College football fans have long debated the merits of Kirby Smart versus Ryan Day, but recent events have shifted the conversation dramatically. Indiana's remarkable 16-0 season, capped by a 27-21 victory over Miami for the national title, has thrust head coach Curt Cignetti into the spotlight. Transforming the Hoosiers from a 3-9 team to national champions, Cignetti now holds a $105 million contract, a testament to his impact on the program.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt recently updated his top coach rankings for 2026, placing Cignetti at the pinnacle. According to Klatt, this isn't just an opinion-it's a fact. Indiana's extraordinary run has solidified Cignetti's status, and his $13.2 million annual salary through 2033 places him alongside the sport's elite, including Kirby Smart.
Reflecting on the achievement, Cignetti remarked, “We’re 16-0, national champions at Indiana University, which I know a lot of people thought was never possible.” His record at Indiana stands at an impressive 27-2, with both losses occurring on the road against teams that made it to the national championship game.
Klatt's rankings also scrutinized coaches like Dan Lanning, Marcus Freeman, Lane Kiffin, and Kyle Whittingham, but none surpassed Cignetti. The debate has decisively moved to Bloomington, marking a seismic shift in the coaching landscape.
The ripple effect of Indiana's success was immediate. A Power 4 athletic director told the New York Times, “One word created this much churn: Indiana.” The 2025-26 coaching carousel saw 34 total changes, with 17 at the Power 4 level-a significant increase from the previous cycle.
Athletic directors are feeling the heat from donors eager to replicate Indiana's rapid rise. As one AD bluntly put it, “If Indiana can do it, why the hell can’t my place do it?”
Cignetti's journey from earning under $700,000 at James Madison to his current lucrative contract underscores the shifting dynamics in college football. Joel Klatt's endorsement of him as the top coach is just one more piece of the puzzle that the sport is still coming to terms with.