Can Anyone Be the Next Indiana? How Kentucky, Texas Tech, and Auburn Are Trying to Follow the Hoosiers’ Blueprint
The Indiana Hoosiers just pulled off the kind of run that flips the college football world on its head-a perfect 16-0 season capped by a national championship. It’s the first time in FBS history a team has gone undefeated through 16 games. And the fact that it happened in Bloomington, not Columbus or Tuscaloosa or Athens, is still hard to wrap your head around.
It wasn’t supposed to be Indiana. If it had to happen in the state, most would’ve bet on South Bend.
But Indiana? That’s what makes this story so wild-and now, everyone’s trying to figure out who could be next.
In the new era of NIL deals and revenue sharing, the door’s cracked open for programs that were once considered long shots. That’s got analysts and fans alike scanning the landscape, searching for the next out-of-nowhere contender. A few names are already being tossed around: Kentucky, UCLA, and Texas Tech.
Let’s break down why those three programs are drawing attention-and whether anyone can really follow Indiana’s path.
Texas Tech: Big Oil and Big Ambitions
If you’re looking for a school that’s already dipped a toe in Indiana’s waters, Texas Tech might be it. The Red Raiders had their breakout moment, only to flame out in their first College Football Playoff appearance-sound familiar?
But the pieces are there. The program is flush with support from influential donors like Cody Campbell, whose oil money has helped fuel a serious investment in football. The infrastructure is improving, the recruiting efforts are ramping up, and the ambition is clear.
Still, there's a massive gap between being competitive and winning 16 straight games. That’s the bar now.
For Tech, the challenge is consistency-and a little bit of magic. Indiana didn’t just spend money; they built a program with culture, leadership, and belief.
That’s not something you can buy overnight.
UCLA: A New Coach with Familiar Ties
UCLA’s case is intriguing for one big reason: Bob Chesney. The Bruins’ new head coach is stepping into the spotlight after replacing Curt Cignetti at James Madison. And if that name rings a bell, it should-Cignetti just led Indiana to the promised land.
Chesney’s hire signals that UCLA is serious about building something sustainable. Donor spending is up, and the program seems to be aligning behind a vision. It’s still early, but the Bruins are hoping they’ve found their own version of the Cignetti effect.
The question is whether Chesney can replicate what Cignetti did-build a locker room with toughness, experience, and a chip on its shoulder. Indiana’s rise wasn’t just about X’s and O’s. It was about guys who’d been overlooked, who came up together through the grind, and who believed they could shock the world.
That’s hard to duplicate. But if anyone’s in position to try, UCLA’s not a bad bet.
Kentucky: A Doormat No More?
Then there’s Kentucky. A program with a long history of irrelevance in football, but now, maybe, a spark.
The Wildcats made a bold move this offseason, cutting ties with longtime head coach Mark Stoops and bringing in Will Stein-a rising star who made his name developing quarterbacks at Oregon. Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore... Stein’s fingerprints are all over their growth.
Now, he’s bringing that quarterback whisperer magic to Lexington, and it’s already paying off. Kentucky’s transfer class is ranked No. 9 in the 247Sports Composite, and the buzz around the program is growing.
One of the key additions? Kenny Minchey, a talented but unproven quarterback who transferred from Notre Dame.
It’s not just about talent, though. It’s about momentum.
And Stein’s arrival has clearly energized the donor base. You don’t land a top-10 portal class without serious NIL backing.
Kentucky’s making moves like a program that believes it can be more than just a basketball school.
Still, there’s a difference between building hype and building a winner. Unlike Cignetti, Stein didn’t bring a core group of players with him.
That means he’s starting from scratch in a lot of ways. But if he can get Minchey rolling and keep the portal pipeline flowing, Kentucky might just have the foundation for something bigger.
Auburn: The Blueprint, But With a Twist
And then there’s Auburn. Technically, they can’t be “the next Indiana”-they’re Auburn. But what’s happening on the Plains has echoes of what just unfolded in Bloomington.
New head coach Alex Golesh isn’t just rebuilding-he’s bringing an army with him. Quarterback Byrum Brown, who led the FBS in total offense last season, is making the jump from USF along with several of his top weapons.
On defense, DJ Durkin is inheriting a handful of USF transfers, too. And Golesh isn’t coming alone-his offensive coordinator Joel Gordon, offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick, and GM are all making the move.
Sound familiar? That’s basically what Cignetti did at Indiana, bringing his key assistants and players from James Madison to lay the foundation for a historic run.
Golesh clearly studied the playbook. Or maybe he just gets it.
He knows that culture, continuity, and belief matter as much as talent. And at Auburn, he’s got a program with a proud tradition, a hungry fanbase, and the resources to compete.
The Tigers have been through the wringer in recent years-COVID chaos, coaching turnover, and underachievement. But now, they’re embracing the new era of college football: NIL, revenue sharing, and a more aggressive approach to roster building.
If Auburn wins it all, it won’t be a Cinderella story. It’ll be a redemption arc. A program that lost its way finding its footing again, and doing it with a modern twist.
So... Who’s Next?
Indiana’s title run proved that in today’s college football landscape, anything is possible. But replicating it? That’s another story.
Texas Tech has the money. UCLA has the coach.
Kentucky has momentum. Auburn has the infrastructure and a plan that looks awfully familiar.
But Indiana had something else-something harder to quantify. A mix of belief, leadership, and timing that came together in a once-in-a-generation run.
Can someone else do it? Maybe.
But they won’t just need talent and money. They’ll need to build something real.
Something lasting.
Because in this new era of college football, lightning can strike anywhere. But it only changes the game if you’re ready to catch it.