ATLANTA (Sep. 22, 2025) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank.
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 guided Indiana to one of the program's most dominant victories in school history on Saturday night, as the No. 17 Hoosiers rolled past No. 9 Illinois, 63-10, in front of a sellout crowd at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza fueled the statement win by completing 21-of-23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns in three quarters, while the Hoosiers' defense suffocated the Illini from start to finish. This marked Indiana's sixth all-time victory over an AP top-10 opponent and extended the Hoosiers' program-record home winning streak to 12 games under Cignetti. It was also the most points scored by a Big Ten team against an AP top-10 opponent and the largest margin of victory over a ranked foe in school history.
Indiana showcased its explosive offense, racking up 589 total yards and topping 300 yards rushing for the fourth straight game, a first in program history. Running back Khobie Martin led the ground game with 107 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt combined for 15 catches, 170 yards and three scores. Mendoza, who now owns a Big Ten-best 14 touchdown passes without an interception this season, has completed 40 of his last 43 passes for 537 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two games.
Defensively, the Hoosiers overwhelmed Illinois at the line of scrimmage, holding the Ilini to 163 total yards and nine first downs. Indiana recorded seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss, while cornerback D'Angelo Ponds blocked a first-quarter punt and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown to spark the Hoosiers.
"Coach Cignetti and the Hoosiers executed flawlessly in every phase of the game," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "The team's discipline, resilience and ability to defeat a top-10 opponent truly showcase the leadership and character that this award stands for."
Entering 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.
"This victory highlights just how far Indiana football has come under Coach Cignetti," said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President. "He has established a program rooted in toughness and belief. A victory like this demonstrates that the Hoosiers are prepared to compete at the highest level nationally."
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.
