The Road to Eight Wins

[wcbsas]

Cignetti just wins. Indeed, "google him." He's 146-37 (.799) lifetime, as a head coach. Never had a losing season. Had James Madison as high as 18th in the AP bowl in only their 2nd year as an FBS team.


Money follows a winner.


He's doing something right. I don't think he got a lot of 4 and 5 star talent at JM, many of whom followed him to IU. I don't follow recruiting but as of 5/11, 247sports.com has IU's class ranked at 20. NU is ranked 71.

Recruits follow winners too.


Who knows. What kind of adversity? scandal? a losing season?

I am not debating whether Cignetti is a good coach but he ain’t Nick Saban.

Indiana’s non-conference under Cignetti:
2024 - FIU, Charlotte, Western Ill
2025 - Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Indiana St
2026 - North Texas, Howard, WKU

In two years they’ve played Michigan, Oregon, PSU, Iowa just once. tOSU twice.
In two years they’ve played UCLA, Northwestern, Purdue and Maryland twice.
They’ve yet to play USC.

It’s been a soft schedule in and out of conference.

No one is arguing that he isn’t a good coach … he is. I also believe he’s winning the right way … at the line of scrimmage. Not sure what his NIL pool is but $50M is the going rate in the B1G. But what happens when he finishes 2nd or 3rd or gasp worse?

The adversity I speak of is not achieving expectations. It’s losing at tOSU and Michigan. It’s failing to make the CFP. It’s failing to maintain the lofty success standards he has achieved in two years.

 

[NUinID]

The bolded part is very true. With the transfer portal it’s impossible to really know anything this early. Washington and Illinois are two teams that could be good or average. Same is true with Nebraska. I expect Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, and Iowa to be good. I expect Maryland, Rutgers, and Michigan State to be bottom of the conference.

Who knows how good Iowa will be, they just have Nebraska's number. It's a psychological thing at this point just like it was for Nebraska over Colorado in the 90's.

 

[Bigger Ed]

I am not debating whether Cignetti is a good coach but he ain’t Nick Saban.

Indiana’s non-conference under Cignetti:
2024 - FIU, Charlotte, Western Ill
2025 - Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Indiana St
2026 - North Texas, Howard, WKU

In two years they’ve played Michigan, Oregon, PSU, Iowa just once. tOSU twice.
In two years they’ve played UCLA, Northwestern, Purdue and Maryland twice.
They’ve yet to play USC.

It’s been a soft schedule in and out of conference.

No one is arguing that he isn’t a good coach … he is. I also believe he’s winning the right way … at the line of scrimmage. Not sure what his NIL pool is but $50M is the going rate in the B1G. But what happens when he finishes 2nd or 3rd or gasp worse?

The adversity I speak of is not achieving expectations. It’s losing at tOSU and Michigan. It’s failing to make the CFP. It’s failing to maintain the lofty success standards he has achieved in two years.

Just about everyone plays a soft non-con schedule anymore. I think we can both agree that what Indiana does under Cignetti remains to be seen.

 

[wcbsas]

Just about everyone plays a soft non-con schedule anymore. I think we can both agree that what Indiana does under Cignetti remains to be seen.

Not necessarily. Most conference teams play at least one P4 team. NU played CU the last two years, they play Arizona in ‘27 & ‘28, OU in ‘29. We know the reasons we’re not playing P4 teams this year and next.

Wisconsin, a notoriously soft scheduler played Alabama the last two years and Notre Dame this coming year. Ohio State play Texas last year and this year. Michigan plays Oklahoma last year and this year.

In the last 10 years Indiana has played Louisville (2), Virginia (2), Wake Forest and Cincinnati (2). Pretty piss poor scheduling and the first 3 years of the Cignetti era is even worse.

 

[Husker In Oklahoma]

In fairness Fitzgerald never had Cignetti’s NIL money.

Fitzgerald is a “more-with-less” kind of coach, and therefore I expect some upsets throughout his tenure. He isn’t going to suddenly transform MSU into Indiana.

Indiana, did NOT spend elite dollars, especially in year one. I’d argue, NU spent close to what Indiana spent on their roster last year. They aren’t Oregon. Cuban isn’t a fool with his money. They aren’t one of the top spenders. They are efficient, and coach them well.

 

[wcbsas]

Indiana, did NOT spend elite dollars, especially in year one. I’d argue, NU spent close to what Indiana spent on their roster last year. They aren’t Oregon. Cuban isn’t a fool with his money. They aren’t one of the top spenders. They are efficient, and coach them well.

Key 2025 Big Ten Football NIL Estimates (Top Leaders)

• Ohio State Buckeyes: ~$20.2M+
• Michigan Wolverines: ~$16.3M+
• Penn State Nittany Lions: ~$13.7M+
• Indiana Hoosiers: ~$13.6M+
• Michigan State Spartans: ~$13.0M+
• Oregon Ducks: ~$10.6M+
• Iowa Hawkeyes: ~$9.6M+
• Washington Huskies: ~$9.4M+
• Illinois Fighting Illini: ~$9.3M+

Quick Google search request for NIL spending … not sure how accurate but it does show Indiana in the top 4. I believe this is monies over and above revenue sharing.

 

[NUinID]

Key 2025 Big Ten Football NIL Estimates (Top Leaders)

• Ohio State Buckeyes: ~$20.2M+
• Michigan Wolverines: ~$16.3M+
• Penn State Nittany Lions: ~$13.7M+
• Indiana Hoosiers: ~$13.6M+
• Michigan State Spartans: ~$13.0M+
• Oregon Ducks: ~$10.6M+
• Iowa Hawkeyes: ~$9.6M+
• Washington Huskies: ~$9.4M+
• Illinois Fighting Illini: ~$9.3M+

Quick Google search request for NIL spending … not sure how accurate but it does show Indiana in the top 4. I believe this is monies over and above revenue sharing.

If this is true I find that disturbing that Nebraska wasn’t in the top 9, but I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[Husker In Oklahoma]

Key 2025 Big Ten Football NIL Estimates (Top Leaders)

• Ohio State Buckeyes: ~$20.2M+
• Michigan Wolverines: ~$16.3M+
• Penn State Nittany Lions: ~$13.7M+
• Indiana Hoosiers: ~$13.6M+
• Michigan State Spartans: ~$13.0M+
• Oregon Ducks: ~$10.6M+
• Iowa Hawkeyes: ~$9.6M+
• Washington Huskies: ~$9.4M+
• Illinois Fighting Illini: ~$9.3M+

Quick Google search request for NIL spending … not sure how accurate but it does show Indiana in the top 4. I believe this is monies over and above revenue sharing.

I’ve not seen numbers anywhere. I find it hard to believe Oregon is that far down, given what their roster was. NU giving less than 9 mm? Who knows what a real number is?

 

[wcbsas]

If this is true I find that disturbing that Nebraska wasn’t in the top 9, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Remember these are without revenue sharing that is/can be in the $20M range.

 

[NorthwoodHusker]

I was up more than usual on our O line last year, even more so this year. Going in, a little down this year at rb vs last yar going in.
QB, all around, slightly up, mobility but the WRs as well, better this year.
Defense, overall, very disappointed matching talent vs play, and mostly imo it was coaching, so thee changes here are as vital on the line and scheme as our imo improved O line scheme/coaching.
This should get us to 8, I picked 7, but 8 is very possible.

 

[wcbsas]

I was up more than usual on our O line last year, even more so this year. Going in, a little down this year at rb vs last yar going in.
QB, all around, slightly up, mobility but the WRs as well, better this year.
Defense, overall, very disappointed matching talent vs play, and mostly imo it was coaching, so thee changes here are as vital on the line and scheme as our imo improved O line scheme/coaching.
This should get us to 8, I picked 7, but 8 is very possible.

Our OLine was solid last year, particularly in the run game, especially when Corcoran became a fixture on the starting line during the second half of the season. I believe the coaching will be immensely better and the results on the field will follow. This season our starting five may be our best since the Pelini-era. Hopefully some of our young guys step up for depth.

Defense was bad because our scheme was very NFL-like … bend don’t break, don’t give up the big play and allow the opposing offense to dictate tempo. A better scheme with more athletes in the front seven will help this coming year.

 

[Husker In Oklahoma]

Remember these are without revenue sharing that is/can be in the $20M range.

Understand. LSU supposedly has spent north of 40 mm on this coming years rosters. I have to believe that Ohio State, Tech, A&M, Texas, Oregon and Miami aren’t far behind, if they even are? Figure 16 mm or so for the football team for rev share, plus donations. Staggering actually. Submitting 20+ million in ‘donations’ to football salaries, year after year after year, you’d think would wear on people. How high will this go? Where is the summit, the peak?

I just won’t forget Ryan Day telling his alumni base at a summer gathering in 2022 that he needed 13 million to keep all of his players for that particular year. Everyone was like WOW holy moly, that’s insane. That same team is now +40 million only 4 years later. Are we looking at an 80 mm payroll come 2030?

 

[wcbsas]

Understand. LSU supposedly has spent north of 40 mm on this coming years rosters. I have to believe that Ohio State, Tech, A&M, Texas, Oregon and Miami aren’t far behind, if they even are? Figure 16 mm or so for the football team for rev share, plus donations. Staggering actually. Submitting 20+ million in ‘donations’ to football salaries, year after year after year, you’d think would wear on people. How high will this go? Where is the summit, the peak?

I just won’t forget Ryan Day telling his alumni base at a summer gathering in 2022 that he needed 13 million to keep all of his players for that particular year. Everyone was like WOW holy moly, that’s insane. That same team is now +40 million only 4 years later. Are we looking at an 80 mm payroll come 2030?

I agree with you.

The numbers I listed were last season - 2025.

Truthfully I think we get to $80M before 2030 unless some restraint comes down the road.

I do think the latest with ESPN not wanting a 24 team playoff maybe bodes well. Maybe even they are saying it might be too much!

 

[TFrazier]

I agree with you.

The numbers I listed were last season - 2025.

Truthfully I think we get to $80M before 2030 unless some restraint comes down the road.

I do think the latest with ESPN not wanting a 24 team playoff maybe bodes well. Maybe even they are saying it might be too much!

Is your 80 million on top of or including the athletic department revenue share?

Well…you probably didn’t mean this but I don’t think Nebraska gets anywhere near approaching 80 million.

 

[wcbsas]

Is your 80 million on top of or including the athletic department revenue share?

Well…you probably didn’t mean this but I don’t think Nebraska gets anywhere near approaching 80 million.

I have no idea … it went from scholarship for tuition and board to $4M QBs in just under a decade. I hope it never gets to $80M but are you here to suggest it never absolutely positively gets there?