Curt Cignetti Auctions National Championship Headset to Boost Indiana's NIL Initiatives

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Curt Cignetti Auctions National Championship Headset to Boost Indiana's NIL Initiatives

The Indiana Hoosiers had a historic season in 2025, making the College Football Playoff once again. This time, they finished with a perfect record of 16-0 and secured the school’s first national championship.

Since Curt Cignetti took over before last season, there has been a remarkable turnaround for the Indiana Hoosiers football program. Historically, Indiana has struggled, holding a record of 509-692-38, sports. However, under Cignetti’s leadership, the team has found success, posting a 27-2 record. This includes the program’s only double-digit winning seasons in history.

Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti prepares to lift the trophy on the podium after the College Football Playoff National Championship college football win over Miami.© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cignetti is taking steps to support the Hoosiers’ NIL initiatives. According to a report from On3, Cignetti’s national championship headset is currently being auctioned, with all proceeds going towards NIL efforts. As of the latest update, the bid has exceeded $15,000.

Indiana’s rise from perennial Big Ten afterthought to national champion has been one of the most remarkable transformations in modern college football, and Cignetti continues to lean into that momentum. By auctioning off his national championship headset to support NIL initiatives, Cignetti is reinforcing the foundation that helped make Indiana’s historic run possible.

The move reflects a broader understanding of how success is sustained in today’s college football landscape. With NIL playing a crucial role in recruiting and retention, Indiana’s willingness to creatively invest in its athletes signals that the Hoosiers are not treating the 2025 championship as a one-year anomaly.

As Indiana looks ahead to defending its title, the combination of on-field success, strong leadership, and proactive NIL support suggests the program is positioning itself for long-term relevance, something few could have imagined in Bloomington just a few seasons ago.

Related: Paul Finebaum Admits ‘Epic Failure’ After Indiana Wins College Football Playoff

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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