Cignetti Bets It All: 17 Transfers Chase Repeat Glory
How Indiana Football Went from Worst to First (And What Happens Next)
The Gold Cleats That Started a Lesson
Imagine showing up to your new job wearing shiny gold shoes. You think you look cool. Your boss immediately pulls you aside and says, "We don’t do that here."
That’s exactly what happened to Nick Marsh, a star wide receiver who transferred to Indiana from Michigan State. On the very first day of spring practice, he wore gold cleats. Head coach Curt Cignetti—who had just won a national championship 10 weeks earlier—hated it.
"I didn’t love those gold shoes he came out in today. He learned what getting your ass ripped is all about. I don’t know if that happened to him very often at Michigan State."
— Coach Cignetti, March 27
But here’s the cool part: It wasn’t just the coach who corrected him. Team captain Carter Smith (an All-American left tackle) explained the team rule:
"If you see something that someone might think they might be a little above the program… you need to be brought back down to the standard. Everybody is held to the same expectations. Nobody’s above the program."
IMPORTANT POINT
At Indiana, the players police the culture—not just the coaches. This is what "player-led" actually looks like.
Replacing Production, Not Expectations
The Problem: Everyone Left
After winning the national title (going 16-0!), Indiana lost almost their entire team:
| What They Lost | The Numbers |
|---|---|
| Players to NFL Draft | 8 (program record) |
| Quarterback | Fernando Mendoza — Heisman winner, #1 overall pick, 3,535 yards, 41 TDs |
| Top Receivers | Elijah Sarratt & Omar Cooper Jr. — 134 catches, 1,767 yards, 28 TDs |
| Defense | All-American cornerback + defensive leader (11.7 points allowed per game = 2nd best nationally) |
| Returning Starters | Only 10 (last 8 national champs returned at least 11) |
The Solution: "Buy Production" via the Transfer Portal
Since 2021, college football has a transfer portal (like free agency) and NIL (players can get paid). Cignetti uses both like a pro.
His simple 3-step formula:
- Google the player — Check stats on ESPN
- Watch the tape — See how they actually play
- Recruit them — Bring proven producers to Indiana
"First thing, when a name comes up, I Google it, right? And ESPN’s got, like, the guy’s picture and his career stats, season stats. I’m going to see how productive and consistent he’s been. And then it goes to the tape."
— Coach Cignetti
The 2025 "Shopping Cart": 17 Transfers (Ranked #5 Nationally)
| Player | Position | Previous School | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hoover | QB | TCU | 9,629 career yards, 71 TDs, 31 starts |
| Turbo Richard | RB | Boston College | 749 rush yards, 9 TDs, 30 catches |
| Nick Marsh | WR | Michigan State | 59 catches, 662 yards |
| Shazz Preston | WR | Tulane | 43 catches, 723 yards |
| Joe Brunner | OL | Wisconsin | 12 starts at left guard |
| A.J. Harris | DB | Penn State | 3rd-team All-Big Ten |
| Preston Zachman | DB | — | 130 career tackles, 7 INTs |
| Carson Williams | DB | Montana State | FCS Freshman All-American, 9 pass breakups |
| Tobi Osunsanmi & Chiddi Obiazor | DE | Kansas State | "I’d like to see them be monsters" — Cignetti |
BUT THERE’S A CATCH
Josh Hoover threw 13 interceptions last year and 42 turnovers in 31 starts. Cignetti’s demand is simple: "Good quarterback play. Protect the football, complete the passes you should complete, be smart, play with courage."
Can Culture Survive Turnover?
The "JMU Wave" (2024)
When Cignetti came from James Madison (JMU), 13 players followed him. They knew his system, his two "Bible" manuals, and how to win. Five were on the field for the national title win over Miami.
The New Reality (2025)
Only ONE JMU player remains: Tyrique Tucker (defensive tackle).
"Being the last one kinda does feel like a badge of honor. But it’s one of those things I feel like I have to obtain. Everyone who has been from there has done things and been successful."
— Tyrique Tucker
Who Carries the Culture Now?
The Indiana guys who stayed. Cignetti says:
"Those 20-plus guys that stayed from Indiana, that have been with us for two years, they’re the JMU guys now. And the ones showing the new guys how to do it."
Early signs are good. Left tackle Carter Smith says new QB Josh Hoover "made a lot of friends this offseason… loves to hang out with the guys. We’ll go golfing. He loves to fish."
IMPORTANT POINT
Culture isn’t a trophy on the shelf. It’s what happens when coaches aren’t watching.
Life as the Hunted: Complacency Is the Enemy
The Rings Are the Problem
Linebacker Isaiah Jones (replacing 2x All-American Aiden Fisher) puts it perfectly:
"Last year was a great year… Brought home a lot of hardware, nice rings. But none of that does anything to win a game this year. We don’t just roll our rings or trophies out on the field against North Texas Game 1."
Cignetti’s "Bad Apple" Policy
"When you have a lot of good people, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. But one bad apple… we don’t have bad apples. Coach Cignetti takes care of the bad apples. When they start getting a little soft on one side, right, they get looked at real close. And then when they’ve rotted some more, a little while later, they’re out of here."
The Purdue "Bulletin Board Material"
New Purdue AD Tommy McClelland tried a dig: "If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana."
It backfired instantly. He apologized the next day. Cignetti’s response?
"No, not really." (Then moved to next question)
His players loved it:
"Some people might think he’s brash or arrogant… As a player, you see a guy that has full belief in his players. He’s going to go out there and stick his neck out because he has belief in his players. You want to go play your heart out for that guy."
— Isaiah Jones
The Schedule: Gauntlet Ahead
Indiana plays North Texas Week 1, but then:
| Date | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 17 | Ohio State | At Memorial Stadium |
| Oct 24 | Michigan | Back-to-back giants |
| Nov | USC & Washington | Playoff contenders |
| Nov 28 | Purdue | Rivalry game (Cignetti 2-0, combined 122-3) |
Cignetti’s mindset:
"We wake up tomorrow, we’re going to do the things that we have to do to improve as much as possible to put the best day together… You stack days, meetings, and do the proper preparation on a consistent basis, you can accomplish anything. Anything."
Summary: The Indiana Blueprint
| What They Did | Why It Worked | What’s Next |
|---|---|---|
| Hired a 65-year-old "geriatric" coach with Division II experience | He knows how fast heroes become villains | Stay paranoid, stay hungry |
| Used transfer portal like free agency | Bought proven production, not potential | 17 new guys must gel FAST |
| Let players enforce culture | "Nobody’s above the program" | Returning Indiana guys = new culture carriers |
| Ignored outside noise | "You guys write those stories" | Beat the schedule, not the hype |
THE BOTTOM LINE
Indiana went from worst program in history → 16-0 national champs in two years. Now they have to prove it wasn’t a fluke—with a almost entirely new roster.
FAQ
What is the transfer portal?
Think of it like NBA free agency for college players. Since 2021, players can enter their name, talk to other schools, and transfer without sitting out a year. Indiana used it to "buy" 17 proven starters.
What does NIL mean?
Name, Image, Likeness. College players can now get paid (endorsements, collectives, etc.). This makes the transfer portal work like pro free agency—players go where the money + winning + fit align.
Who is Curt Cignetti?
A 65-year-old coach who:
- Worked under Nick Saban at Alabama (2010)
- Won at Division II (IUP)
- Won at FCS (James Madison)
- Took Indiana from 3-9 → 16-0 national champ in 2 years
- Famous for blunt quotes and "Google the stats" recruiting
Why did Indiana lose so many players after winning?
Two reasons: (1) NFL Draft — 8 players drafted (record), including the Heisman QB; (2) Transfer portal — players leave for more playing time or money. This is the new normal in college football.
Can Indiana win again with all new guys?
On paper, yes. The new QB (Hoover) has better career stats than the Heisman winner did when he arrived. The transfers have big production at Power 4 schools. But — they have 3 months to learn the system, build chemistry, and avoid the "bad apples" Cignetti hates. The schedule is brutal. We’ll find out starting Week 1.
Article based on CBS Sports reporting by Cody Nagel & Brad Crawford. All quotes preserved from original source.