ILLINOIS

HISTORY: Had five consecutive losing seasons from 2002-06, including the first two seasons of coach Ron Zook's tenure.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Reached first Rose Bowl in 24 years last season and finished 9-4.

METHOD: Even after he was fired at Florida, it was well known that Zook could recruit. His recruiting classes have been ranked third in the Big Ten in 2007 and fourth in 2006 and 2008 by rivals.com. On the field, Zook implemented a spread option offense that other Big Ten teams don't see much. A gifted running quarterback, Juice Williams, helped Illinois eat up precious minutes in the fourth quarter against Ohio State.

KANSAS

HISTORY: In 2002, coach Mark Mangino inherited a program coming off six straight losing seasons.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: After an eight-year postseason drought, the Jayhawks have participated in three bowls in the last five seasons, winning the Orange Bowl over Virginia Tech on Jan. 3, 2008.

METHOD: Mangino is a former Oklahoma offensive coordinator who understands the value of good defense. His first All-American at Kansas, Charles Gordon, was a cornerback he had moved to defense from wide receiver. Mangino hired a talented defensive coordinator, Bill Young, away from a job with the Detroit Lions (but lost Young to Miami during the offseason). The Jayhawks also have amped up their record outside the Big 12 by playing easy opponents. Over the last three regular seasons, Kansas played just one BCS conference foe.

RUTGERS

HISTORY: From 1993 to 2004, the Scarlet Knights went 12 straight seasons without a winning record.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Went 11-2 in 2006 with a win over No. 3-ranked Louisville. Won the first two bowl games in 138 years of football over the last two seasons.

METHOD: Coach Greg Schiano, a New Jersey native, somehow persuaded top in-state players to stay home to revive what was a lifeless program. He used ties developed as Miami's defensive coordinator to sprinkle in some South Florida recruits, took advantage of a fairly easy schedule and built around a gritty defense and tough running game.

WAKE FOREST

HISTORY: Seven losing seasons in eight years before Jim Grobe was hired after the 2000 season.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Captured first ACC title in 36 years in 2006, when it made an Orange Bowl appearance. Followed up with a 9-4 record in 2007.

METHOD: A former Air Force assistant, coach Jim Grobe recruits players many of the marquee national programs aren't courting. He looks for intelligence, toughness and the willingness to redshirt. Then he tries to use fifth-year seniors and fourth-year juniors to defeat other programs' highly recruited freshmen and sophomores. He uses a slightly unconventional offense that spreads the field with horizontal runs (often by wide receivers), then hits defenses between the tackles.

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