College Football: 6 potential sleeping giants

Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) runs the ball under pressure from Arizona Wildcats linebacker DeAndre' Miller (32) during the third quarter of the territorial cup at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) runs the ball under pressure from Arizona Wildcats linebacker DeAndre' Miller (32) during the third quarter of the territorial cup at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite the longstanding power structure in college football, there are still several sleeping giants capable of doing big things.

Some college football bluebloods have always been powerhouses. Michigan, whose 935 victories are more than anyone in the nation, claims national championships dating back to 1901 – essentially the dawn of the game’s modern era. Ohio State wasn’t far behind, having posted a few undefeated campaigns in the early 20th Century before blossoming into a national championship program in 1942. Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas and Nebraska, despite a few bumps in the road along the way, have always been ranked among the most successful college football programs of all-time.

But, other college football powers are relative newcomers. Florida State didn’t start playing football until 1947, but the Seminoles – located in the talent hotbed of the Sunshine State, yet also close to Georgia and Alabama – quickly rose to fame, emerged as a perennial national championship contender in the 1980s, and snagged their first title in 1993.

Rival Miami, though two decades older than FSU as a football program, was largely mediocre until Howard Schnellenberger breathed new life into the program in 1979. Schnellenberger pledged to capitalize on the immense talent in the area, while also adding a swagger to the program, and like Florida State, raised the profile of the program by scheduling heavyweight national opponents on a consistent basis.

Florida State and Miami are perfect examples of sleeping giant college football programs that reached their ultimate potential. Both were able to exploit their location to bring in star recruits and seized opportunities to build the program through alumni networks and expanding fan bases.

Sleeping giants still exist in college football. Recently, we took a look at two other schools from the Sunshine State building on similar potential. Here, explore six other programs that haven’t yet reached the mountaintop, but through location, money and a little luck, have a foundation in place that could get them there.

Note: To be eligible for our list, each program:

  • Recorded a losing record in 2016 (a winning season indicates at least some level of being awake)
  • Failed to qualify for a bowl game in 2016 (no losing season technicalities)
  • Has failed to finish in the top 10 of the national rankings in each of the last 10 years
  • Has never won a Division I national championship as recognized by the Associated Press

Participating in a Power Five conference is a definite plus, though not necessarily required, as Florida State and Miami competed as independents on their respective rises.