iStockphoto / © Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti is one of college football’s most detail-obsessed personalities. His focus on processes and outcomes has the Hoosiers in the national title game.
The program is a perfect 15-0 on the year with its final game approaching. Cignetti admitted to celebrating each of those wins with a cold beer. His outcome-oriented mindset won’t allow him to booze inefficiently.
Cignetti is in Year 2 with the program after leading James Madison for two seasons. Across four campaigns as an FBS head coach, he’s gone 45-6.
The man just wins. Google it. This year has been his best yet.
Curt Cignetti has Indiana playing for a national championship.
He’s already won the Big Ten, s0mething that hadn’t happened in Bloomington since 1967. He coached the program’s first Heisman winner in Fernando Mendoza. His 15 wins this season are a school best.
Cignetti has re-written record books in just two years. He’s completely changed the outlook of the future. Indiana is no longer a basketball school!
He’ll have a chance to further make history when facing Miami in the national title. The Hoosiers have never won a college football championship. If he does pull off the feat, he will celebrate accordingly.
After a Peach Bowl win over Oregon, he said the following:
Indiana HC Curt Cignetti: “I’m not thinking about the next game. I’m thinking about cracking open a beer.” 🏈🍺🎙️ #CFP pic.twitter.com/RNXmeNPyEW
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 10, 2026
He cracked a cold beer after advancing to the title matchup. His running backs coach said it’s somewhat of a tradition.
“I don’t know what his favorite type of beer is,” Miller told CBS Sports. “But he’ll celebrate for a little bit and then it’s on to the next opponent.”
Cignetti is efficient.
His offense currently ranks No. 2 in college football’s efficiency rankings. The defense ranks No. 3. Attention to detail is a big reason why.
“He’s all ball pretty much all the time,” said assistant Chandler Whitmer. His staff describes his perfect day as being a film study in a dark room.
A Nick Saban disciple, that comes as no surprise. Much like his mentor, he rarely seems satisfied.
He shows little emotion on the sidelines. His focus is one play at a time, no matter score or situation. Execution is key. Distractions are unwelcome.
That approach has proven extremely successful on the football field. It’s something that carries over into his beer drinking, according to one James Madison booster.
I have some insight into this from a JMU booster friend that I think is… telling https://t.co/gqt061o9gU pic.twitter.com/WE1ToCvBOJ
— David Covucci (@DavidCovucci) January 18, 2026
The booster recalled Curt Cignetti’s attendance at donor event at a local brewery. The head coach did not reference the drinks by name, only by alcohol content.
He has one mission in boozing – to take the edge off after 3.5 hours of on-field stress. And he knows how to get the job done in the most efficient way possible. One of his co-workers described as being a “double IPA” guy, though specifics on his favorite brand of beer is still a bit hazy.
With all of that being said, he also knows when to call it a night. Cignetti enjoys a beverage but won’t go overboard. The end-goal is not a hangover.
“Just one,” the coach replied when asked about his typical limit. “At my age when you drink two, you fall asleep.”
Cignetti hopes to enjoy one more on Monday night after a national championship win.