In a historic achievement, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has been named college football’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, following an outstanding 2025 campaign. Cignetti, who took the reins at Indiana last November, received the Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, marking him as the first coach in history to secure the title in back-to-back seasons. He joins the ranks of only one other coach, Brian Kelly, who has won the award twice.
Under Cignetti’s leadership, the Hoosiers built on a promising inaugural season in Bloomington, where they finished with an impressive 11-2 record and an 8-1 mark in the Big Ten, ultimately falling in the first round of the College Football Playoff. However, the 2025 season has etched itself into Hoosier history as the finest to date. The team finished with a perfect 13-0, a feat not accomplished since 1945, and clinched their first outright Big Ten championship since 1967 with a significant victory over Ohio State. This success led to Indiana securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff for the first time, positioning them as favorites in their pursuit of a first-ever national title.
A significant part of Indiana’s success this season was attributed to quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a transfer from California. In his first year under Cignetti’s guidance, the redshirt junior emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender, finishing the regular season as the nation’s leader in touchdown passes, with an impressive 33 touchdowns against only six interceptions. Mendoza also boasted a remarkable completion rate of 71.5% (226-of-316). His performances earned him numerous accolades, including the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation’s top quarterback and the Maxwell Award for the Player of the Year. Heading into the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Mendoza has the opportunity to become the first Hoosier ever to win the prestigious award, further solidifying Cignetti’s remarkable coaching portfolio as they prepare for their first-round matchup in the College Football Playoff on January 1.
This season’s achievements underscore a considerable transformation within the Indiana football program, showcasing both strategic prowess and standout individual talent. As the Hoosiers gear up to make history, the optimism surrounding the team and its coaching staff continues to build, promising thrilling prospects for the future of Indiana football.
