Is Indiana having greatest single-season turnaround in recent CFB history?

At this time last season, Indiana was entering the penultimate week of the regular season in the final year of the Tom Allen era. The Hoosiers weren't able to pick up wins in either of their final two regular-season games, ending their 2023 season at 3-9.

That's why it's a major surprise that one year later, Indiana is 10-0 and controls its own destiny in the Big Ten title race entering Saturday's matchup against Ohio State on Big Noon Kickoff (noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Even though first-year Indiana coach Curt Cignetti would proudly let you know that he has a winning track record (and his history backs that statement up — just google him), the jump is still surprising considering where Indiana was a year ago and the history of the program. Its win over Michigan in Week 11 marked the first time it had ever won 10 games in a season. 

As Cignetti has the Hoosiers on the precipice of making the College Football Playoff, it's easy to wonder if Indiana is in the midst of the greatest single-season turnaround in the history of the sport. Let's take a look at the best year-over-year win increases across FBS since 2000 (excluding teams from the 2021 season such as Michigan and Michigan State as they played a condensed schedule in 2020) and see where Indiana stacks up from the group. 

After a winless first season at UCF, head coach George O'Leary was finally able to breakthrough in Year 2. The Golden Knights showed out in their first season in Conference USA, going 7-1 against conference opponents during the regular season. Future NFL star Brandon Marshall played a large role in the turnaround, recording 74 receptions for 1,195 yards and a conference-high 11 touchdowns. Running back Kevin Smith, who also enjoyed a