On December 20, 2023, Curt Cignetti made a statement that’s followed him ever since.

Less than three weeks earlier, he officially took over as Indiana’s head football coach, and displayed extreme confidence seldom associated with the program he was joining. His introductory press conference on December 1 — along with his brash comments to the crowd at the IU men’s basketball game later that day — kicked off an offseason spent reinvigorating a fan base longing for gridiron success.

But his line during the Early Signing Day press conference became the quote printed on posters and slapped over social media graphics for the next 10 months and counting.

“I win. Google me.”

Halfway through his first season in Bloomington, Cignetti has managed to back that up.

He’s led Indiana to a start that only the most optimistic fans — and IU players and staff — saw as a plausible scenario entering the year: the Hoosiers are 6-0, the first team in the nation to secure bowl eligibility. It’s the program’s best start to a season in 57 years, and its best-ever start in its first year with a new head coach.

In less than a full calendar year, Cignetti has pumped both talent and belief into Indiana football that the program hasn’t seen in decades. He’s helped transform the Hoosiers from a Big Ten cellar dwellar into a top-25 team with a realistic path to 10 or 11 wins, which would rank among the greatest seasons in program history.

Cignetti has turned around programs at previous stops in his career at Elon and James Madison, and he has Indiana on the same trajectory.

“This is culture and mindset,” Cignetti said after Saturday’s win at Northwestern. “When you take over a program, the No. 1 thing you got to do is change the way people think. The way you play the game, your expectation level, your standards, how you do things, the fan base, what to expect, you’ve got to change the way people think. So we have a blueprint, we have a way we play, we’ve got character, we’ve got some talent. And they’re playing like all of our other teams have played in those situations.”

Indiana’s six wins haven’t been lucky, in any way. The Hoosiers aren’t narrowly pulling out these games. They’re not relying on fluky plays or favorable officiating. This is just a good football team. IU is among the best in the country in both total offense and total defense, and there’s still room to improve.

Indiana’s defense endured some struggles against Northwestern, as quarterback Jack Lausch caused some problems with his running ability and playmaking instincts. The defense had trouble getting off the field on some third and fourth downs, which kept the game close well into the fourth quarter. Linebacker Jailin Walker left the game with an injury during the first half and missed the remainder of the contest, which also created challenges.

Even with all that, IU minimized damage on many occasions. The Wildcats recorded 336 yards of total offense — the Hoosiers allowed fewer than 340 just twice last season. NU also finished with 93 rushing yards, the fewest by an IU opponent since week two.

Meanwhile, Indiana’s offense looks like an absolute juggernaut. IU has scored 40 points or more in each of the last five games, the first time in program history accomplishing that feat. The offense has consistently answered in big moments, when the team needs a touchdown.

Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been remarkably efficient and accurate, calmly leading the Hoosiers downfield drive after drive. And his weapons and running back and wide receiver have more than picked up the slack when he’s been a little off. Elijah Sarratt is the Big Ten’s second-leading receiver after Saturday’s game, and has a real chance at becoming the eighth Hoosier to post 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.

Rourke completed 76 percent of his pass attempts against Northwestern — even with strong wind gusts — for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Sarratt caught seven passes for 135 yards. That connection is looking increasingly lethal for Indiana.

“You’ve got two committed, dependable guys,” Cignetti said. “Sarratt, he did maybe have his hands on one today that wasn’t complete. But they certainly do have that trust. But I think he’s got trust with a lot of those wideouts, which is why we’re rolling the way we are.”

The historic start’s obvious flaw is the relatively easy schedule IU has benefitted from. The non-conference slate featured one of the nation’s worst FCS teams and two Group of Five programs who entered Saturday ranked in the bottom 20 of ESPN’s SP+ rankings. The Hoosiers have yet to face a traditional Big Ten football power, and their three conference opponents have come against squads ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten in the SP+ rankings.

Some fans and analysts may remain skeptical about Indiana until it faces tougher competition. Wins and good performances against Nebraska, Washington, Michigan, and/or Ohio State would see the IU bandwagon grow larger.

But context matters. Indiana has historically been the sort of weak opponent that good — or even average — teams would expect to defeat. The public wouldn’t become convinced of a team’s might just because it beat the Hoosiers; people would need to see more.

This IU team is on the other side of that paradigm.

That’s not enough for Cignetti — he may never be completely satisfied with his team. He could lead IU to a national championship, and he’d still be grinding about something his players could’ve executed even better.

But his Hoosiers are unquestionably off to a historic start, the type that will have fans dreaming big until proven otherwise.

Cignetti will continue preaching that his players avoid the “rat poison,” the outside hype that comes along with the uncharted territory he’s led the program to. The first half of the season has been great, but plenty of challenges await. The schedule gets harder, and fan attention and excitement will soon be split between football and basketball. Eventually, he’ll attempt to snap IU’s 33-year drought without a bowl game victory. He needs his players to remain locked in to overcome those obstacles.

But Curt Cignetti has a blueprint. And through his first six games in Bloomington, there’s no reason to question that plan.

For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE. 

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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EVANSTON, Ill. — Indiana football defensive end Mikail Kamara knows how much Curt Cignetti loathes handing out praise.

Kamara has been with Cignetti going back to 2020 as the first verbal commitment for James Madison’s coaching staff during that recruiting cycle.

There’s a small window when Cignetti lets down his guard after games — just a tiny bit — and that happened Saturday in the wake of IU’s 41-24 win over Northwestern. It was the type of gritty victory that was missing from IU’s resume, and after the game he had to admit something he doesn’t like to put out in the public.

“We are 6-0 as a football team, proud of the team up this point,” Cignetti said. “Which I’m not supposed to say.”

Insider: This IU team is nothing like the IU anyone has ever known. It’s ruthless.

IU vs. Northwestern grades: Hoosiers far from perfect, but their record still is

Kamara said that sentiment will be a distant memory once the team gets back to Bloomington as everyone turns their focus to Nebraska, but that small bit of praise from Cignetti was still a meaningful moment given the high bar of success he sets.

“It’s like we are playing so well he has no choice but to tell everybody,” Kamara said with a chuckle.

The final 12 minutes of the game is what Cignetti will remember the most from Saturday.

Indiana’s offense kept on putting points on the board, but the defense struggled to come up with a stop for much of the second half. Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch orchestrated a six-play, 61-yard scoring drive early in the fourth quarter and got the crowd on their feet with a 47-yard completion to Bryce Kirtz that was the team’s longest play of the day.

The Wildcats’ upset hopes evaporated after that.

Indiana starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke connected with the team’s leading receiver Elijah Sarratt three times on the ensuing drive to get right back into the red zone where Ty Son Lawton rushed his seventh touchdown of the season.

Rourke and Sarratt connected again to convert on a 4th-and-5 late in the quarter to set up another score.

The Hoosiers defense swarmed Lausch on Northwestern’s final two drives — they had four quarterback hurries from four defenders — and the secondary locked things down. Lausch was 6-of-15 during that stretch and barely avoided turning the ball over on a near-sack from Kamara.

“I really liked the way we finished the game on defense with the last two drives,” Cignetti said. “I really liked that a lot, that was awesome.”

Indiana is the first team in the FBS that is bowl eligible. That wasn’t mentioned at the podium by Cignetti and it wasn’t uttered in the locker room either.

The Hoosiers have national title aspirations — not a typo — and Cignetti loves that there will be people doubting his program every step of the way. He would much rather players lean into that than read any positive coverage about the team’s historic start.

Indiana is 6-0 for only the second time in program history (1967) and haven’t trailed for a single second.

“I’m not concerned with them reading about their accolades on social media and the paper cause they have been around the block a little bit,” Cignetti said of his veteran team. “They’ll be reading a lot about how we aren’t good enough to do this and that. I want the chip on their shoulder to keep growing, is what I want.”

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

Indianapolis (Ind.) Warren Central edge rusher Damien Shanklin revealed his commitment to Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers in early July.

Then, just weeks after announcing his pledge to the Bayou Bengals, Shanklin doubled down on his commitment to Kelly’s program.

The four-star EDGE took to social media to announce he would be shutting down his recruitment entirely and remain locked in with LSU.

Shanklin will not entertain other colleges or college coaches with all focus shifting to the Early Signing Period in December where he will put pen to paper with LSU.

“I will be closing my recruitment,” Shanklin said. “I’m 1000% committed.”

LSU currently boasts America’s No. 3 recruiting class with 26 commitments in the 2025 cycle to this point.

Now, LSU EDGE coach Kevin Peoples has made his way to Indiana to check in with the state’s top prospect in Shanklin.

Peoples was on the sidelines watching his future edge rusher in person during the open date while on the road checking in with recruits.

The most recent commitments come in five-star prospects (DJ Pickett (No. 1 CB) and Derek Meadows (Top 10 WR), Aidan Anding (4-star CB), Kade Phillips (4-star CB) and more.

Pickett is rated as the No. 1 cornerback, according to both On3 Sports and 247Sports while Meadows is locked in as a five-star wideout in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports.

It’s a talent-rich class with Shanklin serving as a major recruiting tool for the program. Once he verbally committed to LSU, he took to social media to become an advocate for the Tigers on “The Trail”.

Who makes up LSU’s 2025 recruiting class? A look into a few headliners:

Bryce Underwood: No. 1 Quarterback in America

Height: 6’4
Weight: 215 pounds

The Rundown, per On3 Sports: “Bryce Underwood made an immediate impact on the varsity level as a freshman at Belleville (Michigan) High School. Underwood threw for 2,888 yards and 39 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also added six rushing scores in his freshman season to lead Belleville to a state championship. Underwood was named the Michigan Associated Press Division 1-2 Player of the Year after the stellar first season. He then led Belleville to a perfect 14-0 record and another state title in 2022. Underwood threw for 2,762 yards and 37 touchdowns as a sophomore. To make things even more impressive, Underwood could technically be a 2026 prospect, but he’s completing school early as part of the 2025 class.”

Harlem Berry: No. 1 Running Back in America

Height: 5’10
Weight: 182 pounds

The Rundown, per On3 Sports: “St Martin’s Episcopal School coach Marcus Dizer isn’t shy about heaping on the praise for Harlem Berry. ‘In all my years, I have never coached or seen a better player than Harlem,’ Dizer said. Through his first two seasons of varsity football, Berry had 4,723 all-purpose yards and 67 touchdowns. He also won the Louisiana 1A state titles in the 100 (10.57) and 200-meters (21.43) during his sophomore year. As a sophomore, Berry rushed 193 times for 2,237 yards (11.6 yards per carry) and 37 touchdowns. During his junior season, he was named the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club player of the month in September after rushing for 805 yards and 16 scores – in just four games. ‘He’s brilliant,’ Dizer said. ‘We do not win games without him.’”

DJ Pickett: No. 1 Cornerback in America

Height: 6’4
Weight: 180 pounds

The Rundown: Per 247Sports, “Lanky two-way playmaker that allows the mind to get pretty creative when it comes identifying potential roles, but warrants a look as a field corner given one-of-a-kind frame and quick-twitched lower half. Measured right around 6-foot-4, 180 pounds the summer before senior season, making him one of the tallest defensive backs to come out of the high school ranks in recent cycles. More notably, came in with a near 6-foot-8 wingspan. Has dominated rural Florida-based competition the past few years, making an impact as both a wide receiver and a deep safety. Has what it takes to emerge as a true game-breaker on offense with his size and foot speed, but ability to generate turnovers with his advanced ball skills while also mirroring in reverse makes him an intriguing option in both man and off-coverage.”

Derek Meadows: Five-Star Wide Receiver

Height: 6’6
Weight: 205 pounds

The Rundown: Per 247Sports, “Meadows is a jumbo receiver and one of the more intriguing players in the ’25 class. He has a rare combination of size, athleticism and body control and is only scratching the surface of how good we think he can be. At 6-6, 200 pounds and an 80” wingspan, he’s a matchup nightmare for smaller defensive backs and should be an immediate red zone threat. He can run as well and is one of the region’s top track athletes although a hamstring injury has limited him this Spring. He was the Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a sophomore and is one of the region’s top hurdlers. He has a big frame and it wouldn’t shock us if he eventually grows in to a pass catching tight end who would be lethal working against linebackers and safeties down the middle of the field.”

Carius Curne: No. 2 Interior Offensive Lineman in America

Height: 6’4
Weight: 320 pounds

The Rundown: Curne is a late bloomer on the gridiron after starting his playing career just three years ago in the ninth grade. Fast forward to the end of his junior campaign and he’s blossomed into the top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the country with the chance to play defensive line if need be. Curne, the No. 1 player in Arkansas, is a game changer that will elevate the LSU offensive line for years to come.

Charles Ross: No. 10 Linebacker in America

Height: 6’0
Weight: 200 pounds

The Rundown: Ross is a fast-rising prospect in the 2025 cycle with an opportunity to continue elevating his status for the long haul. He’s launched from a player outside of the Top 300 to a Top 100 recruit due to his sheer speed and athleticism at the second level. The speedster is a dominant athlete on the track and it carries over to his game on the field.

Tyler Miller: Top 10 Interior Offensive Lineman

Height: 6’5
Weight: 315 pounds

The Rundown: Laurel High coach Ryan Earnest isn’t afraid to brag about Tyler Miller. “His size, his strength and he’s just freakishly athletic,” Earnest told the Hattiesburg American about Miller, who led Laurel to the Mississippi 5A title game in 2023. “He presents some problems for people on the other side of the ball. And we’re never afraid to say that we’re just going to run behind him and let him pave the way. That’s how talented he is.”

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.