How the University of San Diego Became College Football’s Hidden Gem, on the Verge of a Historic Streak

David Shaw grew up in San Diego and had no idea what was always right under his nose.

His dad and brother had gone to San Diego State, and he’d heard of the University of California-San Diego. The small, private University of San Diego? Unknown to him.

In early 2006, Shaw had just left the Baltimore Ravens and was planning to spend a year out of coaching before trying to get back into the NFL. But coaching friend John Morton was on his way to the New Orleans Saints and told Shaw to check out USD, where Morton had just left. The non-scholarship Football Championship Subdivision program was just coming off an 11-1 season under a guy named Jim Harbaugh...