BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The most important voice in an Indiana practice is the one rarely heard. Curt Cignetti watches from the sideline, wearing a crimson hat and a whistle around his neck. Practice has no clock and no breaks. In 90 minutes, including the walk-through and stretching, practice is over -- an hour or so sooner than fall practices at many programs.

"It's tiring because you're moving so fast -- it feels like a lot," said guard Joe Brunner, who transferred from Wisconsin. "But you're getting so much done in such a short period of time. That's the best part about it."

In just two years, Cignetti has transformed Indiana from Big Ten doormat to national power. In his first season in 2024, the Hoosiers reached double-digit victories and advanced to the College Football Playoff. Last year, they went 16-0 and won the national championship.

After three decades as an assistant, including four seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama, Cignetti got his first head coaching job in 2011 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He cut practice lengths almost in half, and in his first two seasons, IUP won 19 games. Jones said, "He's about highly intentional, highly competitive football in practice, instead of 2 hours and 50 minutes."