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re: For those fan bases w/ no NC in football, how do you square IU’s success?
Posted on 8/15/26 at 9:47 pm to Covingtontiger77
Posted on 8/15/26 at 9:47 pm to Covingtontiger77
As an SC fan/alum, IU proves that it's a new world and new landscape. For forever, CFB was a caste system. And while it still is to some extent, it's also evened out a good bit. Indiana was perfectly coached, and hit on some great talent in the portal. There is a degree of, if IU can, anyone can. It all came together for them last year. I'd be shocked if they are in contention again this season; they were very old.
Now, do I expect to see an SC national title before I die? No. I don't. But I have more hope than I did 3 years ago.
Now, do I expect to see an SC national title before I die? No. I don't. But I have more hope than I did 3 years ago.
Posted on 8/15/26 at 9:50 pm to tBrand
Indiana is an underdog program that beat the odds to win it last year.
Before that it was dominated by traditionally rich programs. It was stale and boring.
I don't like it when a Big 10 team wins a title but I'll give a pass to Indiana because this is Indiana we are talking about here. They are supposed to be awful.
College football needs more parity and the more less traditionally rich programs win it, the better.
Before that it was dominated by traditionally rich programs. It was stale and boring.
I don't like it when a Big 10 team wins a title but I'll give a pass to Indiana because this is Indiana we are talking about here. They are supposed to be awful.
College football needs more parity and the more less traditionally rich programs win it, the better.
Posted on 8/15/26 at 9:50 pm to AUstar
quote:
Their roster was shite compared to everyone else in the playoffs
They had a Heisman winning QB. They had 8 players drafted in this year’s draft.
To say their roster was shite compared to all the other playoffs team is just incorrect.
Posted on 8/15/26 at 9:51 pm to dchog
quote:
College football needs more parity and the more less traditionally rich programs win it, the better.
Yep. Arkansas will be the next Indiana!
Posted on 8/15/26 at 9:55 pm to TrueLefty
Not at all.
The goal for Arkansas should be going 7-5/8-4/9-3 every year and some years get into the playoffs.
The goal for Arkansas should be going 7-5/8-4/9-3 every year and some years get into the playoffs.
Posted on 8/15/26 at 9:59 pm to captdalton
A lot of these players didn't have many offers out of high school and the portal.
They just got better though coaching and development. They ended up being better than what was thought of them.
Mendoza was good but he wasn't some elite QB that made you think that he was the next Dan Marino.
He was the top pick because he had exceptional leadership qualities that NFL GMs would love to have.
They just got better though coaching and development. They ended up being better than what was thought of them.
Mendoza was good but he wasn't some elite QB that made you think that he was the next Dan Marino.
He was the top pick because he had exceptional leadership qualities that NFL GMs would love to have.
This post was edited on 8/15/26 at 10:07 pm
Posted on 8/15/26 at 10:03 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
quote:
If Indiana had a top 10 payroll last season, they barely made the list.
Some people still refuse to give them credit. They were one of the most well-coached and most disciplined teams in years, and their QB was the number 1 pick in the draft.
Why can't this be the narrative?
Excellent point. Indiana played tough, hard nose football with a coach who is the second coming of Saban. Props to IU for a dream season. They whipped a real good Bama team.
. No excuses.
I do think we will see more IU type surprises in the coming years. Until a cap is put in place and rules are enforced, the rich will rule college ball if they have the right coach.
Posted on 8/15/26 at 10:34 pm to RoyalAir
They probably won't be in contention this year but they will have another 10 win season and I'm sure they won't be complaining.
South Carolina doesn't need to give up and if you do then you have no shot at all.
Take it slow at first. Win at a rate that is consistent and puts you in contention for a playoff spot. If that means you fell short, you still got closer than before. Just making a playoff appearance is the next step and when this becomes more common then the next step should be making a deeper run. The final step is to win it all.
South Carolina doesn't need to give up and if you do then you have no shot at all.
Take it slow at first. Win at a rate that is consistent and puts you in contention for a playoff spot. If that means you fell short, you still got closer than before. Just making a playoff appearance is the next step and when this becomes more common then the next step should be making a deeper run. The final step is to win it all.
Posted on 8/15/26 at 10:52 pm to bamabaseballsec
Cuban didn't put up big bucks. He was in it for the press. IU does, however, have a very well funded NIL program. Look at the Merchants Bank deal in 2025.
Posted on 8/15/26 at 11:18 pm to dchog
If if's and but's were candy and nuts you hogs would have a happy Christmas, lol
Posted on 8/15/26 at 11:35 pm to dchog
quote:
They just got better though coaching and development. They ended up being better than what was thought of them.
At just about every position but maybe receiver and defensive back a 23 year old solid 3 star 5th year senior who has busted his arse for 5 years beats a 19 year old 5 star diva true sophomore. Having a Heisman level QB certainly doesn’t hurt. As college becomes more like the NFL quarterback will just become more and more important.
Posted on 8/16/26 at 12:12 am to captdalton
Posted on 8/16/26 at 5:34 am to dchog
That is flawed logic. Instead of taking the whole roster, he needed to compare the age of starters. Here is a partial look at starters that shows why people consider 2025 Indiana an “old” team. Indiana’s starting lineup was composed of:
4 sixth year seniors/graduates
2 fifth year seniors
6 starters 22 years of age or older
15 of 22 starters had a redshirt season, including Mendoza
17 of 22 starters were in their fourth year or more of college football
The average years removed from high school of Indiana starters was 3.96 years.
47 of their 85 scholarship players were between 22 and 25 years old.
6 of their starters - including 3 big-10 all conference players and one all-American - were originally JMU players who transferred to Indiana with Cignetti
The two oldest starting lineups of playoff teams last season:
Miami: 22.18 years old on average
Indiana: 21.96 years old on average
The difference in that average can be attributed to QB - Carson Beck is 11 months older than Fernando Mendoza.
Last season proved that 22 and 23 year old 3 star redshirt seniors > 18 and 19 year old 5 star freshmen and sophomores.
There is a reason freshmen used to not be allowed to play varsity football..
4 sixth year seniors/graduates
2 fifth year seniors
6 starters 22 years of age or older
15 of 22 starters had a redshirt season, including Mendoza
17 of 22 starters were in their fourth year or more of college football
The average years removed from high school of Indiana starters was 3.96 years.
47 of their 85 scholarship players were between 22 and 25 years old.
6 of their starters - including 3 big-10 all conference players and one all-American - were originally JMU players who transferred to Indiana with Cignetti
The two oldest starting lineups of playoff teams last season:
Miami: 22.18 years old on average
Indiana: 21.96 years old on average
The difference in that average can be attributed to QB - Carson Beck is 11 months older than Fernando Mendoza.
Last season proved that 22 and 23 year old 3 star redshirt seniors > 18 and 19 year old 5 star freshmen and sophomores.
There is a reason freshmen used to not be allowed to play varsity football..
quote:
Until 1972, freshmen could not play varsity college football because the NCAA and member schools enforced rules declaring first-year students ineligible. The primary reasons for this restriction included protecting younger players from the physical and mental stress of college athletics,
Posted on 8/16/26 at 5:50 am to Covingtontiger77
Dude.. just stop. They had one good year. That was their first title in 197 years. It will not happen anytime soon. They sold the farm to get 57 transfers in and it paid off. A good coach with a bunch of 23 year olds beat up on some kids. Soon, we’ll all be saying.. what happened to Indiana? They have a very weak schedule so they’ll more than likely go 8-4, or 9-3 AT BEST, but reality is about to settle in for them.
Almost everyone on the Rant gets their weather and news from Facebook, and never played football past pee wee. it rains outside and they scream climate change, just like you he world is ending with 3 Big 10 titles in a row. Things haven’t changed. The SEC is leading in transfer portal. The SEC is leading in recruiting and according to ESPN the Sec had more top coaches than any other conference.
Sometimes you just don’t win it all. Sometimes someone has an injury. Sometimes luck doesn’t go your way. Yes you need, discipline and yes, you need consistency, but you also need a whole lot of fricking luck with a really shitty schedule like the Big 10 has. Stay healthy all year, and get into the playoffs and you’ll have a shot
Almost everyone on the Rant gets their weather and news from Facebook, and never played football past pee wee. it rains outside and they scream climate change, just like you he world is ending with 3 Big 10 titles in a row. Things haven’t changed. The SEC is leading in transfer portal. The SEC is leading in recruiting and according to ESPN the Sec had more top coaches than any other conference.
Sometimes you just don’t win it all. Sometimes someone has an injury. Sometimes luck doesn’t go your way. Yes you need, discipline and yes, you need consistency, but you also need a whole lot of fricking luck with a really shitty schedule like the Big 10 has. Stay healthy all year, and get into the playoffs and you’ll have a shot
This post was edited on 8/16/26 at 6:14 am
Posted on 8/16/26 at 5:53 am to RTRnFlorida
They will not be 8-4
Posted on 8/16/26 at 6:06 am to JamalMurry27
They have 61 new players. A new QB. New assistant coaches. It will be a different feel and a different look. Don’t get me wrong.. they have the weakest schedule in the country..
North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Rutgers, Purdue, Northwestern..
But Ohio State - loss
Michigan - loss
USC - loss
And one more..
They will struggle, and will lose a game they were supposed to win, and it’s downhill from there. Watch, and bookmark it.
North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Rutgers, Purdue, Northwestern..
But Ohio State - loss
Michigan - loss
USC - loss
And one more..
They will struggle, and will lose a game they were supposed to win, and it’s downhill from there. Watch, and bookmark it.
This post was edited on 8/16/26 at 6:15 am
Posted on 8/16/26 at 6:55 am to dchog
quote:
Arkansas
Posted on 8/16/26 at 6:59 am to Covingtontiger77
I’m surprised they haven’t been dragged by the NCAA yet on some bullshite charges. You know there are a lot of coaches from bigger programs pissed off they now have competition due to the transfer portal and NIL.
Anytime any of the not power 6 in the conference have any success that shite happens. I mean what if State had legally been able to buy Cam Newton? The only thing is if that had happened with the rules of today we wouldn’t have been able to afford him.
Doesn’t matter. I’ll be spending my money on season tickets to the new hockey team at the Landers Center. Cheaper, more entertaining, and I’m not helping promote paying amateur college students and their agents millions while all the other students on campus (who actually want an education) tuition continues to skyrocket. It’s a fricking game…. Hail State but frick that.
Anytime any of the not power 6 in the conference have any success that shite happens. I mean what if State had legally been able to buy Cam Newton? The only thing is if that had happened with the rules of today we wouldn’t have been able to afford him.
Doesn’t matter. I’ll be spending my money on season tickets to the new hockey team at the Landers Center. Cheaper, more entertaining, and I’m not helping promote paying amateur college students and their agents millions while all the other students on campus (who actually want an education) tuition continues to skyrocket. It’s a fricking game…. Hail State but frick that.
Posted on 8/16/26 at 7:01 am to AUstar
quote:
Cignetti just knows how to find diamonds in the rough in the portal and develop them.
A lot of development to be had when you can have 7 years of eligibility.
Posted on 8/16/26 at 8:52 am to Covingtontiger77
they probably handle it the same way a former NC winner who is now a mediocre program circling the drain and near bankrupt handles it. not well.
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