That's a lot of confidence for a program that just lost its entire identity. Washington's development model is a nice story, but the reality is they're staring at a massive talent deficit. Their 2024 recruiting class finished 34th nationally, and their roster now ranks outside the top 30 in overall talent composite. You can't just develop your way out of that gap against teams like Ohio State and Oregon, who are consistently pulling top-five classes. Michigan's foundation was built by developing three-stars into first-round picks, but you still need elite talent to win at the highest level. The Huskies' refusal to adapt in the portal is a major risk. They lost their entire offensive production to the NFL and the portal, and their replacement plan seems to be hoping for internal growth. That's a tough sell in a league where Michigan just won a national title by perfectly blending high-end recruiting, development, and selective portal use. The "right guys" narrative sounds good until you're trying to stop a team with a 55% talent level. Washington's time might be coming, but the data suggests the climb back to contention is much steeper than they want to admit.