Curt Cignetti national championship speech: IU coach explains gutsy decision to go for 4th down late in game

Jake Mozarsky

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Curt Cignetti national championship speech: IU coach explains gutsy decision to go for 4th down late in game image

First, it was “I win, Google me.” Now, for Curt Cignetti, it’s “We won the National Championship at Indiana University. It can be done.”

The moment that turned that bold promise into reality came on a cold-blooded fourth-and-five in the fourth quarter, with the weight of a century for the Hoosiers hanging in the balance. Leading by just three points and facing a stingy Miami defense in the red zone, Cignetti ignored the safe field goal and put the game — and the championship — squarely on the shoulders of his Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza. It was the ultimate “all-in” move from a coach who hasn’t blinked since arriving in Bloomington.

When Mendoza took the snap on a designed draw and rumbled 12 yards through his hometown crowd to the end zone, it did more than just push the lead to 24-14. It served as the final, emphatic exclamation point on the greatest turnaround in the history of the sport. By choosing to go for the throat rather than play for the tie, Cignetti proved that his faith in his Heisman winner was as unshakable as his belief that Indiana belonged on the mountaintop.

MORE: How Indiana's defense carried them to a national title

That single play — a collision of Cignetti’s bravado and Mendoza’s grit — is the reason the Hoosiers are now, for the first time ever, the undisputed kings of college football.

Here's more on what the coach had to say about the decision as he lifted the trophy.

MORE: Indiana wins first ever National Championship over Miami

Curt Cignetti national championship speech

After the confetti started falling down and the Hoosiers were national champions, Cignetti took it all in and delivered one of the best quotes sports have seen in a while.

When asked about the call in specific, Cignetti said, "the coverage before they were in was the coverage for that play to work. We put it in for this game. It was quarterback draw, but it was blocked differently. We rolled the dice... We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got into the end zone."

Cignetti ends a remarkable two-game stretch where he compiled a 27-2 record, leading Indiana to its first ever national championship, first ever No. 1 ranking and first outright Big Ten title since 1945.

MORE: Indiana Hoosiers just completed best story in college football history

Curt Cignetti 4th-down call

With the championship on the line, Cignetti’s 4th-down gamble solidified his status as a college football mastermind. Facing a 4th & 4 at the Miami 12-yard line with just over nine minutes remaining, Cignetti initially sent his kicking unit onto the field before calling a timeout to reconsider. In a move that defined the win now culture he brought to Bloomington, he sent the offense back out, placing the game’s biggest moment in the hands of his Heisman winner.

The play call was a specially installed quarterback draw that caught the Miami defense off guard. Mendoza, a pocket passer not typically known for his legs, took the snap and bulldozed through the middle of the Hurricanes' front. He broke multiple tackles and went airborne at the goal line, lunging forward to extend the ball across the plane for a 12-yard touchdown that pushed Indiana’s lead to 24-14.

That single decision by Cignetti effectively broke the game open. While Miami would later cut the lead to three, Mendoza’s 4th-down  scramble provided the necessary cushion for Indiana to survive. It was the crowning moment of a 16-0 season, proving that Cignetti’s aggressive philosophy wasn't just talk — it was the blueprint for the greatest turnaround in the history of the sport.

MORE: How Fernando Mendoza's TD run became CFP title game's defining moment

Curt Cignetti contract details

Cignetti is one of the highest paid coaches in the sport after an extension he signed in late-October.

Thanks to an eight-year, $93.25 million extension signed in October 2025, and unique clauses triggered by his undefeated season, Cignetti’s financial standing has undergone a transformation as dramatic as Indiana’s win-loss record.

The contract keeps Cignetti in Bloomington through November 30, 2033. Prior to the championship, his average annual compensation was approximately $11.6 million, though his base salary actually sits at $500,000 supplemented by millions in marketing and promotional income. The deal includes a significant $1 million annual retention bonus that increases to $1.25 million per year after 2029.

His victory in the National Championship game earned him a $2 million performance bonus, the maximum allowed under the incentive structure of his deal. Beyond his personal pay, the contract mandates that Indiana provides a top-tier salary pool for assistant coaches and support staff to maintain the program's competitive edge.

Contributing Writer