When Curt Cignetti took over as Indiana football's head coach almost two years ago, the challenges he faced seemed boundless.
He was taking over the losingest program — a place deemed by many where it’s nearly impossible — at a basketball school. He sensed a lot of people around Bloomington had almost given up on football.
One challenge stood above the rest. A program-altering turnaround seemed impossible to those outside of Cignetti and his confidants.
He wanted to change the way people think about Indiana football.
With 11 starters returning from last season and 11 new starters this season, the re-tooled Hoosiers claimed redemption Saturday in their first opportunity this season. No. 7 Indiana notched a 30-20 victory over No. 3 Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
“I'm really proud of the team, proud of the coaches,” Cignetti said postgame. “I feel really great for our fans and supporters. ... And it's a great road win.”
Cignetti reshaped outsiders’ perspective of the Hoosiers’ program last season. 11-2. College Football Playoff.
Still, one thing remained elusive: a road victory over the “big dogs” ranked in the top 10.
Indiana was overmatched, overwhelmed and largely outclassed against Ohio State and the University of Notre Dame in its two losses in 2024. The Hoosiers didn’t win any positional battles in those games, Cignetti said.
The Cream and Crimson’s 10-point loss to the Fighting Irish left what Cignetti described as a “sour taste” after the program’s most successful season.
Players like defensive lineman Mikail Kamara, linebacker Aiden Fisher and wide receiver Elijah Sarratt opted to remain in Bloomington when they could’ve been selected in the NFL draft.
Cignetti learned he needed “a few more dogs” on his roster for the 2025 season. So, he dipped into the transfer portal, adding 23 new players. And Saturday against the Ducks, the Hoosiers “dogs” showed why they earned their name, allowing Indiana to “take that next step,” Sarratt said.
Indiana struck first, as redshirt sophomore kicker Nico Radicic drilled a 42-yard field goal to give the Hoosiers a 3-0 lead. But Oregon redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore responded with a 44-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Malik Benson, taking advantage of Indiana junior safety Amare Ferrell’s blown coverage.
The Hoosiers responded with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive, as redshirt senior running back Roman Hemby, a portal addition, notched a 3-yard touchdown.
Despite Indiana leading 13-10 at halftime after both squads traded field goals, Cignetti was far from satisfied — a hallmark since day one.
He wanted his offensive line to “quit jumping,” as they had three false starts in the first half.
His squad needed to do better at stopping the run, he said. The Ducks had 80 yards rushing (203 total yards) in the first 30 minutes.
And he wanted his team to “play better.”
The Hoosiers did two of the three — they still had three false starts in the second half.
Oregon accumulated just 1 yard rushing throughout the final two quarters. Indiana gained 56. The Ducks notched just 64 total yards while the Hoosiers had 161.
Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ unit “took it to them” after halftime, Cignetti said, winning the line of scrimmage, pass game and running game. Moore, who had yet to lose a contest as the Ducks’ starting signal caller, threw interceptions on consecutive passes in the fourth quarter.
Cignetti said offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan’s unit “made the plays when they needed to.” Although redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw a pick six in the fourth quarter, which allowed Oregon to tie the game at 20, he led his squad on a touchdown drive on the ensuing possession.
Mendoza converted on perhaps the most important play of the contest, finding Sarratt on an 8-yard game-winning touchdown throw to the left corner of the endzone on third and long. It was “huge,” Cignetti said.
“Our guys played one play at a time, like we asked them to, and then next play,” Cignetti said. “Our guys wanted it. Showed it on the field they wanted it. Did the things they had to do to be successful.”
For all the guys Cignetti added from the transfer portal ahead of each season — 53 exactly — Fisher is one that followed Cignetti from James Madison University.
And he did so for games like Saturday.
“Complete buy-in, complete trust in what Coach Cig is doing here,” Fisher said. “When you do things like that, you lead to games like this and wins like this. So, really, there's no looking back on it.”
Not only was the Hoosiers’ win over the No. 3 Ducks their first against a top-five team since 1967 (they were previously 1-72), but it’s a win that means something more.
Many national media members questioned the Hoosiers’ 2024 season. Would Indiana take a step back to where it’s historically been? Was it a fluke? Would Indiana return to being the proverbial punching bag of the Big Ten?
The Hoosiers had already notched a top 10 win this season over then-No. 9 Illinois on Sept. 20. But, through Mendoza’s eyes, Saturday’s victory solidifies the answers to those questions.
“We're not just a one-hit wonder,” Mendoza said. “And it shows that we can go through some stuff in the game. We can handle adversity. We're a gritty team and we really band together and we have each other's back.”
The Hoosiers did what they did against the Ducks because of their mindset, which Cignetti deemed most important ahead of the contest.
He wanted his squad to believe, expect and be prepared to secure a result like they did. The second-year head coach desired his team to handle the ebbs and flows of the game without flinching, showing frustration or displaying anxiety, he said.
And ahead of Saturday, Cignetti felt his team was in a “good” place.
“We passed that test,” Cignetti said. “... So, I have a lot of respect for this team that we beat. I have a lot of respect for Dan Lanning. It's a great win for our program.”
But Saturday wasn’t Indiana’s last so-called test. It still has six games remaining on its regular season schedule, including trips to Maryland, Penn State and Purdue. The Hoosiers will likely be favored to win all six games, but betting odds don’t lead to victories — Oregon was favored by over a touchdown.
The Hoosiers’ win over the Ducks may be one of, if not, the most significant in program history. But for Cignetti, it all depends on what his squad does with the momentum moving forward.
“It puts us in a position, if we can continue to be successful,” Cignetti said. “Which means we have to show up to work on Monday, as a team, humble and hungry and ready to go against Michigan State.”
The win is making national headlines, promptly catching the attention of fans and national media. Of course it is — the Hoosiers gave Oregon its first home loss in nearly three years and just the second of fourth-year head coach Dan Lanning’s tenure.
To Cignetti, he and his squad realize the notions around them. He said some people will be for his team; some will be against because they “need to be” and then a middle group.
But Sarratt, who caught eight passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, said the Hoosiers must keep rolling.
“We know we're not nowhere where we want to be right now,” Sarratt said. “So, we're on to the next game. Starting tomorrow, really going to be preparing for that next week. It was a big win for us, but we know in our heads we want to keep going.”
The regular season is just halfway through. Saturday was just one of several big games Indiana hopes to play — something the program largely isn't accustomed to.
It is now, Fisher said.
“As soon as we got here, we changed the way Indiana thinks, changed the way we think as individuals,” he said. “We’re primed for games like this. This is why we play this game. It's why you come to Indiana. You want to play in top-ranked matchups. You want to win top-ranked matchups.”
Yes, the Hoosiers are still the losingest in Football Bowl Subdivision history. But since Cignetti took the reins, losing has become rather rare. Instead, Indiana is now used to winning.
In doing so, Cignetti has changed the way people think about Indiana football.
A Big Ten championship contender? The Hoosiers sit atop the standings with Ohio State.
A national championship contender? Only time will tell.
But nearly two years after Cignetti first arrived in Bloomington, the Hoosiers proved they’re in the upper echelon of college football in mid-October.
“Just follow Coach Cig and buy into what he sells you, what he believes in and his preparation and his process,” Fisher said. “He's better than anybody in the country. That's why people want to play for him.”
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
