Curt Cignetti Talks Leading Indiana to CFB National Championship, 'It Can Be Done'

It took Curt Cignetti just two season to take a historically bad football program to the top of the college football world.

Indiana beat Miami in the national championship on Tuesday to give the school its first title in program history. The Hoosiers may have the most losses in FBS history, but Cignetti knew it was possible to turn things around.

"We won that national championship at Indiana University. It can be done," Cignetti said. "I'm so happy for our fans. Words can't describe it."

It was far from Indiana's prettiest football of the season, but it was enough to get past the Hurricanes. Star quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the way for the Hoosiers, and perhaps had the play of the season with an outstanding play to give Indiana a comfortable 10-point lead in the fourth.

"He's so tough. I mean, he got hit, he had no time, he keeps getting back up," Cignetti said. "Just a great competitor and there's no way this gets done without that kind of performance at that position at that position. I can't say enough great things about him."

Indiana got on the board early with a field goal and managed to make it a 10-0 lead in the second quarter thanks to a touchdown from fullback Riley Nowakowski.

1st TD of Natty

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But the Hoosiers couldn't shake Miami, as the Hurricanes managed to get on the board in the third quarter after a 57-yard touchdown run from Mark Fletcher Jr.

Indiana's special teams stepped up in a big way a few drives later, blocking a Miami punt and recovering it in the endzone to take a 17-7 lead. The Hurricanes once again responded, though, finding the endzone early in the fourth quarter.

After Mendoza's touchdown run, Miami stayed in it when Malachi Toney caught a touchdown pass from Carson Beck, but an Indiana field goal increased the lead and a late interception sealed the win.

Indiana finished the season 3-9 just two years ago, which led them to hire Cignetti, a lesser-known coach who had been at James Madison. Now, Cignetti has turned the Hoosiers into champions, and it seems they probably aren't going away soon.