Based on data published this week by USA Today, IU’s Curt Cignetti is the 18th-highest paid head coach in college football in 2025.
His $8.3 million for the 2025 contract year ranks below five Big Ten coaches: Ohio State’s Ryan Day, USC’s Lincoln Riley, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, and Penn State’s James Franklin.
Cignetti is 16-2, including 10-1 in the Big Ten to start his Indiana tenure.
Less than a year into his time at IU, Cignetti signed a new deal last November. His contract runs thru Nov. 30, 2032 with average annual compensation of $8 million, as well as an additional annual $1 million retention bonus.
Cignetti’s buyout due to the university if he resigns between Dec. 1, 2024 and Nov. 30, 2025 is $13 million. The figure from Dec. 1, 2025 through Nov. 30, 2026 is $10 million.
Cignetti has one of the highest potential bonus totals in the nation. The non-cumulative performance-related bonuses under the contract are as follows:
- $100,000 for winning five Big Ten games in a season, or $150,000 for six Big Ten wins.
- $250,000 for a top-six finish, $500,000 for a second-place finish, or $1 million for a Big Ten championship.
- $200,000 for a bowl appearance that isn’t part of the College Football Playoff, with an extra $50,000 if IU wins that bowl game.
- $500,000 for a College Football Playoff first-round appearance, $600,000 for reaching the quarterfinals, $700,000 for reaching the semifinals, $1 million for reaching the national title game, and $2 million for winning a national championship.
- $50,000 for winning Big Ten Coach of the Year, whether through the coaches vote or the media vote.
- $100,000 for winning any of the major National Coach of the Year honors (AP, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, Sporting News, Walter Camp, Maxwell Football Club, or ABC/ESPN).
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
– Join our Premium Discord Chat by GOING HERE.
- You can follow us on X: @daily_hoosier and find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
