Why Maryland, Rutgers Could Endure 'Sophomore Slump'

Previous data suggests a decline for Big Ten's recent newcomersPerhaps a subtle golf clap for both Maryland and Rutgers, a duo that sauntered into the Big 10 and tallied bowl bids in the initial year as conference representatives.

While surveying schedules and dissecting returnees act as vague, loose factors to predict results, I decided to take the scenic route in previewing these clubs, and for newcomers entering sophomore seasons within fresh groups, history won't side with the Scarlet Knights or Terrapins for 2015.

Compiling the list of Power 5 clubs that have realigned the previous handful of seasons, only a pair of programs, Colorado and Mizzou, have sunk beneath the .500 mark in…