Did Curt Cignetti and Indiana change CFB forever? Here’s what could actually happen next (Minnesota?)

[MisterGopher]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/69...a-cignetti-college-football-predictions-2026/

Tier 1: Traditional powers reassert their place​

Examples: Ohio State (No. 2 in Mandel’s rankings), Georgia (No. 3), Texas (No. 5), Michigan (No. 14), Alabama (No. 20!)

Tier 2: A team that’s close finally gets over the hump​

Examples: Oregon (No. 1), Miami (No. 4), Notre Dame (No. 7), Oklahoma (No. 9), Texas A&M (No. 11), USC (No. 12), Ole Miss (No. 15)

Tier 3: Indiana just wins it again​

Example: Indiana (No. 6)

Tier 4: Another chaotic champion​

Examples: Missouri (No. 13), Iowa (No. 18), Houston (No. 21), Boise State (No. 23), Illinois, Virginia, Minnesota, Duke, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, honestly, take your pick

 

[btowngopher]

Maybe not for next year but I do think we do see tier 4 happen again before too long. The new rules and playoff make it so much more possible than it was before.

 

[SeaBee_Gopher]

How about Tier 5: A really good coach from a slightly lower level gets a P2 job, brings his best players with him, and keeps most of the P2 team's best players, therefore doubling up on talent for a few years (plus an influx of $$$).

Examples: JMU head coach and assistants to Indiana, Western Michigan to Minnesota (we did get a couple year bump in performance), etc.

Possible future example: Ole Miss head coach to LSU. God I hope not, but they do currently have the #1 transfer portal class including the #1 or #2 ranked QB, Sam Leavitt, and they have a lot of $.

 

[btowngopher]

How about Tier 5: A really good coach from a slightly lower level gets a P2 job, brings his best players with him, and keeps most of the P2 team's best players, therefore doubling up on talent for a few years (plus an influx of $$$).

Examples: JMU head coach and assistants to Indiana, Western Michigan to Minnesota (we did get a couple year bump in performance), etc.

Possible future example: Ole Miss head coach to LSU. God I hope not, but they do currently have the #1 transfer portal class including the #1 or #2 ranked QB, Sam Leavitt, and they have a lot of $.

Fleck just brought some recruits with him, not players, as the free transfer did not exist at that time.