The Indiana Hoosiers are national champions, which is a phrase no one in college football thought they would ever hear. The Hoosiers completed perhaps the greatest season in college football history by going 16-0, finishing things off against Miami.
Curt Cignetti has completed the greatest program turnaround in college football history. In just two years, he has turned the Hoosiers into a powerhouse. His scheme has certainly had something to do with it, but his recruiting prowess is the main reason.
Cignetti has been able to use the Transfer Portal to his advantage. Those embedded with the program now understand how he is able to identify the talent that has made this program so good so quickly.
GettyIndiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti celebrates. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Indiana Hoosiers Use Unique Recruiting Approach Under Curt Cignetti
While speaking on the Ryen Rusillo Show, FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman revealed how Cignetti approaches recruiting for the Hoosiers.
“He does not care what anyone else thinks about a player. Their evaluations really do not matter, whether it’s 247’s or On3 or whatever. He doesn’t care about those…Let’s get the guys that we feel we believe in, who get it, who want to be here, who want to buy in and bust their a–…They have older players who are more mature.”
Cignetti’s approach has clearly worked. Making the College Football Playoff in two straight seasons and winning a title in just two years proves that his approach is working for the Hoosiers. He is going to do things his way in order to win games.
Indiana used a bevy of transfers from James Madison to help them get a national championship. They have added another heap of transfers for the portal this offseason. IU has brought in 17 players from the portal heading into next year, which is good enough for the seventh-best Transfer Portal class.
GettyIndiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti waves. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Indiana Hoosiers Will be a Top Contender Next Season
While the Hoosiers lose the presumed number-one overall pick in Fernando Mendoza, as well as some other talent, they should still be considered contenders next year. They have already brought in Josh Hoover from TCU to replace Mendoza.
Indiana has another favorable schedule next season. While they play Ohio State and Michigan in back-to-back weeks, they get the Buckeyes at home. Michigan also has a brand new coaching staff. They do play USC, but they get a bye week before that game. The toughest road game is at Washington in the second-to-last game of the year.
The Hoosiers should be a top-ten team in the preseason polls heading into next season despite all of the talent they will lose heading into next year. Cignetti’s approach to talent addition has clearly shown that losing talent on a year-to-year basis doesn’t affect them as much as other programs.
Cignetti may have already established himself as the best coach in college football in just two short years with the Hoosiers.
Indiana Hoosiers’ Unique Recruiting Plan Under Curt Cignetti Revealed