When Curt Cignetti led Indiana onto the field for last month’s College Football Playoff national championship game, he probably didn’t expect his headset to become one of the most valuable pieces of memorabilia in recent college football history. But that’s exactly what happened.
On Sunday, the headset Cignetti wore during the game sold at auction for a staggering $112,500. Let that sink in - a six-figure sum for a piece of sideline equipment.
The auction, run by Bison Drop, a new memorabilia platform that works directly with IU athletes for promotional support, saw a dramatic bidding war unfold in its final hours. At around 2 p.m., the top bid sat at $22,000.
By the time the gavel metaphorically dropped six hours later, the number had jumped nearly $90,000.
That kind of late surge isn’t just rare - it’s the kind of frenzy you usually see reserved for iconic jerseys or championship rings. But this headset? It became a symbol of something bigger: Indiana football’s rise under Cignetti and the growing appetite for authentic, game-used memorabilia in the NIL era.
The concept behind the auction came from Pete Yonkman, a longtime figure in Indiana’s NIL landscape. Yonkman, who previously chaired Hoosiers Connect - the school’s NIL collective - has been instrumental in shaping IU’s evolving approach to name, image, and likeness. With the Collegiate Sports Commission’s new clearinghouse pushing programs toward fair market value standards, Bison Drop is part of Indiana’s effort to stay ahead of the curve.
And it’s not just about headsets. Bison Drop offers a range of items - game-worn gear, patches, footballs, and even water bottles.
One of the more unique listings? A game-worn belt from defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
If that doesn’t scream “collector’s niche,” nothing does.
Still, Cignetti’s headset stands alone. Not only is it believed to be a record-setting sale for a single item on the platform, but it also signals just how much value fans are placing on tangible pieces of this historic IU football run. It’s more than just equipment - it’s a piece of the moment, a token from the sideline of the biggest game in program history.
In a college football landscape where NIL is reshaping the relationship between players, programs, and fans, this auction is a glimpse into the future. It’s not just about autographs and appearances anymore.
It’s about owning a piece of the story. And for one bidder, that story was worth every penny.