Curt Cignetti's Indiana Hoosiers just crushed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl. Read the full story of the 14-0 "Google Me" dynasty and what's next in th
By Team DNALive24 | January 2, 2026
PASADENA, Calif. — If you were still Googling Curt Cignetti on New Year’s Day, you were likely looking up one thing: Is this real?
On January 1, 2026, the Indiana Hoosiers didn't just win the Rose Bowl; they dismantled the Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 in a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal that signaled a violent shifting of the sport's tectonic plates.
Two years ago, Cignetti arrived in Bloomington with a viral quip: "I win. Google me." Today, the Hoosiers are 14-0, the No. 1 team in America, and headed to the CFP Semifinals. Here is how Cignetti turned a basketball school into the most terrifying juggernaut in college football.
The Rose Bowl Statement: "Hoosier Daddy?"
The final score was 38-3, but the game wasn't that close.
Facing a blue-blood Alabama program, Cignetti’s squad looked like the veterans. The Hoosiers held the Tide to just 193 total yards, while the "decidedly pro-Indiana crowd" in Pasadena serenaded the field with chants of "Hoosier Daddy?" in the fourth quarter.
This victory wasn't luck; it was the culmination of a "disruptive" week. Leading up to the game, Cignetti made headlines by publicly criticizing the Rose Bowl's "disjointed" practice schedule. Pundits called him distracted; he called it standards. His team responded by delivering the most disciplined performance of the 2025-26 season.
The Mendoza Factor: Portal Kingpin
If Cignetti is the architect, Fernando Mendoza is the masterpiece.
The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama, surgically dissecting the SEC giants. Mendoza, a transfer from Cal, represents the core of Cignetti’s philosophy: Production over Potential.
While other programs chased 5-star freshmen, Cignetti mined the portal for a veteran signal-caller who could execute his system immediately. The result? A perfect season and an offense that scores 40+ points while controlling the clock.
2024 vs. 2025: From Cute Story to National Power
The leap Indiana has taken in 24 months is unprecedented in modern sports history.
- 2024 (Year 1): Cignetti shocks the world with an 11-2 record and a playoff berth (losing to Notre Dame in Round 1). Cignetti wins "Coach of the Year."
- 2025 (Year 2): Indiana goes 13-0 in the regular season, wins the Big Ten title by dethroning Ohio State, and secures the No. 1 overall seed.
In October 2025, the university wisely locked Cignetti down with a contract extension through 2033, valued at $11.6 million annually. As of today, that looks like a bargain.
What’s Next: The Semifinal Showdown
The road to the National Championship now runs through the Peach Bowl on January 9, where Indiana will face a familiar foe: The No. 5 Oregon Ducks.
This is a rematch of the season’s defining game—a 30-20 Indiana victory in Eugene last October. While the Ducks routed Texas Tech 23-0 in their quarterfinal, they now have to face a Hoosier defense that just held Alabama to a field goal.
Conclusion
Curt Cignetti has done the impossible. He hasn't just built a winning team; he has built a brand. The "Google Me" era has officially transitioned into the "Catch Me If You Can" era. And right now, no one in college football seems fast enough to keep up.
Quick FAQs: Curt Cignetti & IU Football
Who does Indiana play next in the CFP?
Indiana will face No. 5 Oregon in the CFP Semifinal at the Peach Bowl on January 9, 2026.
Did Fernando Mendoza win the Heisman?
Yes. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza was awarded the 2025 Heisman Trophy prior to leading the Hoosiers to a Rose Bowl victory.
What is Curt Cignetti’s record at Indiana?
As of Jan 2, 2026, Cignetti is a staggering 25-2 as the head coach of the Hoosiers.
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