5 College Football Programs on the Rise

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Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton (1) celebrates after running the ball into the end zone for a touchdown in overtime to defeat the Michigan Wolverines 43-40 at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /

One of the great things about college football is the change we see from year to year. Led by hotshot coaches and overlooked players we see the rise of upstart schools without a rich history of success – think Baylor and TCU in the 2010s, Oregon in the 2000s and the Florida States and Miamis of the world in earlier decades.

We also see the decline of prestigious powerhouse programs, which fall on hard times for one reason or another, but usually eventually reemerge as football juggernauts. Alabama was lost under Mike DuBose and Mike Shula, much like Michigan has stumbled in the Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke era. The Wolverines are hoping Jim Harbaugh is the next Nick Saban and will resuscitate one of the game’s greatest programs.

Because players are only eligible to play four seasons across five years and some players leave early for the NFL Draft or transfer to another school, rosters are constantly in flux. Coaching changes also keep things fluid and make it difficult for a program to achieve extended periods of success.