Indiana’s Curt Cignetti received an 8-year extension amid Penn State coaching rumors

If the Nittany Lions are counting on Curt Cignetti heading to State College, they should go to Plan B.

Indiana University has agreed to a massive eight-year contract extension with Cignetti, their head football coach, making him the third-highest-paid coach in college football.

Cignetti’s new deal is worth $93 million over eight years, giving him an estimated $11.6 million per season. The contract is valid until November 30, 2033.

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The extension comes after rumors that Cignetti was a Penn State coach could pursue to replace James Franklin, who was fired after three straight losses this season.

“At Indiana University, we are committed to performing at the highest levels in everything we do, and no one embodies that more than Coach Cignetti,” Indiana University President Pamela Whitten said in a statement. “Simply put, Cig is a winner.”

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Cignetti is behind only Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($13.3 million per season) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day ($12.6 million).

“From last year’s College Football Playoff appearance to this year’s top-three national rankings, the success of the IU football program has been tremendous. Curt and Cignetti are in Indiana and thrilled that the Cignetti family will be Hoosiers for many years to come,” Witten continued.

Cignetti has transformed the Hoosiers’ football program. He won National Coach of the Year and Coach of the Year honors last season after Indiana finished 11-1 during the regular season to reach the College Football Playoff. They were knocked out by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but it was clear Indiana was headed in the right direction.

This season, with Heisman lead Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, the Hoosiers are 6-0. Only Ohio State has the same record in the Big Ten through six games.

Indiana’s recent win over Oregon at home in Bloomington solidifies the Hoosiers as a national title contender this season.

Before the extension, Cignetti was making $8.3 million this season with no bonuses on his deal. This was the 18th most in college football and only seventh in the Big Ten.

So, with Penn State potentially looking to pry Cignetti away from the Hoosiers, Indiana State moved quickly to keep their coach in place to continue building his program. Arkansas is also searching for a new head coach.

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Cignetti and the Hoosiers will look to remain undefeated this weekend in a matchup with Michigan State.

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