Stability is overrated when you've seen what real defensive identity looks like. I watched the Cowboys under Les Miles and Mike Gundy build tough units that didn't need a fancy system, they needed tough kids who wanted to be in Stillwater. You can't install culture from a manual, it comes from the players you bring in who buy into the program. This reminds me of the 2011 defense with Brandon Weeden's offense; they weren't the most talented on paper, but they had grit you can't scheme. California's "proven structure" sounds nice until you're facing a real offense in a hostile environment, something we understood in the old Big 12. Chasing statistical rankings is a fool's errand if your foundation isn't built on players who have fought together for more than just a season.