The Art of the Rebuild

Ryan Moreland · July 22, 2025

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By: Matt Haase (@Meezy)

Turning Nothing Into Something in the CFSL

In a league filled with powerhouses, prestige, and playoff banners, it’s easy to be overshadowed when you’re handed a blank slate. No pipeline, no brand recognition, not even a “99 Club.” Just a name, a logo, and a whole lot of question marks.

But for some, that’s not discouraging; it’s inspiring.

Welcome to The Art of the Rebuild, where the challenge isn’t about defending a crown; it’s about earning one from scratch.

Foundation First: Establishing Identity

Every rebuild starts the same way; culture before stars. Wins won’t come overnight, but identity can.

Identity is what makes players buy in when wins aren’t yet on the schedule. It’s what builds loyalty, even during the growing pains. Players want to be a part of something real, something being built, not just riding coattails.

Just look at Texas A&M, which re-entered the league in Season 20 and went 2-9, but has since become a powerhouse with two Big 12 titles and back-to-back national championship appearances. Or even USC, which started at 5-6 in Season 19, only to rise and claim two national championships in short order.

Both programs are proof that with the right culture, anything is possible. They didn’t start as day one successes, but they did start with a vision of what a winning culture would look like, and they built from there.

Starting From Scratch

So, you have a vision for the team and the culture. Great, now all you need is the players to make it happen. Recruiting from a blank slate is a challenge (and any AD that is done it will tell you the same).

But that doesn’t mean it is impossible. Iowa in Season 23 is the perfect example of building behind the scenes and emerging with the #1 recruiting class during one of the most competitive recruiting seasons the league has ever seen.

That recruiting class didn’t just turn heads; it turned the tide. It propelled Iowa to a Team Spirit Award and a playoff berth in its inaugural year.

Player Development & Buy-In

Rebuilding isn’t just about who you bring in; it’s about how you elevate them once they’re there. The 3-star draft/recruiting can be a place where you find a diamond in the rough.

Penn State is a perfect example. Season 22 was a full rebuild for the Nittany Lions, but instead of chasing quick fixes, they doubled down on growth. Just look at Carlos Rooks, a 3-star FS who’s now a 5-star anchor in the secondary, or Tyler Lee, who came in as a 3-star OLB and has developed into a 4-star juggernaut.

When players trust the vision, put in the work on upgrades, and grow within the system, they become more than just roster spots; they become the foundation of the turnaround.

The Scheme Fits the Pieces

Success in the CFSL isn’t just about talent; it’s about scheme. And you have to find the right scheme for the pieces you have.

Just look at Nebraska in Season 23. They may not have had the talent to overpower teams, but they did find an Oregon playbook that got the most out of their players. This choice turned them into one of the league’s top rushing attacks. It paid off in a big way with one of the biggest upsets of the year, knocking off Colorado, who finished 2nd in the Big 12.

In a rebuild, you don’t get to choose the dream roster; you choose the best out of what you’ve got. That means maximizing strengths, minimizing weaknesses, and adjusting playbooks around your team, not the other way around.

The Moment It Turns

You are going to struggle. The league is talented and there will be some growing pains. But, then one day… something clicks.

Season 22 Clemson started the season 1-4, despite plenty of one-score games. From someone who was in the locker room, morale was low. Everyone was tight-knit but tired of coming up just short. Then the team finally broke through.

In Week 6, Clemson traveled to Chapel Hill and shocked North Carolina, winning 38-35. That momentum carried them forward, and Clemson went on in Season 23 to earn its first winning season since Season 9.

It can happen that quickly. That’s when the heads start turning, the whispers start coming:

“Yo, don’t sleep on them.”

“That team’s different this year.”

“They’re building something over there.”

Just like that, you’re no longer the rebuild. You’re the threat.

Final Word: The Blueprint Ain’t for the Faint

Rebuilding in the CFSL is a grind. It’s not flashy. It’s not easy. But it’s one of the most rewarding experiences in this league.

Because when you turn a forgotten program into a contender? Nobody can say it was handed to you.

You earned it; Brick by brick, player by player, and game by game.

That’s the art of the rebuild.

And if you’re doing it right, they’ll feel your presence before they ever see your record.

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