This story was originally published by TheStatehouseFile.com.
By Tyler Young
TheStatehouseFile.com
March 4, 2026
Indiana University head football Coach Curt Cignetti has another award in his trophy case: the highest honor in the state of Indiana.
Gov. Mike Braun honored Cignetti with the 2026 Sachem Award. The Sachem is only presented once per year to an individual chosen by the governor.
According to the governor’s office, the award is reserved for those who have “profoundly shaped Indiana through character, leadership, and service.”
Bruan also presented the Sagamore of the Wabash to every member of the 2025 national championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers team. Cignetti and Indiana University President Pamela Whitten accepted the award on the team’s behalf.
The Sagamore of the Wabash is given by the Governor to those who provide the state with valuable, exceptional service.
“Never daunted, Coach Curt Cignetti represented the state of Indiana on the national stage and showed the world that the Hoosier values of grit, perseverance, and no-excuses hard work are the way to victory,” said Braun in the release.
Cignetti led the Hoosiers to a perfect 12-0 regular season, capped by a Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State in December—the program’s first conference title since 1967. The following month, Indiana claimed its first-ever national championship with a 27-21 win over the University of Miami.
Earlier this year, Cignetti was presented the AP College Football Coach of the Year. He is the only person to receive the award twice in a row and the fourth coach to win twice.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza also became the first IU player to win the Heisman Trophy.
Since Cignetti’s arrival in Bloomington, the Hoosiers have back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances and an overall record of 27-2.
The Hoosiers last won a postseason bowl game in 1991. This year, they took home three bowl game wins, including the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Tyler Young is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
