Curt Cignetti’s new contract with Indiana is worth a staggering $93.2 million over eight years, but the fine print reveals a surprising out for the Hoosiers’ head coach if he ever decides to leave.
According to details released Tuesday and first reported by NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach, Cignetti’s extension includes a clause that could allow him to walk away without owing Indiana a dime under certain circumstances.
According to On3, Cignetti, or whichever school hires him, would owe Indiana $15 million if he departs before Nov. 30, 2026. That buyout then drops by $3 million annually until reaching $4 million between 2029 and 2030. It would be halved over the following two years before disappearing entirely by 2033, the final year of the deal. But there's a notable escape hatch.
Indiana must conduct a “good faith market review” within 120 days after each season in which the Hoosiers make the College Football Playoff semifinal. That review ensures Cignetti’s compensation ranks no lower than third among active FBS head coaches. If Indiana fails to meet that requirement, the buyout disappears and would make Cignetti a free agent to take another job without penalty.
Two interesting parts of Curt Cignetti’s new contract at Indiana: pic.twitter.com/4KsBq6P5xT
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 21, 2025
Cignetti will earn $11.6 million annually under his new deal. He's the third highest-paid behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Ohio State’s Ryan Day, according to USA TODAY Sports.
The contract also obligates Indiana to “make every reasonable effort” to maintain a top-tier salary pool for assistant coaches and support staff, keeping pace with the Big Ten’s top five and the nation’s top 10 programs.
Through a season and a half, Cignetti is 18-2 at Indiana with a 7-0 mark this fall and the school’s first-ever CFP appearance last year. The Hoosiers did everything to keep him, but the contract ensures he won’t be trapped if the market calls again.
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