Indiana extends Curt Cignetti's contract through 2033

Indiana University on Thursday announced an eight-year contract extension for head football coach Curt Cignetti, keeping him in Bloomington through Nov. 30, 2033, with average annual compensation of about $11.6 million and a total value near $92.8 million. The deal ends speculation that Cignetti, who led the Hoosiers to a signature road win over Oregon and a No. 3 national ranking, might be a candidate for the vacancy at Penn State after that school dismissed James Franklin.

The extension cements Cignetti’s rapid turnaround of the program since his arrival from James Madison. Indiana is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play this season, and the program reached the College Football Playoff for the first time last year. The school credited Cignetti’s leadership for the rise; university president Pamela Whitten said, "Put simply, Cig is a winner." Cignetti released a video declaring his commitment to the program, saying, "Curt Cignetti is gonna work daily to make Indiana the best that they can be."

Financial details of the contract underline Indiana’s effort to protect the coach and deter suitors. Published reports describe a buyout structure that would be fully guaranteed if...