Curt Cignetti Contract Bonuses Triggered Amid Historic Season With More To Come

While guiding Indiana football to new heights the last two seasons, Curt Cignetti has become a coveted name in coaching searches around the country. But Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson has shown a strong commitment to keeping Cignetti in Bloomington and making the football program a national power, upping Cignetti's compensation several times.

With a dominant 56-22 win over No. 5 Oregon in Friday's Peach Bowl, No. 1 Indiana improved to 15-0, which triggered more bonuses in Cignetti's latest contract, according to the memorandum of understanding obtained by Indiana Hoosiers On SI through a public records request. And with the program's first-ever national championship in mind, Cignetti could continue to earn even more.

Here's a closer look at Cignetti's contract, with details on his base salary, incentives he's already earned and what bonuses could be in store moving forward.

Curt Cignetti Indiana Football — Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson (left), football coach Curt Cignetti (middle) and Indiana University President Pamela Whitten (right) pose together on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 during Cignetti's introductory press conference. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Base salary

During an eight-year term through Nov. 30, 2033, Cignetti is set to earn a base salary of $500,000, along with annual outside, marketing and promotional income as follows:

Dec. 1, 2025 – Nov. 30, 2026: $9,650,000
Dec. 1, 2026 – Nov. 30, 2027: $9,750,000
Dec. 1, 2027 – Nov. 30, 2028: $9,850,000
Dec. 1, 2028 – Nov. 30, 2029: $9,950,000
Dec. 1, 2029 – Nov. 30, 2030: $10,050,000
Dec. 1, 2030 – Nov. 30, 2031: $10,150,000
Dec. 1, 2031 – Nov. 30, 2032: $10,250,000
Dec. 1, 2032 – Nov. 30, 2033: $10,350,000

Cignetti also has an annual retention bonus of $1,000,000 from Nov. 30, 2025 through Nov. 30, 2029, which increases to $1,250,000 each Nov. 30 after Dec. 1, 2029. He also received a $250,000 signing bonus.

Good Faith Market Review

Indiana advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinal by defeating Alabama, which triggered a meaningful clause in his contract, called a "good faith market review."

According to the MOU, that means "Beginning with the 2025 collegiate football season, the parties agree to complete a good faith review and negotiation of Coach's compensation within 120 days after the Team appears in the CFP (or surviving system) Semi-Final Game."

"After said review and negotiation, if the parties fail to reach an agreement for a market adjustment of Coach's compensation and the University did not offer terms that would make Coach's annual compensation no less than third (3rd) amongst active head coaches at institutions which are eligible to compete for the CFP (or surviving system), the University agrees to waive for the remaining Term of this Agreement any liquidated damages which would be due from Coach to the University should he subsequently terminate his employment at the University."

"For purposes of this provision, the average compensation per year (APY) over
the remaining term shall be used as the primary market comparison. The parties agree to
jointly engage, if needed, an independent valuation expert to assist with determining market
valuations (the valuation expert's opinion shall be non-binding). Furthermore, this provision
shall not prevent the parties from mutually agreeing to amend the terms of this Agreement at
any other point during the Term."

So, how much more could Indiana owe Cignetti because of this?

As of Dec. 2, 2025, according to FOX Sports, Cignetti ranks fourth among all college football coaches with an average compensation per year of $11.6 million. That's behind Ohio State's Ryan Day ($12.58 million), LSU's Lane Kiffin ($13 million) and Georgia's Kirby Smart ($13.28 million.)

In order to adhere to the good faith market review, Indiana must offer a contract that annually pays Cignetti at least third-most among coaches –– in this case, more than Day's compensation of $12.58 million. If not, he could leave without a buyout.

Big Ten bonuses

5th Big Ten win = $100,000 bonus (Cignetti earned this when Indiana defeated UCLA 56-6 on Oct. 25.)
6th Big Ten win = $150,000 bonus (Cignetti earned this when Indiana defeated Maryland 55-10 on Nov. 1.)

Top-six conference finish = $250,000 bonus
Second place finish (including ties) = $500,000 bonus
Big Ten championship game winner = $1,000,000 bonus

The two Big Ten related bonuses are cumulative, and the highest finish or win total within each category will apply. So with at least six Big Ten regular season wins and a Big Ten title, Cignetti has guaranteed himself a $1,150,000 bonus.

College Football Playoff and bowl game bonuses

Cignetti's contract includes the potential for an annual bonus of $200,000 if the team made a bowl game that is not part of the College Football Playoff, and an additional $50,000 with a win in such bowl game.

But because the Hoosiers are the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, those bonuses do not apply, and Cignetti is set to earn even larger bonuses.

CFP first round appearance = $500,000
CFP quarterfinal appearance = $600,000
CFP semifinal appearance = $700,000
CFP national runner-up = $1,000,000
CFP national champions = $2,000,000

Cignetti has already guaranteed himself a $1,000,000 bonus by defeating Oregon and securing a national championship appearance. A win on Monday over No. 10 Miami would double that bonus.

Award bonuses

Cignetti was named Big Ten coach of the year by both the coaches' vote and the media voting panel. That triggered an annual bonus of $50,000.

Cignetti also received an annual bonus of $100,000 for being named Associated Press coach of the year. He became the first coach to win that honor in back-to-back seasons since it was first awarded in 1998.

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