Mark Cuban backs Indiana football’s CFP title run by trusting Curt Cignetti’s vision

Indiana football has reached a place no one in Bloomington ever imagined, and Mark Cuban is right in the middle of it. The Hoosiers are playing for the College Football Playoff national championship against Miami, backed in part by Cuban’s donations and NIL support. The Indiana alum, who was on the sidelines for the Peach Bowl win over Oregon, said seeing IU on this stage still feels unreal given how little football success the program once had.

Cuban said his support is not about spending the most money or chasing star ratings. For him, it is about trusting Curt Cignetti’s method and vision. He compared backing the Indiana coach to funding a strong founder on Shark Tank. “I’m like investing in an entrepreneur in Shark Tank,” Cuban said, explaining that Cignetti came in with a clear system, a proven plan, and confidence in how to build a team the right way.

Indiana’s rise has been fueled by smart use of the transfer portal and a focus on fit over flash. The program has avoided bidding wars and instead targeted players who understand their roles and can produce right away. Cuban said that mindset reminds him of how winning teams are built in the NBA. “We’re not talking about, ‘We got the most expensive quarterback, and we outbid everybody else,” he said. It's all about “Putting together the exact right player. That’s what we’ve done better than anybody.”

Now, Indiana has a chance to cap its historic season with a national title. The Hoosiers and Hurricanes will kick off Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium, with the game airing on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. For Cuban, the result matters, but the bigger win is seeing Indiana football finally believe it belongs on the biggest stage.