College Football’s New World Order

Ole Miss, Indiana, Miami, and Oregon have emerged as unexpected contenders in college football, challenging traditional powerhouses with strategic use of the transfer portal and new NCAA rules regarding player compensation. Ole Miss, under Lane Kiffin, embraced these changes to secure top transfer classes, contributing to their rise in prominence. The Rebels are now in the College Football Playoff semifinals alongside Indiana, Oregon, and Miami, who have similarly capitalized on new roster-building opportunities.

The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff was initially expected to benefit traditional powerhouses like Ohio State and Oklahoma. However, these changes have allowed programs like Indiana and Ole Miss to thrive. Indiana has significantly increased its football spending, while Miami has become one of the sport's "elite spenders" under coach Mario Cristobal.

Oregon, with support from Nike cofounder Phil Knight, and Ole Miss have also invested heavily in their programs, resulting in their best seasons to date. This shift highlights a new landscape in college football