Has NIL assisted any traditionally mediocre or average program in making steps towards becoming an emerging power of college football in the foreseeable future?

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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/OhioValleyCat on 2024-07-23 05:59:06+00:00.

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As he tired, Nick Saban made statements generally supportive of Name Likeness & Image (NIL) deals and revenue sharing with players, while also expressing somewhat conflicting concerns about the system become pay-to-pay. There has been proliferation of NIL collectives that are independent of schools but which help fund NIL opportunities for students at nearly all major schools and assist recruiting. Because Saban retired as NIL is growing, even though he is 72, some people have speculated that he retired because he was growing weary of the direction of college football.

In any instance, with the growth of NIL, is there any school that is “punching above its weight class” in the sense of NIL influencing stronger recruiting classes than it has customarily been used to? If so are there any potential emerging powers in college football who appear set to rise from being mediocre or middle-of-the-road programs to potentially being become a new power in college football?