Curt Cignetti contract, explained: Why Indiana coach is in line for big 2026 raise thanks to Lane Kiffin

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has quickly emerged as one of college football's biggest names. In just two seasons as Indiana's head coach, he's led the Hoosiers to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances and has his team one win away from a national championship. With a victory over the Miami Hurricanes, Cignetti can lead the Hoosiers to a national title for the first time in school history.

Cignetti, who is 64 years old, is already one of college football's highest-paid coaches. But thanks to some specific language in his contract, he will be due for a raise regardless of whether Indiana wins on Monday night.

Here's a look at what Cignetti's contract will look like in 2026 and beyond.

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Curt Cignetti contract details

During an eventful coaching carousel season that saw the likes of huge jobs like Penn State, LSU, and Florida open, Indiana locked its head coach down. In early November Cignetti signed a contract extension with Indiana that goes through the 2033 season. The new deal, at the time, made him one of college football's highest-paid head coaches.  

Salary

Cignetti's annual salary for 2025-26, per Indiana, is $11.6 million. His new salary, at the time of his extension, made him college football's third-highest paid coach in the country, behind Ohio Sate's Ryan Day and Georgia's Kirby Smart.

But that has since changed since LSU' hiring of Lane Kiffin, and his contract with the Tigers. But we will get to more into that in a bit.   

Bonuses

Cignetti has also earned quite a few bonuses with Indiana's 2025 season. 

When he signed his extension, he earned a $250,000 signing bonus. He also got an extra $1.5 million in Big Ten bonuses, including another $1 million in CFP-related bonuses. Additionally, winning awards like the Big Ten coach of the year and AP coach of the year combined for $150,000. Here's a breakdown of some of his bonuses from 2025-26: 

• 5th Big Ten win: $100,000 bonus 
• 6th Big Ten win: $150,000 bonus 
• Big Ten championship game winner: $1,000,000 bonus
• CFP first round appearance: $500,000
• CFP quarterfinal appearance: $600,000
• CFP semifinal appearance: $700,000
• CFP national runner-up: $1,000,000
• CFP national champions: $2,000,000

MORE: Indiana vs. Miami recruiting breakdown

How much money did Curt Cignetti make in 2025?

Cignetti made $11.6 as a base salary, and reportedly made $3 million in bonuses already in early January. So for 2025 and his bonuses in early 2026, Cignetti has made at least $14.6 million. If Indiana wins it all, he will be given another $2 million in bonus money. 

MORE: Indiana is responsible for two of the biggest blowouts in CFP history

Curt Cignetti-Lane Kiffin contract clause

We mentioned Kiffin going to LSU. The Tigers signed the former Ole Miss head coach to a seven-year contract that will pay him $13 million annually. The deal makes Kiffin the second-highest paid head coach in the country, behind Georgia's Kirby Smart, and right in front of Ohio State's Ryan Day. 

Kiffin's new contract will automatically trigger a Cignetti raise. That's because as part of the coach's "good faith market review" clause in his contract, Indiana is obligated to make him greater to or equal to the nation's third highest-paid coach. The clause went into effect after Indiana's Rose Bowl win over Alabama.  Here's how it reads, via 247Sports: 

"Good Faith Market Review: Beginning with the 2025 collegiate football season, the parties agree to complete a good faith review and negotiation of Coach's compensation within 120 days after the Team appears in the CFP (or surviving system) Semi-Final Game.

After said review and negotiation, if the parties fail to reach an agreement for a market adjustment of Coach's compensation and the University did not offer terms that would make Coach's annual compensation no less than third (3rd) amongst active head coaches at institutions which are eligible to compete for the CFP (or surviving system), the University agrees to waive for the remaining

Term of this Agreement any liquidated damages which would be due from Coach to the University should he subsequently terminate his employment at the University. For purposes of this provision, the average compensation per year (APY) over the remaining term shall be used as the primary market comparison. The parties agree to jointly engage, if needed, an independent valuation expert to assist with determining market valuations (the valuation expert's opinion shall be non binding)."

MORE: Where does Curt Cignetti rank on the list of college football's highest-paid coaches?

Curt Cignetti raises by year 

Indiana's head coach has seen quite the pay increase over the last few years. From 2017-18 he was the head coach at Elon, before spending the next four seasons at James Madison. 

Highest-paid coaches in college football

Here's a look at the highest-paid coaches in college football, including Kiffin's new deal:

1.  Kirby Smart, Georgia: $13.28 million
2.  Lane Kiffin, LSU: $13 million
3. Ryan Day, Ohio State: $12.58 million
4.  Curt Cignetti, Indiana: $11.6 million
5.  Lincoln Riley, USC $11.54 million
6. Dabo Swinney, Clemson $11.45 million
7.  Mike Elko, Texas A&M: $11 million)
8. Steve Sarkisian, Texas: $10.8 million
9. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri: $10.75 million
10. Dan Lanning, Oregon: $10.6 million