Head coach Curt Cignetti earned the right to run his Indiana Hoosiers program as he sees fit.
Within a span of two years, Cignetti took Indiana from the losingest team in FBS history to a national champion. College football experts are still trying to figure out how he did it.
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Meanwhile, Cignetti focuses on what’s next. The Hoosiers began spring practice on Thursday, March 26, with plenty of question marks.
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Wide receiver Nick Marsh, a transfer from the Michigan State Spartans, is expected to fill a void left by departed pass-catchers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr.
According to IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman, Marsh got a surprise on the first day of practice when Cignetti saw him wearing gold cleats.
“I didn’t love those gold shoes he came out in today. He learned what getting your ass ripped is all about. I don’t know if that happened to him very often at Michigan State. … That was a wake-up call,” Cignetti said.
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Marsh impressed Cignetti when the coach reviewed tape of a Sept. 7, 2024, game against the Maryland Terrapins. In that game, Marsh exploded by catching eight passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. During a 38-13 Indiana victory over the Spartans in 2025, Marsh caught seven passes for 64 yards and a score.
Later, Cignetti softened his comments about Marsh. “He’s really worked hard, done a great job for us,” Cignetti said.
Finally, Marsh finished his two-year Michigan State career with 100 catches for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns.
Earlier, Cignetti responded to a question about how his team can improve after a 16-0 season that ended with a national title.
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“That’s over. You can’t really improve on 16-0. … What you can improve on is your day-to-day consistency and the tools in your toolkit and the things you do to help guys be the best they can be. Even when you win games, there’s a lot of plays you’d like to have back,” Cignetti said.
Finally, spring practice culminates in the Indiana spring at 8 p.m. ET April 23.
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