Is IU football coach Curt Cignetti a quarterback whisperer?
The son of a college coach, a quarterback at West Virginia from 1979 to 1982, and a more than 40-year coach himself, Cignetti seems to have the position down to a science.
You know about Fernando Mendoza and Kurtis Rourke, but the last two IU quarterbacks have followed a well established pattern of quarterbacks joining Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan — and improving dramatically.
Consider these numbers. On average, Cignetti’s last six starters at quarterback going back to his time at James Madison have seen a 275% improvement in touchdown to interception ratio, a 25.4% increase in quarterback rating, and a 23.2% improvement in PFF grade. They’ve all won major postseason honors as well.
Here’s a last season before and first season with Cignetti look at his last six quarterbacks:
2025 – FERNANDO MENDOZA
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 72%
- Passing yards: 3,535
- Touchdowns: 41
- Interceptions: 6
- QB rating: 182.9
- PFF rating: 91.6
Postseason honors: Heisman Trophy, First Team All-American.
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 68.7%
- Passing yards: 3,004
- Touchdowns: 16
- Interceptions: 6
- QB rating: 144.6
- PFF rating: 77.4
2024 – KURTIS ROURKE
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 69.4%
- Passing yards: 3,042
- Touchdowns: 29
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 176
- PFF rating: 88.4
Postseason honors: Second team All-Big ten, ninth in Heisman voting.
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 63.5%
- Passing yards: 2,207
- Touchdowns: 11
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 132.5
- PFF rating: 78.9
2023 – JORDAN MCCLOUD
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 68.2%
- Passing yards: 3,657
- Touchdowns: 35
- Interceptions: 10
- QB rating: 165.9
- PFF rating: 84
Postseason honors: Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 65.8%
- Passing yards: 481
- Touchdowns: 2
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 116.4
- PFF rating: 57.5
2022 – TODD CENTEIO
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 63.7%
- Passing yards: 2,697
- Touchdowns: 25
- Interceptions: 5
- QB rating: 169
- PFF rating: 90.4
Postseason honors: Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 60.3%
- Passing yards: 2,958
- Touchdowns: 15
- Interceptions: 10
- QB rating: 133
- PFF rating: 78.5
2021 – COLE JOHNSON*
First Full Year As Starter Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 68%
- Passing yards: 3,779
- Touchdowns: 41
- Interceptions: 4
- QB rating: 173.4
- PFF rating: 89.7
Postseason honors: CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy winner, CAA Offensive Player of the Year.
* Johnson started the eight-game spring 2020 season for JMU. Those numbers are below:
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 65.7%
- Passing yards: 1,633
- Touchdowns: 11
- Interceptions: 7
- QB rating: 161.7
- PFF rating: 81.0
2019 – BEN DINUCCI
First Year Under Cignetti
- Completion percentage: 70.9%
- Passing yards: 3,441
- Touchdowns: 29
- Interceptions: 6
- QB rating: 169.51
- PFF rating: 90.4
Postseason honors: AFCA First Team All-American, CAA Offensive Player of the Year.
Prior Year
- Completion percentage: 68%
- Passing yards: 2,275
- Touchdowns: 16
- Interceptions: 12
- QB rating: 139.45
- PFF rating: 60.6
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