Curt Cignetti just brought a national championship to Indiana football-and now he’s drawing a line in the sand when it comes to building the future of the program.
High school recruits are starting to look at Bloomington differently. Winning changes perception, and for the first time in a long time, Indiana feels like a destination-not a fallback. But if you think Cignetti is going to chase stars just because the Hoosiers have some shine, think again.
In a clip posted February 5, Cignetti laid it out plainly: if a player doesn’t fit the culture, he’s out-no matter how many stars are next to his name.
“The things that are important to us aren’t going to change, and that’s improving daily as much as you can,” Cignetti said. “I will turn away talent if I don’t think the work habits or commitment is there.”
That’s not coach-speak. That’s a blueprint-and it’s one he’s already used to build two playoff teams.
Indiana didn’t get here by winning recruiting battles on paper. They did it by dominating the transfer portal, bringing in players who know how to win and are willing to grind.
Cignetti’s approach is about more than just talent acquisition-it’s about fit. And that mindset has helped stabilize a program that once lived on the fringe of Big Ten relevance.
On The Triple Option podcast, Cignetti broke down how Indiana’s portal usage has evolved. Year one: 32 transfers.
Year two: 22. This offseason?
Just 17. That’s not a sign of regression-it’s a sign of growth.
“Now that we’re winning, the high school recruiting is getting better,” Cignetti said.
That shift means Indiana isn’t overhauling entire position groups anymore. They’re targeting key needs, not plugging holes with quick fixes. The foundation is stronger, the roster more complete, and the culture more defined.
Still, Cignetti isn’t about to compromise what got Indiana to this point. He’s not interested in five-star flash if it doesn’t come with five-star effort.
And that no-nonsense approach extends to how he runs his program day-to-day. Spring ball at Indiana doesn’t look like spring ball everywhere else-and that’s by design.
“I’ve never practiced 15 times in spring yet. I’ve never practiced 25 times in fall camp,” Cignetti said. “We’ll get enough done in 13 days.”
Urban Meyer asked how long those practices run. Cignetti’s answer? Rarely more than 90 minutes.
That’s not laziness-it’s efficiency. It’s about keeping players fresh, healthy, and ready for the long haul.
“That’s what I’m trying to do, keep them fresh and healthy because nobody has depth,” Cignetti said. “And I’ve never had a team that had enough depth.”
Former NFL wideout Torrey Smith caught the clip and gave it his stamp of approval: “My kind of coach! I swear too many coaches waste time and punish their players.”
Cignetti’s philosophy is clear: work smart, work hard, and don’t waste time chasing hype. That’s especially important with new faces like TCU quarterback Josh Hoover and Kansas State transfers Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor coming in this offseason. These aren’t just depth pieces-they’re expected to contribute right away.
And come September 5, when Indiana lines up against North Texas, Cignetti wants his team fresh, focused, and ready to roll-not worn down from spring reps that look good on a schedule but don’t translate to wins.
This is a program that’s finding its identity-and it starts at the top. Cignetti isn’t just recruiting players.
He’s building a culture. And if you’re not about that grind, you’re not getting in the door.