This season, Indiana’s national championship run was nothing short of miraculous. At the start of the year, the Hoosiers carried the most losses of any FBS program in history.
Yet, in just two years under Curt Cignetti, they transformed from perennial underachievers into an unstoppable force. That journey ended with a thrilling 27-21 victory over Miami, clinching their first national title ever.
It’s wild to think about. Who might be the next team to pull off something even close to Indiana’s leap?
The modern era of college football makes rapid rebuilds possible—transfer portal moves, instant roster upgrades, all that. Programs can flip their fate fast if they get the formula right.
Let’s look at four teams already making noise and maybe, just maybe, setting up for their own Indiana-style run.
Kentucky Wildcats: Aiming Higher
Kentucky’s a basketball powerhouse, but football? They’ve never quite figured out what they want to be. Before Cignetti, Indiana was stuck in a similar limbo.
The Wildcats have invested enough to stay in the mix, but not enough to break out of the SEC’s middle class. Two 10-win seasons under Mark Stoops are nice, but over the past 15 years, Kentucky’s record ties them with Arkansas and Vanderbilt—hardly elite company in the SEC.
The Will Stein Hire
Hiring Will Stein feels like a pivotal moment for Kentucky. It’s not about pedigree—Indiana’s rise under Cignetti was about alignment and bold moves, and Kentucky seems to be getting there too.
Stein and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan have gone after the transfer portal with real intent. They’re rebuilding the offensive line with proven Power Four starters and chasing upside where they can.
- Flipping Notre Dame quarterback transfer Kenny Minchey from Nebraska
- Adding former five-star running back CJ Baxter
- Taking a calculated swing on LSU receiver transfer Nic Anderson
Sure, Stein doesn’t have Cignetti’s head-coaching résumé, but maybe that’s not what matters most. Indiana showed that when belief, resources, and identity come together, history stops being a ceiling.
Kentucky finally looks ready to see if that holds true for them.
UCLA Bruins: Turning Potential into Momentum
Another basketball titan, but here, the football program has a deeper history—just a history of almosts. UCLA’s managed nine double-digit win seasons, but the last eight years? Two bowl games, and a 6-12 record against the Big Ten since joining in 2024.
The talent’s there. The tradition’s there. Consistency, though, has been a ghost.
The Bob Chesney Arrival
Bob Chesney comes in from James Madison, where he just led the Dukes to a CFP appearance. It’s a path a lot like Cignetti’s to Indiana, honestly.
Chesney’s record is hard to argue with: 23-9 at Salve Regina, 44-16 at Assumption, 44-21 at Holy Cross, and 21-6 at James Madison. That’s a .717 winning percentage—almost up there with Cignetti’s .798.
- Chesney brings 10 JMU transfers to fill gaps and speed up the culture shift.
- The Bruins return former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a high-upside talent who could be the centerpiece if he finally puts it together.
UCLA’s always been a program that feels like it should be more. Chesney’s shown he can line up coaching, talent, and culture, and with familiar transfers coming in, maybe the Bruins finally turn all that potential into real momentum.
Virginia Tech Hokies: Reclaiming National Relevance
Virginia Tech is one of those “sleeping giant” programs—so much history, but never a national title. Under Frank Beamer, they were a fixture, even making it to the BCS National Championship game in 1999.
The last decade, though, has been a slog. Hovering around .500, the Hokies are still searching for that spark to bring them back.
The James Franklin Redemption Arc
James Franklin lands in Blacksburg looking for a fresh start after his Penn State exit. He’s got a rep as a culture builder, turning Vanderbilt into a tough out and guiding Penn State through tough times without missing a beat.
- Franklin inherits a roster hungry for energy and leadership.
- He’s bringing 12 Penn State transfers, including quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer and tight end Luke Reynolds.
Virginia Tech has always been about what almost was. With Franklin’s knack for building urgency and developing talent, the Hokies could finally claw their way back into the national conversation.
Oklahoma State Cowboys: From Rock Bottom to Contender
Oklahoma State’s staring up from the bottom these days. Only Purdue and UMass have fewer wins over the past two seasons, and all three whiffed on conference wins.
The 2025 Cowboys? Historically bad—1-11, not a single win against an FBS opponent. It’s tough, but sometimes that’s where the best stories start.
The Eric Morris Offensive Revolution
Eric Morris is the new coach, and he’s got a reputation for building dynamic, high-powered offenses. He’s stepping into a program that’s flirted with greatness before—this school has shown it’s willing to pour resources into football when it matters.
Under Mike Gundy, the Cowboys were usually in the Big 12 mix. That gives Morris both the tools and the pressure to turn this team into a modern contender.
- Morris brings the FBS’s leading offensive system to Stillwater.
- More than 60 players have entered the portal with a return of more than 50 transfers, including 17 familiar faces from North Texas.
- The haul includes five-star quarterback Drew Mestemaker, national rushing touchdowns leader Caleb Hawkins, and top wideout Wyatt Young.
Can a roster with 65-plus newcomers come together fast enough? That’s the big question. The sheer volume and talent of these additions could launch the Cowboys from the bottom to the national conversation—if things click.
Indiana’s rapid turnaround under Curt Cignetti has kind of changed the game. Now, Kentucky, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma State are all taking big swings to chase that same fast-track success. For more, take a look at CBS Sports.
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