ATLANTA (Oct. 13, 2025) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Indiana's head football coach Curt Cignetti has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank for the second time this season.
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Cignetti earned this week's honor after guiding No. 7 Indiana to a 30-20 road victory over No. 3 Oregon on Saturday at Autzen Stadium. The win marked a historic breakthrough for the Hoosiers, who entered the game 0-46 all-time on the road against top-five opponents. Indiana not only snapped that streak, but also ended Oregon's 23-game regular-season winning streak and 18-game home winning streak in the process.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the way, completing 20-of-31 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown, while Elijah Sarratt caught eight passes for 121 yards, including the eventual game-winning touchdown midway in the fourth quarter. Running back Roman Hemby added 70 rushing yards and two scores, while kicker Brendan Franke tied a school record with a 58-yard field goal to close out the first half.
Defensively, Indiana was relentless, sacking Oregon quarterback Dante Moore six times and intercepting him twice after he entered the game with only one interception on the season. Linebackers Aiden Fisher and Rolijah Hardy each recorded 13 tackles, while Isaiah Jones added eight tackles, one sack and an interception.
Earlier this season, Cignetti was also recognized as the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week after the Hoosiers' 63-10, week four victory over No. 9 Illinois.
"Coach Cignetti and the Hoosiers displayed outstanding toughness and poise in one of the biggest road wins in program history," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "To take down a top-three opponent on the road and capture a huge conference win speaks volumes about his leadership and the belief he's instilled in his players."
Now in his second season in Bloomington, Cignetti has quickly elevated Indiana into national prominence. In his first year at the helm, he led the Hoosiers to a school-record 11 wins, eight Big Ten victories and the program's first College Football Playoff appearance.
Off the field, Cignetti has emphasized the importance of accountability, toughness and a relentless commitment to improvement. That mindset and culture have proven successful, as the Hoosiers posted a 982 Academic Progress Rate and an 84 Graduation Success Rate last season, ranking Indiana among the best Big Ten programs.
In the community, Cignetti has made it a priority for Indiana football to support programs where everyone wins. Through initiatives like Hoosiers for Good, student-athletes partner with local charities to raise awareness for important causes while gaining mentorship and leadership experience. Football players have used this platform to support organizations addressing the issues facing their community, showing that their impact reaches far beyond the field. The program not only benefits local charities and communities, but also helps to shape the players into lifelong, service-minded leaders.
"Coach Cignetti has quickly transformed Indiana into a model of consistency and character," said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president. "To walk into one of the toughest environments in college football and deliver a defining win like that demonstrates the type of leadership The Dodd Trophy stands for and why he's already received this honor twice in one season."
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
