The 2024 season brought plenty of surprises, as unexpected teams and players populated the races for conference titles, national awards and the first 12-team College Football Playoff field. But the biggest stunner in the sport was the Indiana Hoosiers.
The program with the most losses in FBS history reached 10 wins for the first time -- after a 10-0 start, no less -- and made the CFP before programs like USC, Nebraska, Florida and Miami did. When the CFP kicked off on a cold night at Notre Dame Stadium, the Hoosiers were there, taking the field.
The CFP included other newcomers like Arizona State and SMU, but none carried the same shock value as Indiana.
As we set out to find the next potential Indiana for the 2025 season, it's important to emphasize that an exact replica is unlikely. What coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers accomplished this past fall is extremely difficult, even in the transfer portal era.
But there are certain teams that would generate a similar reaction if they made the CFP, given their recent history. To find them, it was important to set some criteria:
No CFP appearances
No conference titles in the past 10 years
Winning percentage below .550 during the four-team CFP era (2014-2023)
Here's a look at seven teams that meet the criteria and could rise all the way into CFP contention this fall.
