Curt Cignetti is set to become college football’s highest-paid coach with Indiana defeating Miami 27-21 in the College Football Playoff national championship, with his compensation projected to reach at least $14 million next season.
In just two seasons, Curt Cignetti has authored one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the sport’s history, lifting the Indiana Hoosiers from long-standing irrelevance to the brink of a national title. Indiana entered the title game unbeaten and chasing its first championship, a remarkable rise under a 64-year-old coach once viewed as a career journeyman.
The on-field success has been matched by a seismic shift in Cignetti’s financial standing. Former ESPN reporter Darren Rovell noted that before arriving in Bloomington, Cignetti earned roughly $3.5 million total across 41 seasons as a college coach. A victory over the Miami Hurricanes would ensure his pay next season does not fall below $14 million, placing him atop the highest-paid coaches list.
Before being hired at Indiana, Curt Cignetti earned roughly $3.5 million total over 41 seasons as a college coach.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 20, 2026
If he wins tonight, his contract won't be less than $14 million next season.
As of right now, Georgia's Kirby Smart is the highest-paid at $13.2 million. Cignetti is projected to pass him up after the undefeated season.
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Indiana moved aggressively to secure its coach amid outside interest last fall, finalizing an extension in October that pays $11.15 million in the first year of an eight-year agreement. The deal carries an average annual value of approximately $11.6 million and runs through Nov. 30, 2033.
The figures underscore the magnitude of Cignetti’s ascent. In his final season at James Madison in 2023, he earned $677,311. His original Indiana contract was worth six years and $27 million, beginning at $4 million annually. In just three seasons, his salary has increased by more than 1,600%.
The $93 million contract is fully guaranteed and includes a $15 million buyout should Cignetti resign. A key clause required Indiana to negotiate his pay into the top tier of college football if the Hoosiers reached a CFP semifinal, which they surpassed.
Indiana completes a 16-0 season and claims its first national title with the transformation complete. For Cignetti, the gamble on himself has paid off in historic fashion.
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