starts to look thinner in the places that matter most. [Read more 🡒]