College football is full of dramatic turnarounds, but few are as unexpected as what happened at Indiana under Curt Cignetti. When he arrived, the Hoosiers were known more for their losses than their wins, sitting at the bottom of the sport’s historical standings. Fast forward to today, and Indiana is standing on the biggest stage in college football, fresh off victories in both the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl, and just one win away from a national championship.
Behind this stunning rise is not just strategy and recruiting, but an unusual personal routine that has become part of Cignetti’s legend.
How One Coach Turned Around a Struggling College Football Program While Eating the Same $11 Lunch Every Day
At 64 years old, Curt Cignetti credits part of his success to extreme consistency — even in what he eats. For more than two years, he has ordered the exact same $10.90 Chipotle burrito bowl every single day. Rice, beans, chicken, and guacamole. No substitutions. No changes.
According to reports, Cignetti adopted this routine to eliminate unnecessary decisions from his day. Lunch, in his mind, shouldn’t compete with game planning, film study, or player development. By removing small choices, he preserves mental energy for the things that truly matter on the field.
The Assistant Who Never Missed an Order
The daily burrito run became so reliable that Cignetti’s assistant, Jake McDonald, handled pickup duties almost every day. Over time, those purchases added up to an astonishing 64,000 Chipotle rewards points — roughly $6,400 in value. Ironically, the points expired before McDonald could redeem them, making the story even more fitting for a program built on discipline rather than indulgence.
A Longstanding Belief in Routine
Cignetti’s obsession with consistency didn’t start at Indiana. Fifteen years earlier, at a previous coaching stop, his game-day meals were just as rigid. Every Saturday featured the same plate: chicken and zucchini. Steak was only allowed once the team advanced deep into the playoffs.
For Cignetti, routine is not about superstition. It’s about focus. By controlling the controllables — including food — he believes he creates an environment where winning becomes more predictable.
Turning Simplicity Into a Competitive Edge
While fans may laugh at the burrito bowl story, its deeper meaning resonates throughout Indiana’s program. Cignetti’s philosophy of minimizing distractions has filtered into team culture, preparation habits, and performance under pressure.
Now, as the Hoosiers prepare for Monday night’s championship game, the story of a coach who rebuilt a broken program with discipline, clarity, and the same $11 lunch every day feels almost symbolic. Sometimes, greatness doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from doing less, consistently, and better.
