Urban Meyer Predicts Rutgers Could Follow Indiana’s College Football Playoff Breakthrough
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Urban Meyer, the celebrated college football coach who led Florida and Ohio State to national championships, has identified Rutgers University as a program primed to emulate Indiana’s stunning ascent to the College Football Playoff (CFP) elite. Meyer, now a studio analyst, made his remarks following Indiana’s historic 2025 season, which culminated in the Hoosiers claiming their first-ever national title under coach Curt Cignetti.
Indiana’s improbable run has sparked widespread speculation about which struggling programs might be next to break through in the fiercely competitive landscape of college football. Rutgers, long mired near the bottom of the standings with a 5-7 record in 2025, caught Meyer’s attention as a team with the potential to rise from the ashes.
“Give me three programs that could be the next Indiana, meaning teams that are used to losing, have really bad records and can somehow rise from the ashes to become national champions,” Meyer said on the “3 and Out” podcast, which he co-hosts alongside Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram II and analyst Rob Stone. “Rutgers is in prime position to be the next Indiana.”
Rutgers’ football program has struggled for years to establish consistency and competitiveness within the Big Ten Conference. However, recent investments in coaching, recruiting, and facilities have laid a foundation that Meyer believes could catalyze a transformation similar to Indiana’s.
Indiana’s breakthrough season was marked by a remarkable turnaround under Curt Cignetti, who guided the Hoosiers to the CFP title despite the program’s historical struggles. The Hoosiers’ success has energized fans and analysts alike, demonstrating that with the right leadership and momentum, programs once considered perennial underdogs can ascend to the sport’s highest echelons.
Rutgers’ potential rise is part of a broader narrative of parity and unpredictability in college football. The sport’s landscape has evolved with increased emphasis on player development, transfer portal dynamics, and innovative coaching strategies. These factors have created opportunities for programs outside the traditional powerhouses to compete at a national level.
As Meyer highlighted, the Scarlet Knights’ current trajectory, combined with their institutional support, could position them to capitalize on this shifting environment. Rutgers’ fans and stakeholders will be watching closely in the coming seasons to see if the program can replicate Indiana’s remarkable journey.
For more on college football’s evolving landscape and analysis of emerging programs, visit the NCAA official site and the Big Ten Conference page. Detailed statistics and team records can be explored through the Sports Reference College Football database. Additionally, insights into coaching trends and program development are available at the American Football Coaches Association website.
Urban Meyer’s endorsement of Rutgers as a potential CFP contender underscores the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of college football, where perseverance and strategic vision can redefine a program’s destiny.
Leave a Reply