[KartyFan]

Was hoping for a bit more splash at QB and o-line at this point. However, as Samuel points out, this is a brobdingnagian improvement and was done during a coaching change with a partial staff. Most importantly, it is a good sign for Stanfoes that overall turnover is low. Sure, would be great to lose another 10 backups and add 10 higher quality players. But I think our recipe for success will be to keep talent we develop at a higher rate than almost any other school. Micah Ford staying is a start.

[KartyFan]

Was hoping for a bit more splash at QB and o-line at this point. However, as Samuel points out, this is a brobdingnagian improvement and was done during a coaching change with a partial staff. Most importantly, it is a good sign for Stanfoes that overall turnover is low. Sure, would be great to lose another 10 backups and add 10 higher quality players. But I think our recipe for success will be to keep talent we develop at a higher rate than almost any other school. Micah Ford staying is a start.

[fullmetal]

LT Niki Prongos staying is also a great building block too.

[fullmetal]

LT Niki Prongos staying is also a great building block too.

[newguy]

Matt Rose staying is also kinda nice.

[newguy]

Matt Rose staying is also kinda nice.

[Hurlburt88]

Is Elijah Brown for sure "going" or "gone"?  And are there any others in the portal where there is a chance they might stay?

[Hurlburt88]

Is Elijah Brown for sure "going" or "gone"?  And are there any others in the portal where there is a chance they might stay?

[PalmTree]

Is Elijah Brown for sure "going" or "gone"?  And are there any others in the portal where there is a chance they might stay?

247 shows 5th yr OLB/Edge Wilfredo Aybar withdrew from the portal yesterday. He didn't play at all his SO year and only appeared in 4 games as a FR, so was eligible to RS.

[PalmTree]

Is Elijah Brown for sure "going" or "gone"?  And are there any others in the portal where there is a chance they might stay?

247 shows 5th yr OLB/Edge Wilfredo Aybar withdrew from the portal yesterday. He didn't play at all his SO year and only appeared in 4 games as a FR, so was eligible to RS.

[Row80Critic]

In the meantime, 247sports show Cal gaining the most talent through the portal in the ACC, with Stanford ranking (drum roll please) dead last.... Surely Stanford could have beat out Cal for a lot of those guys if it could find the will to do so. Sigh... 

Maybe Stanford can find a way to build a program with slow sustained growth, but I fear that is just an adorable fantasy in 2026.  Indiana went 2-10, 4-8, and a very familiar 3-9 from 2021 to 2023, then turned on a dime to go 11-2 and 16-0.

[Row80Critic]

In the meantime, 247sports show Cal gaining the most talent through the portal in the ACC, with Stanford ranking (drum roll please) dead last.... Surely Stanford could have beat out Cal for a lot of those guys if it could find the will to do so. Sigh... 

Maybe Stanford can find a way to build a program with slow sustained growth, but I fear that is just an adorable fantasy in 2026.  Indiana went 2-10, 4-8, and a very familiar 3-9 from 2021 to 2023, then turned on a dime to go 11-2 and 16-0.

[StanUSwagU]

In the meantime, 247sports show Cal gaining the most talent through the portal in the ACC, with Stanford ranking (drum roll please) dead last.... Surely Stanford could have beat out Cal for a lot of those guys if it could find the will to do so. Sigh... 

Maybe Stanford can find a way to build a program with slow sustained growth, but I fear that is just an adorable fantasy in 2026.  Indiana went 2-10, 4-8, and a very familiar 3-9 from 2021 to 2023, then turned on a dime to go 11-2 and 16-0.

************************

Row80Critic,

(1) Thanks for the post.
(2) Your observations above, are astute & on-point.
(3) Lets hope someone in our administration is thinking like you are.

[StanUSwagU]

In the meantime, 247sports show Cal gaining the most talent through the portal in the ACC, with Stanford ranking (drum roll please) dead last.... Surely Stanford could have beat out Cal for a lot of those guys if it could find the will to do so. Sigh... 

Maybe Stanford can find a way to build a program with slow sustained growth, but I fear that is just an adorable fantasy in 2026.  Indiana went 2-10, 4-8, and a very familiar 3-9 from 2021 to 2023, then turned on a dime to go 11-2 and 16-0.

************************

Row80Critic,

(1) Thanks for the post.
(2) Your observations above, are astute & on-point.
(3) Lets hope someone in our administration is thinking like you are.

[fullmetal]

Indiana was also funded by billionaire alum Mark Cuban.  Don't think it was cheap getting that much transfer portal talent, even from JMU.  If Stanford were to spend like crazy and remove admissions standards (as well as find a coach worthy of a top five salary), I'm sure Stanford would have a great shot at doing the same.  But Stanford is not Indiana.

[fullmetal]

Indiana was also funded by billionaire alum Mark Cuban.  Don't think it was cheap getting that much transfer portal talent, even from JMU.  If Stanford were to spend like crazy and remove admissions standards (as well as find a coach worthy of a top five salary), I'm sure Stanford would have a great shot at doing the same.  But Stanford is not Indiana.

[Treebound]

Has there been any information shared on how much Indian raised via Mark Cuban and others to go from last to first?  Yes, admissions are dramatically different, but would be an excellent comp on what it takes to make that kind of turn around.  Cignetti's contract is known, but not sure what they raised and spent on the players, staff, etc...

[Treebound]

Has there been any information shared on how much Indian raised via Mark Cuban and others to go from last to first?  Yes, admissions are dramatically different, but would be an excellent comp on what it takes to make that kind of turn around.  Cignetti's contract is known, but not sure what they raised and spent on the players, staff, etc...

[82lsju]

Has there been any information shared on how much Indian raised via Mark Cuban and others to go from last to first?  Yes, admissions are dramatically different, but would be an excellent comp on what it takes to make that kind of turn around.  Cignetti's contract is known, but not sure what they raised and spent on the players, staff, etc...

However, having a billionaire around sure helps, and Indiana does in 1981 graduate Mark Cuban. Cuban has donated to his alma mater before, whether it's the $5 million gift to create a sports media and technology center or $6 million to IU's club rugby team. 

But he had never donated directly to IU athletics until that Friday night in South Bend last December. 

"I gave some to sports this year for the first time ever," Cuban told CBS Sports. "Typically, I was the exact opposite. I'm not a fan of anything that I believe raises tuition in the least bit. But after getting to talk to Cig and seeing what was going on, they kinda talked me into it. 

Cuban declined to say how much he donated, but did say it was "a big number," and he didn't specify where the donation should go within the athletic department. Cuban has a close relationship with athletic director Scott Dolson, as he did Dolson's predecessor Fred Glass, but it was the kinship with Cignetti that pushed him to give. They originally met at a fundraiser for the singer John Mellencamp. There, they figured out both were born in the same Pittsburgh area hospital and are only three years apart in age. 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...e-sharing/

related to your question

It will come as little surprise that a prestige program like Miami spent more than relative newcomer Indiana on its roster this season, but both football programs hit the $20 million mark in player spending.

According to comprehensive estimates from NIL-NCAA, Miami's total roster cost this season was $24.4 million, while Indiana spent $21.1 million.

College football NIL spending is not public information, and even well-informed estimates can vary. On3's Pete Nakos reported that Miami's player spending could be closer to $30 million, while Cignetti confirmed to CBS Sports that his team's "pot of gold" does not eclipse $25 million.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/miami-...D4DIsSUEc2

[82lsju]

Has there been any information shared on how much Indian raised via Mark Cuban and others to go from last to first?  Yes, admissions are dramatically different, but would be an excellent comp on what it takes to make that kind of turn around.  Cignetti's contract is known, but not sure what they raised and spent on the players, staff, etc...

However, having a billionaire around sure helps, and Indiana does in 1981 graduate Mark Cuban. Cuban has donated to his alma mater before, whether it's the $5 million gift to create a sports media and technology center or $6 million to IU's club rugby team. 

But he had never donated directly to IU athletics until that Friday night in South Bend last December. 

"I gave some to sports this year for the first time ever," Cuban told CBS Sports. "Typically, I was the exact opposite. I'm not a fan of anything that I believe raises tuition in the least bit. But after getting to talk to Cig and seeing what was going on, they kinda talked me into it. 

Cuban declined to say how much he donated, but did say it was "a big number," and he didn't specify where the donation should go within the athletic department. Cuban has a close relationship with athletic director Scott Dolson, as he did Dolson's predecessor Fred Glass, but it was the kinship with Cignetti that pushed him to give. They originally met at a fundraiser for the singer John Mellencamp. There, they figured out both were born in the same Pittsburgh area hospital and are only three years apart in age. 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...e-sharing/

related to your question

It will come as little surprise that a prestige program like Miami spent more than relative newcomer Indiana on its roster this season, but both football programs hit the $20 million mark in player spending.

According to comprehensive estimates from NIL-NCAA, Miami's total roster cost this season was $24.4 million, while Indiana spent $21.1 million.

College football NIL spending is not public information, and even well-informed estimates can vary. On3's Pete Nakos reported that Miami's player spending could be closer to $30 million, while Cignetti confirmed to CBS Sports that his team's "pot of gold" does not eclipse $25 million.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/miami-...D4DIsSUEc2

[Spiny_Norman]

Some observations from Stewart Mandel about Indiana.

Cignetti is almost certainly going to prove to be a unicorn. Schools are going to fall all over themselves trying to replicate what he did at Indiana, only to find out it can’t be done. Cignetti is one-of-one. But that’s not going to stop every AD with a job opening from trying to find “the next Curt Cignetti.”

It would be irresponsible of me to throw out a number for IU’s payroll because it would only be an educated guess. But after consulting with our roster construction guru Sam Khan Jr., I have a fairly good sense of where it stacks up relative to the field: commensurate with a typical CFP contender, but lower than at least four teams it beat — Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon and Miami — as well as at least one other CFP team, Texas Tech.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6987685...s-mailbag/

[Spiny_Norman]

Some observations from Stewart Mandel about Indiana.

Cignetti is almost certainly going to prove to be a unicorn. Schools are going to fall all over themselves trying to replicate what he did at Indiana, only to find out it can’t be done. Cignetti is one-of-one. But that’s not going to stop every AD with a job opening from trying to find “the next Curt Cignetti.”

It would be irresponsible of me to throw out a number for IU’s payroll because it would only be an educated guess. But after consulting with our roster construction guru Sam Khan Jr., I have a fairly good sense of where it stacks up relative to the field: commensurate with a typical CFP contender, but lower than at least four teams it beat — Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon and Miami — as well as at least one other CFP team, Texas Tech.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6987685...s-mailbag/