Prior to Curt Cignetti turning the tide, Indiana was the worst FBS program of all time in terms of winning percentage. In this new era of college football, anything seems possible, and Indiana’s success is perhaps the biggest example of that.
Some of the most important factors when projecting future success in a program include recruiting region, willingness to spend, and a coach who is likely to stay long term. Let’s take a look at those programs that could replicate the incredible turnaround that Indiana accomplished.
Arizona State
The Sun Devils have a young and exciting head coach who recruits well, which is a good sign for future success. Kenny Dillingham led this team to a Big 12 title last year and retained a lot of talent. He has worked with some of the best coaches in college football, including Dan Lanning, and has taken on some of Lanning’s attitude and edge. Players love playing for Dillingham, which means he can recruit well and attract top transfer talent.
Dillingham believes Tempe is a great place to sell to recruits and fans, but it has not been tapped into much in the past. He is confident that he can use that to build rosters that can compete with the best. Perhaps the biggest reason his success can continue is that Dillingham sees Arizona State as a long-term home, which makes it less likely he will leave for another program.
Duke
One of the biggest reasons for Indiana’s success is its willingness to spend money. After getting a taste of winning, the funds started flowing. The same is true at Duke. Prior to Mike Elko, Duke was a bottom feeder, but nobody in charge cared. After a few eight- and nine-win seasons, money is finally being spent within the football side of the university. They spent a reported $3.3 million on Tulane transfer Darian Mensah, and while they are having an inconsistent season, the willingness to spend money is a positive sign.
However, HC Manny Diaz might be looking toward his next opportunity. It is tough to know how a program will fare after a change like that, and if he moves on, Duke’s roster would likely be gutted. The next coach would have to rebuild, and while that can happen quickly in today’s portal era, it adds a real layer of uncertainty.
Vanderbilt
As just mentioned, one of the most important factors in maintaining success is having a coach who is unlikely to leave. Clark Lea may be the only coach who views Vanderbilt as a potential powerhouse. As a former Commodore, Lea has emotional ties to his alma mater and seems intent on continuing his rise within college football right there in Nashville.
The city itself is one of the fastest-growing in the country, which helps with recruiting. Lea and his staff can sell both the city and the fanbase to prospects. The stadium has seen renovations in recent years to keep pace with the rest of the SEC. Just like Indiana and Duke, this program has finally felt what it is like to win at a high level. If they keep investing, Vanderbilt could stay competitive for the long haul.
Syracuse
This one is harder to predict. A lot has to go right, but if it does, the payoff could be huge. Fran Brown has done an incredible job elevating a program that historically could not compete with top teams. He recruited Kyle McCord to Syracuse out of Ohio State through the transfer portal and helped him lead the country in passing yards last year. Before Steve Angeli’s injury, it looked like Brown struck gold again in the portal.
Brown is a relationship-driven coach who leans on the portal every year, and he does it well. It is risky, but he is one of the few who can find sustained success while turning over a roster annually. However, it’s much easier to build a foundation through high school recruiting, which Brown can do well at a bigger school. It’s likely that he will leave in the next few seasons for a better gig. And if he does, Syracuse’s success could fade quickly.
Maryland
Maryland has shown flashes of success in the past but has struggled to sustain it. The local recruiting base is among the best in the country, yet the Terrapins have rarely capitalized on it. The region has produced elite talent such as Caleb Williams, Nyck Harbor, and Derrick Moore. If Maryland can start keeping more of that talent home, this program could build playoff-caliber rosters.
The signing of Malik Washington, who looks like a future star, is a step in the right direction. While I don’t ever see this program truly rising the way Indiana appears to be, with the right mix of development, investment, and stability, Maryland could position itself as a consistent top-half Big Ten team with an occasional sniff of the CFP.
Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/onestopshop
Author
