Indiana’s Curt Cignetti wins 2025 Dodd Trophy as Hoosiers chase CFP title

Written from press release

ATLANTA — Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has been named the winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank, an award that honors college football’s top head coach for success on the field while emphasizing scholarship, leadership and integrity, Peach Bowl, Inc. officials announced Thursday.

Cignetti becomes the 50th recipient of the national coaching award, which is managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and tied to the coaching philosophy of legendary Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd.

“I’d like to thank The Dodd Trophy, PNC Bank and Peach Bowl, Inc. for this tremendous honor,” Cignetti said in a statement. “Being named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year is a fantastic recognition for our program but it is only possible because of the hard work of our student-athletes, assistant coaches and support staff.”

The honor arrives as Indiana heads into the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where the Hoosiers have started 14-0 and climbed to No. 1 in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls, according to the announcement.

Indiana has been one of the nation’s most complete teams statistically, the release said, leading the country in passing efficiency offense, first down defense and third down conversion percentage. The Hoosiers also rank near the top nationally in turnover margin, scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense, while sitting among the leaders in scoring offense and total offense.

Now in his second season in Bloomington, Cignetti is 25-2 at Indiana, a stretch the announcement said represents one of the best winning percentages in the country over the past two seasons. During that run, Indiana has made back-to-back CFP appearances and won its first Big Ten championship since 1967 — and its first outright conference crown since 1945 — according to the release.

“At Indiana University we stress many of the same things Coach Dodd did: scholarship, leadership and integrity,” Cignetti said. “This award means we’re doing a good job on and off the field.”

Foundation chairman Jim Terry said Cignetti’s selection fit the award’s original intent.

“Coach Cignetti epitomizes everything The Dodd Trophy stands for and I couldn’t think of a better representative to be the 50th recipient of this storied award,” Terry said in a statement. “Coach Cignetti’s impact is evident not only in the Hoosiers’ historic success this season, but also in the culture of scholarship, leadership and integrity he has established within the program.”

Off the field, the announcement cited Indiana’s academic performance, including a 982 Academic Progress Rate and an 88 Graduation Success Rate.

The release also highlighted community initiatives led under Cignetti, including “Hoosiers for Good,” which pairs student-athletes with local charities to promote causes while building mentorship and leadership experience. The announcement also noted that Cignetti recently said proceeds from a record-setting bobblehead sale would be donated to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

“What sets The Dodd Trophy apart is its focus on honoring coaches who exemplify excellence both on and off the field,” Peach Bowl, Inc. president and CEO Gary Stokan said in a statement. “Coach Cignetti’s success at Indiana goes well beyond wins and championships.”

Cignetti was chosen from a finalist group that also included Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, according to the announcement. Winners of the previous two years and first-year coaches at an institution are ineligible for the award.

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