CAA Football

Curt Cignetti's Blueprint: Why Commitment & Culture Can Take You Anywhere

Curt Cignetti's Blueprint: Why Commitment & Culture Can Take You Anywhere

Curt Cignetti’s rise, from Division II football to the college football national championship, sends a powerful message: small school football matters.

Jan 22, 2026 by Leanza Pieroni
Inside The Rise Of Curt Cignetti

In a landscape dominated by blue-blood traditional powers and elite recruiting classes, Curt Cignetti has rewritten what’s possible in college football, from Division II fields to the pinnacle of the College Football Playoff. His journey across divisions and levels of competition proves a fundamental truth: with the right people, complete buy-in, and strong culture, any program can be successful, full of star talent, and capable of winning a national championship.

Curt Cignetti’s coaching career began long before his rise to national headlines as the architect of Indiana’s 2025–26 College Football Playoff National Championship. Over the past decade and a half, Cignetti has turned around programs across multiple levels of college football:

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) - Division II (PSAC)

When Cignetti took over in 2011, he quickly transformed the Division II program. Over six seasons, IUP posted a 53–17 record, winning two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles and earning multiple NCAA playoff appearances.

Elon University - FCS Division I (CAA)

Inheriting a team with a lengthy history of losing, he led the Phoenix to an 8–4 record and a playoff berth in his first season, turning around a 2–9 predecessor and helping the program compete at a higher level. Elon's performance on the field led to Cignetti claiming CAA Football Coach of the Year honors and a fourth-place finish in the voting for the Eddie Robinson Award for the FCS National Coach of the Year.

James Madison University (JMU) - FCS Division I (CAA) and FBS Division I (The American)

At JMU, Cignetti oversaw a dominant transition from FCS to FBS. The Dukes posted an impressive record (52–9) over his tenure, captured multiple conference titles, and secured consistent playoff appearances at both levels.

These accomplishments—across three different programs and divisions—reflect Cignetti’s vision and ability to develop talent, build cohesive staffs, and instill winning cultures regardless of resources or prevailing expectations.

Indiana Football’s Historic Breakthrough

In 2024, Cignetti brought that same philosophy to Indiana University, a school traditionally known more for basketball than football. In fact, Indiana held the record for losing football games; 715 FBS losses were tied to the Hoosiers. Indiana's all-time record against AP Top-5 teams was a painful 1-72. 

Before Cignetti, the Hoosiers had never even won a Big Ten Championship.

In his first season, the Hoosiers set a program record with 11 wins, secured their first College Football Playoff berth, and finished ranked in the AP Poll’s top 10.

Then came the 2025 season, a campaign that defied historical norms in every way:

  • First National Championship in program history, with a 27-21 victory over Miami in the CFP title game.
  • Historic 16–0 season, the first perfect campaign by any FBS team since 1894. For my D2 Football diehards who have read this far, yes, Ferris State Football earned an unblemished 16-0 season as well.
  • First Heisman Trophy, won by quarterback Fernando Mendoza — another testament to player development and belief in overlooked talent, but that's a story for a different day.
  • A defense that allowed just 11.7 points per game and an explosive offense that scored 666 points (41.6 per game). 

This dramatic overhaul didn’t happen by accident. It came from a culture built on accountability, trust among staff and players, and belief in the mission that every member of the program could contribute to something bigger than themselves.

The Transfer Portal: Challenges and Opportunities

In today’s game, the transfer portal is unavoidable. For small school athletics, the portal presents both opportunities to add experienced talent and challenges in retaining homegrown stars. Yet the portal has also become a showcase for under-the-radar players who emerge as national figures when given opportunity and support.

Trinidad Chambliss is one standout example:

A Division II national champion at Ferris State, where he threw for 2,925 yards and rushed for 1,019 yards, leading the Bulldogs to a championship while earning GLIAC Player of the Year honors.

After entering the transfer portal, Chambliss landed at Ole Miss and seized the starting role, earning SEC Newcomer of the Year and the Conerly Trophy while driving the Rebels to a College Football Playoff berth... and some pretty spectacular wins that nobody who watched Chambliss play in Big Rapids is surprised about.

Chambliss’s journey from D-II standout to FBS star underscores the depth of talent across small schools, a talent too often overlooked. Like Cignetti’s development of players at every stop, Chambliss’s path highlights how the football ecosystem benefits when players can choose environments that value their growth and success, and have coaches who build and believe in them every step of the way.

If you need more evidence on how the transfer portal has the potential to uplift small school rising stars, just ask the seven JMU players who followed Cignetti to Indiana and walked away National Champions this January.

A Broader Impact on Small School Football

Cignetti’s rise, from Division II playoffs to the national title, sends a powerful message: small school football matters. It’s not a feeder league; it’s a ground where future stars and coaches grow, mature, and learn to compete at the highest levels. His journey demonstrates that:

  • Small school football has incredible stories and action; you just have to tune in and watch.
  • Great coaching can unlock overlooked potential.
  • Players from smaller programs can become national stars if given belief and opportunity.
  • Transfer mobility, when embraced strategically, can be a force for competitive balance.

Small schools are rich in talent, character, and heart, the very building blocks of championship football.

Curt Cignetti has always believed that success isn’t predetermined by jerseys, logos, or recruiting stars. It’s built through culture, relationships, and relentless work. From IUP’s playoff runs to Elon’s resurgence, JMU’s continuity, and Indiana’s national zenith, his career affirms that champions can come from anywhere.

In the end, Cignetti’s story is a reminder: In college football, the game is still open to the bold, the committed, and those who believe deeply in one simple principle…

With the right people, any program can win.

Trinidad Chambliss 2024 Season Highlights | Ferris State Football Highlights


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