At the same time that the very top of college football has become fossilized to be dominated by small number of elites, a number of very blue chip programs are having another bad year as part of extended, sometimes decades-long slumps:
Texas 38, still going nowhere almost a decade after Mack Brown left
Miami 42, it's been 20 years since their last NC and their last really great team
Florida 49, still pining away for Tim Tebow, more than a decade later
Nebraska 59, it's been 25 years now since their glory days
USC 71, still pining away for Pete Carroll a decade later, minus the sanctions
Florida State 79, missing the 80s, as the Jameis Winston years are fading further into the rear view mirror
As much as money, history and facilities matter, these programs with every advantage possible show that those things aren't enough. It always comes back to a great head coach. College football is extremely stacked against programs like Rutgers trying to raise their profile. And it explains why a lot of teams that were able to raise their profile in the past got there through dirty means.
Texas 38, still going nowhere almost a decade after Mack Brown left
Miami 42, it's been 20 years since their last NC and their last really great team
Florida 49, still pining away for Tim Tebow, more than a decade later
Nebraska 59, it's been 25 years now since their glory days
USC 71, still pining away for Pete Carroll a decade later, minus the sanctions
Florida State 79, missing the 80s, as the Jameis Winston years are fading further into the rear view mirror
As much as money, history and facilities matter, these programs with every advantage possible show that those things aren't enough. It always comes back to a great head coach. College football is extremely stacked against programs like Rutgers trying to raise their profile. And it explains why a lot of teams that were able to raise their profile in the past got there through dirty means.
