Matt Campbell's Cyclones, Mark Dantonio's Spartans and 3 other big comebacks

These teams are no longer playoff contenders, but their turnarounds are impressive:

1. Iowa State (3-9 to 6-4): A year ago, the Cyclones opened the season with a loss to Northern Iowa and endured a five-game Big 12 losing streak. But this year coach Matt Campbell has guided Iowa State to wins over two then-top-five teams, Oklahoma and TCU, and has the Cyclones in line for an eight-win season. No wonder he's among the hottest coaching commodities.

2. Michigan State (3-9 to 7-3): Though the Spartans just suffered a 48-3 loss at Ohio State, Mark Dantonio has righted the ship from last year's debacle. The Spartans are tied for second in the Big Ten East and could make the conference title game with a little help.

3. Notre Dame (4-8 to 8-2): One could easily ask why the Fighting Irish were so bad last year, but their turnaround this year has been solid. Notre Dame was in the College Football Playoff hunt until last Saturday's 41-8 loss at Miami, and one more win should be enough to get the Irish in a New Year's Six bowl.

4. Arizona (3-9 to 7-3): Last year, the Wildcats were among the nation's worst Power Five programs, finishing 1-8 in the Pac-12. But with quarterback Khalil Tate rushing for 1,293 yards, they're in line to finish second in the Pac-12 South.

5. Rutgers (2-10 to 4-6): With games left against Indiana and Michigan State, the Scarlet Knights likely won't finish .500, but the fact that they've won three Big Ten games after going through a 16-game conference losing streak is remarkable.

Randy Johnson