There's no shame in using one of college football's powerhouses in Dynasty Mode.

However there is another way to success. Winning title after title can be even more satisfying when you've overcome incredible barriers to get your team to the promised land. So what are the top five toughest programs to turn into powerhouses in dynasty mode? I've compiled my own list of the top five toughest and while these aren't the five worst teams in the game, they all offer a pretty tough challenge to build and maintain success. Two of my top five teams are actually pretty good in year one but all of them should be challenging to use in Dynasty Mode, even for experienced players.

UMass

All of the newcomers to FBS football face an uphill climb, but UMass poses perhaps the greatest challenge of all. Your best player is senior MLB Perry McIntyre at 77 overall, but with only 77 speed, he’s unlikely to do much against quick halfbacks. There’s not much talent at the skill positions, but sophomore HB Jordan Broadnax (68 OVR) could be alright before he graduates. On the defensive side, your future star is sophomore FS Ed Saint at 72 OVR. At least playing in the MAC means your level of competition is pretty low. Plus, the team only has three positional needs to fill and a pipeline in Florida will help bring in solid talent. But UMass has one of the worst rosters in the game and not a ton of hope for future improvement initially.

Army

Army actually has some solid talent on the roster. But the team has nine needs to fill during the first season of recruiting. Army has valuable pipelines in Texas and California but runs the risk of losing these pipelines within two years. Army’s recruiting pitches are absolutely abysmal, too – only three pitches are above “D” level and Army has a D- for playing style for literally every potential style of player. As Army’s coach, you’re going to have a really rough time on offense once star junior HB Raymond Maples (87 OVR) graduates. Start looking hard for his replacement. Otherwise, it’s going to get ugly.

It's not easy playing in the SEC, especially when your program ratings lag behind the rest.

Ole Miss

Ole Miss is easily the most talented team on this list. But they’re also playing in the game’s most talented conference. The team has brutal recruiting pitches, only two prestige stars, and is in danger of losing its pipeline in Texas after the first year. Mississippi’s roster is pretty good, particularly when led by sophomore QB Bo Wallace (84 OVR). Pretty good, though, doesn’t exactly describe the rest of the SEC. Add in a terrible and shallow offensive line and you’ve got a team that will have trouble hanging with the Alabamas and LSUs of the world. In year one, the Rebels have to travel to Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and LSU and play host to Texas in a non-conference matchup. Good luck trying to run through that gauntlet.

Memphis

Do you like recruiting? Well, you won’t with Memphis. A “C” in conference prestige is the only recruiting pitch you have available that’s higher than a D+, which means the only recruits you’ll be getting will be in low demand. Scouting is crucial for a program like Memphis, because without finding some gems, you’ll get buried in no time. On the offensive side of the ball, your key players are sophomore QB Taylor Reed (73 OVR) and sophomore WR Kevin Wright (73 OVR, 6’4”). The defensive line is shockingly bad and the secondary isn’t much better. With very little overall talent and no real team speed to speak of, winning games with Memphis is an ordeal.

Oregon State

The Beavers aren’t far removed from making nine bowl games in eleven years. But in a loaded Pac 12, it’s going to be hard for them to keep up. In the third year of your dynasty, the team might actually be pretty good. Sophomores QB Sean Mannion (83 OVR), HB Malcolm Agnew (80 OVR), and WR Brandin Cooks (83 OVR) could form a nice little core on offense. Recruiting with a two-star program is hard, though, and there’s so much power in the Pac 12 that keeping up will be tough, especially recruiting the Pacific Northwest. As talented as Mannion might be at QB during your first few seasons of dynasty mode, he will be throwing behind a porous offensive line, and that’s not a recipe for success.