That's the thing though, it kinda feels like they did this even in spite of NIL. Miami has been able to get top transfers and recruits with NIL, same with lots of the Big Ten. But Indiana has zero 5-star recruits and only 1 former 4-star recruit.
I'm pretty sure I saw a stat once that every single champion from the past 20 or so years had at least 1 top ten recruiting class. Indiana was nowhere close to that, and even their transfers wouldn't move that needle. It's insane.
It’s age, same reason BYU was good in the 80s and 90s older roster. College football coaches are learning from Cignetti right now a lesson that college basketball coaches have been forced to learn since 2006ish. A young roster full of elite professional talent isn’t as good as an older roster full of pretty good talent.
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u/bucknut4 Ohio State Buckeyes • Ohio Bobcats Jan 20 '26
I saw Indiana win a national championship. I can't believe I'm typing this.