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The Indiana Hoosiers traded the practice field for the South Lawn on Monday as they celebrated their historic NCAA title at the White House. While the focus was on the hardware, Donald Trump couldn’t help but chime in on the most controversial topic in college sports today: NIL.
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During the ceremony, head coach Curt Cignetti, who has quickly become the king of the one-liner, cracked a joke that set the tone for the afternoon. Cignetti told the president he’d let him “keep the [National Championship] trophy for an NIL contribution.”
Trump didn’t hesitate to lean into the bit. “I’ll do that for NIL,” he replied with a grin. However, the humor quickly turned into a critique of the current collegiate landscape. “Boy, did the courts screw that up,” Trump added, referencing the legal rulings that have fundamentally overhauled how NCAA student-athletes receive compensation.
The commentary comes at a time when the “pay-to-play” model is under a massive microscope, especially following the College Sports Commission’s recent legal victory regarding “warehoused” NIL deals. But for the Hoosiers, the day was a well-earned victory lap for a season that defied every expectation.
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The path to Washington, D.C. was paved by a gritty 27-21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the title game. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the charge, finishing 16-of-26 for 186 yards. While his arm kept the chains moving, Mendoza’s legs provided the exclamation point. His 12-yard rushing touchdown gave Indiana the cushion they needed to cap off a perfect 16-0 season, a feat Cignetti called the “greatest record in college football history.”
Cignetti has transformed a program that was once a Big Ten afterthought into the gold standard of the sport. With a national title in the bag and a visit with the president complete, Indiana has officially shed the “basketball school” label.
Related: Donald Trump’s candid reaction to Indiana Football HC Curt Cignetti’s NIL joke