“And they lived happily ever after”. That’s how most fairy tales end. They leave no margin for nuance to ensue in the future, suggesting prosperity is linear and perpetual. However, that’s a far cry from reality. Prosperity often comes in short, maybe even one-off bursts in the real world. Very averse concepts on both sides. Now, the Indiana Hoosiers’ run in year 1 of the Curt Cignetti era has been nothing short of a fairy tale. It appears that a convergence of these two averse concepts may indeed be taking effect in Bloomington.

You’d be forgiven for thinking IU’s 2024 season is a one-off. Cignetti has somehow caught lightning in a bottle and mustered a 3-9 team last year to the CFP. But the program may well be on its way to sustaining this success after all. A huge proponent of their success has been Cignetti, leaning on the transfer portal. He’s received a proverbial battery in the back of his efforts on the recruitment front beyond just the portal. Revered CFB player turned analyst Adam Breneman has revealed some enticing information.

In a post shared on X, Breneman listed the top programs in the country in terms of their NIL arsenal. It was no surprise to see some of the usual suspects there. Bluebloods and perennial powerhouses such as Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Texas filled the top half of this 13-team list. Speaking of bluebloods, one school quite literally appeared out of the blue. Indiana was in 12th place, slotting in between Penn State and Michigan State. Breneman also acknowledged this pleasant shock.

“Indiana raising $13M in NIL funding in 2024 is wild. Same amount as Penn State. Great work by @CCignettiIU. Money = WINS!” wrote Adam Breneman. While NIL funding doesn’t necessarily translate to wins, it sure is a helping hand. With a large proportion of Indiana’s roster comprising seniors, including star QB Kurtis Rourke, a NIL war chest will go a long way for Cignetti to prolong his success into the future.

It is worth mentioning that while the source of this information is conspicuous, its legitimacy isn’t quite. The disposition of Oregon outside the top 13 also irks questions about this. That said, it is a reference point for the overarching landscape in the CFB sphere. The advent of NIL does make it a more level playing field for “smaller” programs to compete with the likes of Alabama and Michigan. Curt Cignetti has already ruffled feathers, but he hopes to continue IU’s upward trajectory going forward. The resources will allow him to onboard the required personnel to continue this fairy tale year with a sequel.

What are the sources of Indiana’s riches in the NIL realm?

Curt Cignetti has been an early adopter of NIL. While coaches of his generation remain skeptic, it’s his efforts to be ahead of the curve from the onset that has propelled Hoosiers football to its newfound heights. Before they even hired him, IU already had a framework in place to garner funds for NIL and then channeled that into their proposal for Cignetti and how he can build a winning program.

IU draws its NIL funding from a plethora of sources. These include both individuals and corporations. A number of notable Indiana alumni, including Mark Cuban, have contributed. Even Fans play a part through ticket sales, merchandise and donations. Two of the biggest factors are the Hoosiers Connect and Hoosiers for Good initiatives. These provide athletes with opportunities to connect with potential sponsors and partnerships. The Hoosiers for Good initiative specifically aligns these athletes with charities and other philanthropic organisations.

With NIL still in its infancy, it will be fascinating to see how schools conjure different mediums to support the rapidly rising figures in some of these deals. Bryce Underwood, for instance, is reportedly set to receive upwards of $10 million over his tenure at Michigan. This is the level that Indiana has to compete with in the B1G. The signs seem to be boding well for them to do just that.