There is a VERY small class of programs that ever have a chance at winning titles. It is almost entirely based upon revenue, stadium size, recruiting territories, and booster support.

Since 1992 -- over the past 27 years, here are the champs:
Clemson
Alabama
Clemson
Alabama
Ohio State
Florida State
Alabama
Alabama
Auburn
Alabama
Florida
LSU
Florida
Texas
USC
LSU/USC
Ohio State
Miami
Oklahoma
Florida State
Tennessee
Michigan/Nebraska
Florida
Nebraska
Nebraska
Florida State
Alabama

There are 14 programs that have won a share of a title in the past 27 years. Things definitely change -- programs like Miami and Nebraska don't appear poised to return to glory anytime soon and Michigan hasn't really been close in a while -- but other than that, it's the same 10-11 programs.

It just is what it is. I'm not entirely skeptical of the notion that teams can break into that group -- Oregon and VT both came very close. If one goes back a few more years, you see programs like GT, Colorado, Washington, and Penn State in there as well. Things ebb and flow -- but there are certain conditions that are almost always present that help a team field a winner -- and VT doesn't have the stadium size/revenue/booster support. The state has been completely devoured by other programs -- top players go to Penn State, Bama, etc. It will take a truly dynamic recruiting staff to turn that around, I think.