Matt Rhule isn’t shy about giving credit where it’s due - and right now, that credit is going straight to Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
On the latest episode of his House Rhules podcast, the Nebraska head coach didn’t hold back in praising what Cignetti has accomplished in his first season with the Hoosiers. And when you hear it from a fellow Big Ten coach who’s been in the trenches, the weight of that praise hits a little different.
“I can’t explain it,” Rhule said. “Nothing like this has ever happened.”
That’s not hyperbole - that’s a coach who knows how hard it is to win in this conference, looking across the sideline and seeing something special. Cignetti didn’t just bring a new vibe to Bloomington - he brought results.
Fast. According to Rhule, it all comes down to one thing: the guy leading the charge.
“You have to tip your cap to Coach Cignetti,” Rhule continued. “He came in, he called it, and he did it.”
Let’s be clear - this isn’t just coach-speak. Rhule’s admiration goes deeper than a soundbite.
He sees a program that was rebuilt on the fly, with a clear vision and execution to match. Cignetti brought in his players, his culture, and his expectations - and it’s working.
In a big way.
“I just think we all have to say to ourselves that Coach Cignetti has done something that is absolutely amazing,” Rhule said. “The rest of us are all chasing it.”
That’s about as candid as it gets in the coaching world. Rhule even acknowledged the broader landscape of Big Ten coaching hires - a wave of changes that included himself - and while he’s seen progress in Lincoln, he knows Cignetti has set a new bar.
“We’re doing better than some of the guys who got hired at the same time, so we should feel good about that,” Rhule said. “But when you look at Coach Cignetti and what he’s done, it’s like, it makes you not want to sleep at night.”
That’s the kind of respect that only comes from someone who understands the grind. Rhule knows what it takes to build a program, and he’s watching Cignetti do it at warp speed.
Then came the moment that’s probably already making the rounds on social media.
“If I’m keeping it real, bro… Coach Cignetti is making a lot of us look bad right now,” Rhule said. “So we’re going to chase it.
But I have to tip my hat to him because he’s done an amazing job. I’m anxious to see them in the [College Football] Playoff.”
That’s not just admiration - that’s motivation. And it speaks to the competitive fire that fuels coaches at this level. Rhule isn’t just watching from afar - he’s using Cignetti’s success as a measuring stick.
Indiana, of course, is heading to the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day - a stage that once felt worlds away for the Hoosiers. Now, it’s reality.
And if they can keep this run alive, it’s more than just a feel-good story. It’s a statement about where the Big Ten is heading.
One thing’s for sure: Curt Cignetti has turned Indiana into a team nobody can ignore. And if you ask Matt Rhule, he’s not just impressed - he’s inspired.