Indiana University has achieved a remarkable resurgence in its football program, marking a rare turnaround that has only been witnessed once at a power conference level over the past decade.

This unexpected transformation, fueled by changes in college football such as irregular schedules and more lenient transfer regulations, could lead to more teams experiencing similar success in the future.

Curt Cignetti, Indiana’s head coach, recently finalized an eight-year contract as the team gears up for a high-stakes game against the formidable Ohio State University, ranked No. 2. This new deal brings Cignetti a substantial annual salary of $8 million, along with an additional retention bonus of $1 million each year.

Cignetti’s impressive pay raise comes on the heels of an outstanding season where Indiana clinched its first 10 victories, an impressive feat considering the team had only three wins the previous year.

Notable peers in the football community are praising Cignetti’s achievements. Jimbo Fisher, a former coach at Florida State and Texas A&M, lauded him, stating, “What he’s done is utterly amazing. I think it’s the best job in college football right now. I think he’s national coach of the year.”

Excluding the challenges posed by the pandemic-affected 2020 season, Indiana stands as the 21st team since 1973 to bounce back such dramatically from a three-win season to winning at least ten games. This sets Indiana apart as the first Power Four school to execute this impressive feat since Michigan State’s turnaround in 2017, where the team transitioned from a 3-9 record to a 10-3 season.

This year has also seen a variety of teams experiencing dramatic highs and lows. For instance, Vanderbilt went from 2-10 in 2023 to a major upset over Alabama, earning a bowl qualification, whilst Florida State has struggled with only a single win after a stellar undefeated regular season last year.

These shifts affirm the idea that loosened transfer regulations and unbalanced schedules in more oversized conferences may facilitate other programs in replicating Indiana’s successful recovery story.

Cignetti’s squad opened the season with 27 newcomers through the transfer portal and only had 36 returning scholarship athletes. This adaptability allows teams to refresh their profiles every season, as players no longer have to sit out a season when switching schools.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, whose team suffered a defeat at Indiana, remarked, “They just did a really good job of bringing in the right guys, bringing in the right people.”

Additionally, annual changes in strength of schedule contribute to how teams fare during a season. For example, both the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences have diverging conference schedules, resulting in variance in difficulty among opponents.

Interestingly, only one of the ten teams that Indiana has triumphed over this season has a winning record, highlighting the upcoming challenges this might present moving forward.

Former Florida and Mississippi State coach, Dan Mullen, suggested that the ease of scheduling can often remain uncertain until a season’s end, with Indiana having faced tough opponents like Michigan and Washington, which have had struggling seasons this year.

What stands out in Indiana’s resurgence is the influence of 13 players who followed Cignetti from his previous role at James Madison. Their familiarity with Cignetti’s playing style has eased the transition for the team and helped integrate new players with ease.

Cignetti expressed appreciation for these contributions, stating, “That whole JMU crew that came over really facilitated the culture change here, and they’re all major contributors for the most part.”

While Indiana’s progress can be attributed to changes brought by the transfer portal, other factors, including roster stability, played a crucial role in their turnaround. Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo speculated that Indiana’s success might inspire other Power Four programs to seek out similar strategies, hiring successful coaches from smaller divisions, along with their former players, to replicate their achievements.

Despite the advantages conferred by new policies, the journey to revitalize a football program remains steep and complex, as seen through the challenges faced by other traditional football programs like Nebraska and Wisconsin, both struggling toward the midpoint of the season.

DiNardo noted that Indiana’s accomplishments reflect not just Cignetti’s effort but also the commitment and support from athletic director Scott Dolson, who opted for a proven coach over a fresh face from a successful offensive scheme.

“This new model is obviously working, and it could work again,” he asserted, underlining the significance of Cignetti’s achievements against historical expectations for the program.

Indiana’s historic performance this season cements a new chapter in the school’s football legacy, proving that with dedicated leadership and strategic changes, success is certainly attainable in the competitive arena of college football.