Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti was named to the 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List, per a Thursday announcement from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. The honor is given to coaches who stress the importance of “scholarship, leadership and integrity.”
Cignetti — who won the award last season — is one of 20 coaches named to the preliminary list. Indiana’s coach joins the likes of Illinois’ Bret Bielema, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, Washington’s Jedd Fisch, Oregon’s Dan Lanning and USC’s Lincoln Riley as Big Ten head coaches named to the watch list.
"I'd like to thank The Dodd Trophy, PNC Bank and Peach Bowl, Inc. for this tremendous honor,” Cignetti said in a press release after winning the award last season. “Being named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year is a fantastic recognition for our program but it is only possible because of the hard work of our student-athletes, assistant coaches and support staff."
Cignetti is also one of four previous Dodd Trophy winners named to the preseason watch list. Ferentz won in 2015, University of Houston head coach Willie Fritz won in 2022 while coaching Tulane University and the University of Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman won in 2024.
The trophy is named after former Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Dodd. He coached the Yellow Jackets between 1945 and 1966, winning 165 games and a share of the 1952 national championship.
Dodd, who died in 1988, left a legacy on and off the field, recognized by the award. While enjoying success with his team, Dodd stressed the importance of academics for his players.
Coaches nominated for the award are required to have an Academic Progress Rate above the national average of 971. Indiana received a score of 989 during the 2024-25 academic year.
A midseason watch list will be released in the fall, narrowing down the field. And the winner of the award will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The game is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2027.
Cignetti and the Hoosiers will begin their quest for another national championship with a game against the University of North Texas on Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
