Indiana Hoosiers head football coach Curt Cignetti led the Hoosiers on an improbable national championship run, defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 National Championship game.
As a result of his historic season with Indiana, Cignetti got a new contract, an eight-year $93 million contract extension on October 16. This came before Indiana won the national championship.
Following Indiana’s national title win, multiple sources have confirmed that Indiana has given Cignetti another pay raise, pushing his annual salary up to $13.2 million, with the deal running through the 2033 season.
Cignetti helped flip the Indiana football program around instantly. Prior to his arrival, the Hoosiers finished their 2023 season with a 3-9 record under coach Tom Allen. The Hoosiers more than tripled its win total the next season, going 11-2 in 2024.
And everyone knows what happened this past season. With Heisman quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Cignetti was able to help Indiana win its first ever national championship for college football while also leading the first 16-0 team in NCAA history.
Top-10 Highest Paid College Football Coaches
Here are the top-10 highest paid college football coaches according to thebiglead.com. The top-10 highest paid coaches on the list are the 10 highest paid coaches for the 2025-2026 season. Contract values for the 2026 season are not accounted for.
#10 – Texas A&M coach, Mike Elko ($7.2 million)
#9 – Florida coach, Billy Napier ($7.2 million)
#8 – Oklahoma coach, Brett Venables ($7.5 million)
#7 – Miami coach, Mario Cristobal ($8.5 million)
#6 – Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney ($11.5 million)
#5 – USC coach, Lincoln Riley ($11.5 million)
#4 – Indiana coach, Curt Cignetti ($11.6 milliion)
#3 – Ohio State coach Ryan Day, ($12.5 million)
#2 – LSU coach Lane Kiffin, ($13 million)
#1 – Georgia coach Kirby Smart, ($13.3 million)
Read More:
Carnell Tate NFL Draft: Insider Names $6.2Bn Franchise As ‘Sneaky Fit’ For OSU WR
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
