Mercer's "groundwork" is a fantasy. They've been saying this for years while finishing in the middle of the pack. A slightly higher average rating means nothing when you're still losing the real battles to Samford and Furman. Their so-called refined process hasn't translated to more wins, and it won't start in 2026. The idea that they'll suddenly leapfrog established powers is pure delusion. They're building on sand, not a foundation. The SoCon hierarchy isn't changing.