Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is rapidly emerging as an unexpected NFL head-coaching candidate after leading the Hoosiers to a stunning 38-3 blowout of Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
Indiana controlled the game from the opening kick, building a 17-0 halftime lead and never relenting.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered a near-flawless performance, completing 14-of-16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, as the Hoosiers beat the Crimson Tide on college football’s biggest stage.
It's a long shot, but do the Raiders try to bring Cignetti to Vegas with Mendoza? I can't imagine he'd leave Indiana but...
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) January 1, 2026
The performance sparked immediate NFL chatter. FOX Sports analyst Jason McIntyre floated Cignetti as a potential option for the Las Vegas Raiders, who are trending toward the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are widely expected to target Mendoza.
The Raiders’ coaching situation appears unsettled. Pete Carroll was hired to boost the franchise and is widely viewed as a possible one-and-done after a disastrous 2-14 season. NFL Network reported Saturday it would be a “major surprise” if Carroll returns for a second year.
Cignetti’s resume continues to surge. He went 52-9 at James Madison from 2019-23 before arriving at Indiana and immediately turning the Hoosiers into a national title contender. Now undefeated and chasing a championship, Cignetti has become one of the hottest names in football.
Whether he makes the jump to the NFL remains unclear. But after dismantling Alabama under the brightest lights of Pasadena, Cignetti’s name is firmly on the radar.
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