Indiana University (IU) is riding high on a wave of unprecedented success under football head coach Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers’ recent national championship win has suddenly put the program among college football’s elite.
With that success, though, comes the need for more money—plain and simple. Ticket prices and personal seat license fees have climbed, and Athletic Director Scott Dolson says it’s just something they have to do if they want to keep up.
Meanwhile, IU basketball is facing a different challenge. New head coach Darian DeVries is wrestling with a thin frontcourt, and he’s already looking to the transfer portal to fill the gaps.
Let’s get into what’s going on with both programs and where they might be headed next.
Indiana Football’s Financial Commitment
The financial windfall from IU’s football run under Cignetti is honestly kind of wild. Since he showed up in 2024, the university has poured a lot more money into the program.
Cignetti’s landed three new contracts, making him one of the top three highest-paid coaches in college football. The coaching staff isn’t left out either—defensive coordinator Bryant Haines just signed a deal worth around $3 million per year.
Increased Ticket Prices
To keep all this going, IU has raised ticket prices and seat license fees. Dolson, chatting with Don Fischer, admitted he wasn’t thrilled about asking fans to pay more, but he said it’s necessary if they want to compete nationally.
“It costs a lot of money to continue to run the program at the level we need to, to compete nationally,” Dolson explained. No sugarcoating it there.
Fan Support and Future Goals
Even with the higher prices, Dolson couldn’t say enough about Hoosier Nation’s loyalty. “The sacrifices that fans have made, the support that we’ve received has been incredible,” he said.
The administration, along with IU President Pam Whitten, is all-in on making sure Cignetti has what he needs. They’re not just aiming to keep things steady—they want to keep climbing, and both Dolson and Cignetti have made that clear.
Challenges and Plans for IU Basketball
On the basketball side, things are a bit bumpier. DeVries, in his first year, has been short on big men, and it’s showing up in the team’s stats—offensive rebounds, total rebounds, blocked shots, you name it.
Frontcourt Depth Issues
DeVries has had to lean on seniors Sam Alexis, Reed Bailey, and Tucker DeVries to hold down the frontcourt. They’re often playing out of position, which isn’t ideal for anyone.
“Reed having to play a little out of position, going from the four to the five. Tucker having to go a lot more into the three to the four and wrestling,” DeVries said. It’s been rough, especially against the bigger Big Ten squads.
Looking Ahead: Transfer Portal and New Staff
With the season winding down and IU sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble, DeVries is already thinking about next steps. The upcoming transfer portal cycle is going to be huge for fixing the frontcourt problem.
Bringing in Ryan Carr as the new Executive Director of Basketball should help DeVries work the portal and build a more balanced roster for 2026-27. “That will certainly be a priority of ours as we’re putting together the roster for next year,” DeVries said.
Having a full coaching staff this offseason should make a real difference. They’ll finally have the time to really dig in, evaluate, and plan ahead—for once, maybe with a little less scrambling.
Conclusion
Indiana University finds itself at a turning point in its athletic history. The football program, led by Curt Cignetti, is seeing real momentum—some would even call it unprecedented.
There’s more money flowing in, and that’s pushing up ticket prices. It’s a trade-off, right? Fans want a top-tier team, but someone’s got to pay for it.
On the basketball side, things aren’t quite as rosy. Head coach Darian DeVries has some challenges on his plate, especially with the next transfer portal cycle coming up.
Still, the fan base is fired up and the administration seems pretty proactive. There’s a sense that both programs aren’t just trying to hang on—they want to get better, maybe even surprise a few people.
If you want to dig deeper, check out the full article on 247Sports.
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