Indiana's run stacks up among college football's most unlikely success stories

Curt Cignetti has transformed Indiana University's football program into a contender, marking one of college football's most surprising success stories. Historically, Indiana had never achieved a 10-win season and had only two No. 4 finishes, with the 1945 team being the previous high point. In just two years under Cignetti, Indiana recorded its first double-digit win seasons and is now aiming for a 16-0 season with a national title on the horizon. This turnaround is significant for a program that led the NCAA in all-time losses at the start of the 2025 season.

Other notable college football success stories include Virginia Tech under Frank Beamer, which rose from mediocrity to national prominence in the late 1990s. Boise State, led by Chris Petersen, achieved national recognition with undefeated seasons and a memorable Fiesta Bowl victory in 2007. Northwestern, historically a Big Ten underdog, captured a conference title and Rose Bowl appearance under Gary Barnett in 1995