The Indiana Hoosiers recently clinched their inaugural NCAA Football championship in a feat that stands out as one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college sports history. Integral to this revival has been the involvement of Mark Cuban, a billionaire entrepreneur and alumnus of Indiana University, who has played a notable role in backing the program's recent efforts, particularly through contributions to the school’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) initiatives.
Cuban's connection to Indiana University dates back to his college years when he participated in rugby at the institution. His ongoing commitment today is exemplified by his substantial financial support towards NIL programs aimed at revitalizing the football team, which had long struggled with performance challenges.
On January 19, 2026, Cuban was present at the National Championship game where Indiana University triumphed over Miami University with a score of 27 to 21. The game was broadcast on ESPN, a division of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS).
In several interviews prior to the championship, Cuban expressed genuine astonishment at the team’s remarkable progress, highlighting that he never anticipated such success given Indiana's historical standing within college football—a sport in which the school ranks as the losingest program in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Traditionally, Indiana’s athletic acclaim has been tied to its basketball achievements, boasting five national championships. However, Cuban credits a pivotal shift in football fortunes to the hiring of coach Curt Cignetti, whose background and philosophy have aligned closely with Cuban’s vision, prompting his engagement in the NIL funding efforts.
Both Cuban and Cignetti share roots in Pennsylvania, even being born in the same hospital. This geographic and cultural connection laid the foundation for their relationship, which has since solidified into a collaboration focused on strategic reinvestment in the football program.
Describing his approach to NIL investment, Cuban differentiated his support from merely outbidding competitor schools for athlete contracts. Instead, he emphasized the importance of cultivating a winning culture and a well-organized infrastructure within the team.
“All the things you need to do to win, no matter what the sport is,” Cuban said.
Cubans likened his involvement to investing in an established entrepreneur on “Shark Tank.” He drew parallels to Curt Cignetti’s proven system of building cohesive organizations, pointing out the coach’s methodical design of team operations and his record of prior successes as prime reasons for Cuban’s confidence.
With NIL dramatically reshaping college athletics by allowing athletes to monetize their personal brands, the landscape particularly in football has shifted. One notable consequence has been a rise in player movement through the transfer portal after each season.
Indiana and coach Cignetti have harnessed the transfer portal strategically to assemble a competitive roster primarily composed of players without five-star recruit status. Cuban emphasized that their recruitment philosophy is less about simply winning battles for player commitments and more about securing athletes who understand their roles and responsibilities within the team framework.
“It’s not about winning the portal. It’s about getting athletes and players who want to know their role, work to fill their role, know what their position is with the team,” Cuban remarked.
This focus on role-players mirrors Cuban’s ownership philosophy when managing the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, where constructing a successful roster under salary cap constraints required balancing talent with defined responsibilities.
Additionally, Cuban, whose net worth is estimated at $9.6 billion according to Bloomberg, confirmed that he recently renewed his financial backing of Indiana’s football program.
Indiana’s Remarkable Football Resurgence
Prior to coach Cignetti’s arrival in 2024, Indiana’s football program had experienced limited success in recent decades, recording only two winning seasons since the start of the millennium — an 8-5 mark in 2019 and a 7-6 finish in 2007.
The team’s overall historical record stands at 510 wins, 691 losses, and 38 ties across 127 seasons, underscoring the lasting challenges it faced. That context makes the Hoosiers' recent achievements all the more notable.
In the last two seasons, Indiana posted consecutive outstanding records: an 11-2 finish last year followed by an unprecedented flawless 16-0 season culminating in their first national championship. This perfect season is historic as it marks the first time a Division-I FBS football team has won every game in the modern era of college football playoffs, which feature an expanded schedule for leading programs.
Starting the season ranked 20th in preseason polls, Indiana outperformed expectations by overcoming years of underperformance and surpassing teams traditionally ranked within the top six at the outset of each campaign.
Cignetti arrived with a well-established history of success at smaller programs, including Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Elon University, and James Madison University. Notably, he was instrumental in guiding James Madison’s transition into Division I FBS football.
“I win. Google me,” Cignetti declared confidently upon his introduction as Indiana’s head football coach.
With a current record of 27 wins against only 2 losses leading the Hoosiers, Cignetti’s statement stands supported by strong results.
While Cignetti’s coaching acumen has been a central factor in Indiana’s turnaround, Cuban’s financial support toward NIL programs and guidance in player acquisition through the transfer portal have undeniably contributed to the football program’s revitalization and ultimate success.