While not any comprehensive assessment,
I wondered how it could be that Illinois is performing so well.
The article linked below makes it seem they lost as much or more talent than they brought in this past year via transfers.
2021 transfer rankings per 247 had Nebraska at #7 and Illinois at #96.
Additionally- their recruiting class rankings per Rivals were
2022: 41 (0 four stars)
2021: 71 (0 four stars)
2020: 90 (1 four star)
2019: 73 (2 four stars)
*meanwhile, Nebraska classes ranked in the Top 20 most those years.
Other teams fit a similar profile, but my assessment of what leads to success is 1. proper scouting of talent, 2. roster development, and 3. coaching schematics/discipline.
All 3 elements point right back to who your coaches are.
https://pantagraph.com/sports/colle...cle_f02f7e8e-0557-11ed-baa4-23ebdc6eed60.html