Dethroning the South?

[AF_Howie_2180]

For so many years the "south" has been king of College Football and then we have this past season...Every champion at each level resided north of the Mason Dixson Line

By Division (2025 Season):

• FBS (CFP): Indiana Hoosiers - Indiana
• FCS: Montana State Bobcats - Montana
• Division II: Ferris State Bulldogs - Michigan
• Division III: Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons - Wisconsin
• NAIA: Grand View Vikings - Iowa

Not sure what that says or means just thought it to be pretty unique that every champion was a northern team this year.

 

[fmlizard]

For so many years the "south" has been king of College Football and then we have this past season...Every champion at each level resided north of the Mason Dixson Line

By Division (2025 Season):

• FBS (CFP): Indiana Hoosiers - Indiana
• FCS: Montana State Bobcats - Montana
• Division II: Ferris State Bulldogs - Michigan
• Division III: Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons - Wisconsin
• NAIA: Grand View Vikings - Iowa

Not sure what that says or means just thought it to be pretty unique that every champion was a northern team this year.

At the levels below the FBS the Upper Midwest, Montana, and the Dakotas have been the kings for many years.

I believe that dominance at the sub-FBS levels comes from those locations getting far less recruiting exposure. The same guy from Georgia or Texas who goes Big Ten and sits the bench or Sun Belt and becomes a star ends up going FCS when he's from St. Cloud, MN or Billings, MT.

The North is now catching up in FBS as college football becomes more about openly having and spending money. The weakness of poorer southern economies and less lucrative TV deals are playing a role here. The Portal is also helping talent flow more freely around the country.