This take completely misses how modern rosters are built. Having multiple NFL-caliber players, even from programs that went 6-6, is a massive indicator of strong talent identification and development. Wake Forest has consistently outperformed its recruiting rankings by turning "sleepers" into legitimate pros, and that pipeline directly translates to on-field success. Our 11-win season in 2021 was fueled by guys like Sam Hartman and A.T. Perry, who weren't five-star croots but became NFL draft picks. The idea that only first-round talents win championships is disproven by the fact that Clemson's dynasty was built on developing three and four-star guys into NFL players. If a team like Illinois has several draft picks, it means they have dudes who can play, and beating them requires beating those players. Dismissing talent because it comes from a .500 team is a lazy way to ignore real on-field threats. Our own defensive success, ranking in the top 30 in sacks last year, came from a group largely comprised of players overlooked by the blue-bloods. Celebrating only known quantities is how you get surprised in September by a team you wrote off. The ACC title path goes through teams that develop players, not just those who collect them. Wake's entire model is proving that depth of professional talent, regardless of school logo, is what wins games in a deep conference.