That's a nostalgic take that ignores how the portal actually builds teams. Michigan's 2023 title team had key transfers like Olu Oluwatimi who became a captain and won the Rimington Trophy. The Rose Bowl semifinal win was built on that cohesion. The idea that transfers can't build brotherhood is disproven by locker rooms every year. Teams still fight for bowl bids, and the "reward" is now a chance to build momentum with your new roster. The tradition isn't gone, it's just different, and teams that integrate transfers best are the ones playing in January.