Indiana was coming off a disappointing season last year, but now finds itself at 10-0 with a shot at the Big Ten title. The turnaround under new coach Curt Cignetti has been remarkable, especially with their recent win over Michigan marking their first-ever 10-win season.
With Indiana on the verge of College Football Playoff contention, it begs the question of whether this is one of the greatest turnarounds in the sport’s history. Let’s look at some notable year-over-year improvements in FBS since 2000 and see how Indiana compares to them.
2005 UCF (went from 0-11 to 8-5; +8 wins)
UCF’s turnaround under head coach George O’Leary was fueled by players like Brandon Marshall and Kevin Smith, contributing to a successful season in Conference USA.
UCF wide receiver Brandon Marshall played a key role in the team’s turnaround. (Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage)
Despite their success, UCF fell short in the conference championship and bowl game, but laid the groundwork for future accomplishments under O’Leary’s leadership.
This marked the start of a successful run for UCF, including a Fiesta Bowl win in 2012.
2011 Houston (went from 5-7 to 13-1; +8 wins)
Kevin Sumlin’s return at Houston saw a stellar season fueled by quarterback Case Keenum, who led the nation in passing yards and touchdowns.
Case Keenum’s standout season led Houston to new heights. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
A loss in the conference title game kept Houston from a BCS bowl, but a win in the Ticket City Bowl capped off a strong campaign.
Sumlin’s success at Houston paved the way for his move to Texas A&M a year later.
2014 Air Force (went from 2-10 to 10-3; +8 wins)
Troy Calhoun orchestrated a remarkable improvement at Air Force, led by key players in the triple-option offense.
Key players at Air Force contributed to a strong turnaround in 2014. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Air Force’s success included wins over top opponents, but fell short in the conference title game before winning their bowl game.
Calhoun continued his winning ways at Air Force, securing multiple 10-win seasons in the years to come.
2017 Florida Atlantic (went from 3-9 to 11-3; +8 wins)
Lane Kiffin’s arrival at Florida Atlantic marked a significant turnaround for the program, highlighted by standout performances from Devin Singletary and Azeez Al-Shaair.
Lane Kiffin’s impact on Florida Atlantic led to a successful season. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
Florida Atlantic’s dominance in conference play culminated in a conference championship and bowl victory, setting the stage for future success.
Kiffin’s tenure at Florida Atlantic saw continued success, culminating in a 10-win season in 2019 before moving on to Ole Miss.
Florida Atlantic’s turnaround under Lane Kiffin was evident in their performances. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
2018 Georgia Southern (went from 2-10 to 10-3; +8 wins)
Chad Lunsford’s impact at Georgia Southern led to a standout season, anchored by defensive prowess and key player performances.
Georgia Southern’s success included notable wins but fell short in the conference championship, ultimately winning their bowl game.
While Lunsford continued to see success, a slow start in 2021 led to his departure and subsequent coaching change.
2019 Navy (went from 3-10 to 11-2; +8 wins)
Ken Niumatalolo’s rebound at Navy was fueled by a conference standout season led by quarterback Malcolm Perry and a strong defensive unit.
Indiana vs. Ohio State: Who will win this top-5 clash in the Big Ten?
Despite their strong season, Navy narrowly missed out on a conference title game appearance after a tiebreaker loss, closing out the year with a bowl win.
Niumatalolo’s success at Navy peaked in 2019, paving the way for future changes at the program.
2010 Miami (OH) (went from 1-11 to 10-4; +9 wins)
Michael Haywood oversaw Miami’s impressive turnaround, capped off by a MAC championship and a bowl victory.
Despite Haywood’s successful season, his coaching tenure at Miami was short-lived, ultimately leading to a coaching change.
2013 Auburn (went from 3-9 to 12-2; +9 wins)
Gus Malzahn’s arrival at Auburn sparked a remarkable turnaround season, culminating in a memorable run to the national championship game.
Auburn’s turnaround under Gus Malzahn was marked by standout moments and performances. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Auburn’s dramatic wins over top opponents made headlines, but fell just short in the national championship game, setting the stage for future changes at the program.
2017 Fresno State (went from 1-11 to 10-4; +9 wins)
Jeff Tedford’s arrival at Fresno State led to a significant improvement, highlighted by key wins and player performances.
Fresno State’s strong season was anchored by standout performances. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Future changes at Fresno State led to continued success under DeBoer’s leadership.
2022 Tulane (went from 2-10 to 12-2; +10 wins)
Willie Fritz’s resurgence at Tulane paved the way for a remarkable season, highlighted by key player performances.
