was driving today - waiting on a road construction delay, actually - and Serius college sports satellite radio was talking big time schools changing conferences next year. Part of it was what some of those teams are/have been doing to reconstruct their rosters to deal with the new conference's standards.
Oklahoma reworking its roster to be effective in the SEC. Oregon going into the B1G.
Found it interesting. We're losing the heart of our defense for next year - the pass rush, the DL stalwarts, top LBs, all our most talented safeties, one of our two CBs. The OL was only just okay this past season - real problems protecting the QB especially on end rushes through the O Tackles. Etc, etc.
We are getting some transfers to fill some significant holes. But all the reportage, all the conversation, is inward looking - we're trying to get back to where we were. Most all three stars, a couple fours. From top tier programs guys with talent but who weren't starters in multiple years in their previous programs.
Not hearing any focus on building the sort of roster that could be competitive in the B1G,
I see some power rankings listing us just under middle of the B1G next year. The weak half of that conference - i get that. Not sure how we'll stack up with those programs but we sure don't have the roster to compete with the upper level of the B1G. And, sadly, while Chip may know a lot about football, cares for and takes care of the kids who play for him, has upgraded facilities and seems to have an elite level strength and flexibility and health care program - while he can coach - his program just doesn't have the horses to be competitive at the upper level of the B1G. And it won't until the measure is not just where we have been but rather is changed to be the level to which we aspire.
Withholding NIL $$ from football cuts our hopes off at the ankles. i get it - it's about Chip on the belief that retaining him prolongs the mediocrity due to the standards on recruiting. But until that level of $$ goes up and we can compete with any of them on the LOS, both sides of the ball - well, the discussion of setting new standards and elevating the roster - especially in the B1G which has a number of teams with really solid, crushing lines and LBs - Fb's not going to be much fun for awhile