When Indiana began winning games, the CFB community initially believed that they were just lucky victories. However, as the Hoosier’s winning streak continued until week 9, everyone realized they had what it took to be a rated group. Review their records! Without leaving any crumbs, they destroyed teams like Washington (31-17) and Nebraska (56-7). The sights are now on their November 3 matchup with Michigan State, which might award Curt Cignetti a postseason trip. But, hold on. Naturally, with performances come attention, and that is not limited to the players. Even the head coach and other members of the coaching staff can get poached by superior programs. 

Five days ago, Curt stated, “I got everything I want here My wife likes it they have supported the program we’ve had money for nil and obviously we’ve had success in this you know the second-best conference in the country in the Big 10.”

So, even if he had a better opportunity, would he never leave Indiana?

“What if people call them this off-season? What if other bigger jobs, let’s say Florida open up and they call Curt Cignetti? And most people go well. It’s like you just got to take the job cuz, historically, 100%. Now with nil and the transfer portal.” Middlekauff asked a simple question.

However, not only Curt, but the entire state of Indiana is on high alert because, when a program achieves success, like Indiana’s in the coach’s first season as head coach, both the coach and their offensive coordinators, or DCs, become targets for many. So, Cignetti and his staff might be stolen elsewhere.

Describing that situation, Middlekauff said, “I look today both of his coordinators Mike Shanahan is his offensive coordinator. Who graduated college in 2012 and played football at Pitt, so he’s a younger guy. Their defensive coordinator Bryant Haynes is probably my age. We graduated college same year 2008, so he’s 39, 40 years old. Are they going to be able to keep their two coordinators cuz historically no chance and what do most college coaches do when they need an OC or a DC they look around to the best teams in the country that aren’t Texas or Ohio State or Alabama.“

Therefore, John is raising concerns for Curt and creating a scenario in which he might be recruited elsewhere due to his low income, which would make it difficult for him to stay for very long. Consequently, there is a chance he or his employees may be lured away by teams with greater funding. And given the current state of CFB, FSU has a good possibility of making Curt Cignetti an offer because Mike Norvell, a coach at FSU, is the only coach whose job is in greater danger.

Curt Cignetti’s use of NIL for succeeding at the Hoosiers

8-0 doesn’t happen that often in college football, and especially not when you are in your first season. Ask Kalen DeBoer, heck, ask Nick Saban. It didn’t happen for them at Bama. Similarly for other coaches. It takes a while before you find your feet in a program. But these are new times. You may get handed a poor roster; a smart recruiting can change everything, and that’s what Curt Cignetti did at the Hoosiers.

Since the time he has been at the Hoosiers, Cignetti has overseen 31 transfers. All the key names that have been vital to the 8-0 start. Let’s take you one by one. The most important position? QB? Well, Kurtis Rourke transferred from Ohio. Defensive tackle CJ West arrived in Indians from Kent State. We have D’Angelo Ponds from James Madison. That’s what a good program does. You have your mainstays (such as Carter Smith and Donaven McCulley), and then you add some weapons. What do you get? 8-0 baby!!

Cignetti has been open about how the program leveraged NIL, saying that he got “a lot more than what I was promised.” But it’s not just NIL. What also matters in modern recruiting is the person at the top of the job- the head coach, and that’s where Cignetti has helped the program bridge the gap with other Big 10 teams, and long may it continue.