The only realistic take I’ve seen on this is that now that everyone can legally pay players, southern schools don’t have the money northern schools have to be able to buy the best talent.
Except Texas. They’ll be fine.
But schools like OSU, Michigan, PSU, ND, Oregon, SC…no southern school (other than Texas) can compete with them money-wise. They will simply buy SEC recruits and stack their teams with southern talent.
Northern money>>>>>>>southern money. Always has been.
Caveat: USC has always had great talent and doesn’t need to buy southern recruits. They simply need to keep kids in their region home in the same way Carroll did. Just drive down the 405 and hit up the south coast and get all the 4 and 5 stars you need.
Riley needs to start doing that but I don’t think he’s the one.