New CFB Landscape

Agree that the Pac12 having a real national contender changes the game for the better (not necessarily for Michigan specifically but for parity). That conference depends on USC being a ferrari. Unsure how Miami and UF will fare, though. Those hires could be fine but also aren't slam dunks

Nope. 

These recruiting hotbeds are too large to lock up. Also, Michigan can have a top 2-3 recruiting class of it keeps winning and develops a culture with more seasons like circa 2021.

You don't have to have top 3 class every year to win, as long as Michigan can recruit top 10 or 12 every year then you have a chance. You do that with good coaches and you will always have a chance. The transfer portal will have a massive impact, maybe more so than recruiting. 

Seems like NIL $ will do more for parity in recruiting by decreasing the impact of unfettered bagmen at a handful of schools.

That's a lot of moving pieces. But I'd like to think that an increasingly successful Michigan has plenty of recruiting reach. Personally, I am more concerned with squashing MSU like a bug, dominating recruiting in the state. And coaching turnover at OSU couldn't hurt. 

I agree it could weaken OSU. Their power really came from being able to take the players they wanted from Florida, Texas, and California. Not to say Ohio does not produce its own talent, but so many of their studs are from those areas. Competent teams in Southern California, South Florida, and Texas will hurt them more than a team like Michigan who looks for fit and future development over the shiniest objects every class. 

What I’m more curious about is how the Thomas Wilcher, former Cass Tech coach, being hired at MSU changes the in-state recruiting landscape. Obviously, winning the B1G and making the playoff likely is a huge confidence booster in Michigan’s potential, but Michigan State’s bounce back, plus hiring a guy connected to one of the state’s top recruiting hotbeds has to increase the Spartan’s chances at picking up guys out of Cass. Anyone know if his involvement is leading to elite recruiting fruition for Mel and the Spartans? 

I hope Harbaugh at Michigan is able to sustain sort of a Wisconsin last 25 years level of success at a Michigan level if that makes sense? It would be in the B1G East where it’s harder to win, meaning his teams will obviously be better than most Wisconsin teams in the past, meaning he will get more chances at the playoffs and Nat’l Championships.

Also, I’m not necessarily saying so in style of play to UW(although similar with a strong run game and Oline), as he will be able to sprinkle in some better athletes at skill positions offensively and defensively, creating more diverse play calling and schemes, able to be more multiple like they are this year.
What I really mean is in program continuity and stability as Alvarez built at UW.
How awesome would it be for Jim to retire on his terms and step into the Athletic director role, still having very close ties to football operations and coaching searches, very much like Bo as well. He would also retain relationships with players on the team by being at practices, giving speeches etc., and keep former players in the family as well with open arms to the program. Hell, he could even step in to coach a bowl game if a coach quits or needs to be let go for some reason, as Alvarez did once. Harbaugh is building his own legacy here at Michigan, one which is on the shoulders of giants as he said when he was hired. I feel like he is both wise enough to take things one day at a time, but also wise enough to be casting a vision for the 30-40 year (one generation) future of Michigan football as its leader. 

Also like UW, he will similarly (already has) recruit not just to get as many blue chips as possible, but he will recruit very much towards a system and a program/culture mentality, getting players that have both the potential to buy in to the culture and be extremely willing to be developed into great football players, not demanding playing time from the get-go, hopefully keeping transfer attention to a minimum, but still getting quality transfers as well when needed. Also the wisdom to promote NIL deals, but not allow it to muddy the culture either. The blue chips will come when they come, and likely a handful per class if success continues, and they will be given quick playing time if they have quick buy in and obviously flash their skills. They can transfer themselves to MSU/UT or Washington or something if they feel entitled as are “energy vampires” as the players on this team have said. The future looks very bright to me. 
 

I tend to trust our beloved football program in the hands of a guy who was willing to be an unpaid assistant for his dad at a 1AA football program just to he could help his dad get the best recruits they could to build the WKU football program, all while still carrying the weight of being a franchise QB for the Colts. Love our coach. 

I really strong Miami would hurt the SEC a little bit recruiting-wise, but there's so much talent in Florida that I don't see it making a huge dent. 

Michigan's footprint for recruiting should be the midwest.  Michigan should be able to land any kid in the midwest, northeast and parts of the west that don't have an OSU offer.  We should beat ND, PSU, MSU and other midwest powers for most (not all) elite recruits and also depth (under the radar) recruits.  Harbaugh is doing a great job of dipping our toes in all of the high talent areas like Florida, Georgia, California, Texas, etc...   If we can pull kids from those areas that's great and we should go all in for them.  The issue with mainly relying on those areas as primary recruiting grounds is kids get home sick and transfer.  We need enough quality midwestern kids on the roster to make up if a Florida, Georgia or California kid leaves.  The only issue I have with the way we recruit now is the lack of Ohio, PA and the midwestern offers.  Ohio, PA and the midwest has been the lifeblood of our program.  Just look at Cincinnati, Kentucky and others.  They are offering those kids to build their programs.  I'd argue, Ohio has almost as much talent as Georgia.  Recruit Ohio, PA and the midwest better.  

Here's our problem with Florida, Florida State, Miami, Texas, and USC having shitty programs:

In the 15 recruiting classes from 2001 to 2015, Ohio State had two five-star recruits from the states of Florida, Texas, and California. In the 15 seasons preceding those signing classes, the five schools above went 699-266 (72.4%).

In the six recruiting classes from 2016 to 2021, Ohio State had 12 five-star recruits from the states of Florida, Texas, and California. In the six seasons preceding those signing classes the five schools above went 257-174 (59.6%).

I predict that Cristobal will be fired after 3 seasons. 

Miami hasn't been good in years. 

Doesn't anyone remember the mid to late 90's reading Antlon and Lindey's and Michigan recruitine always being top 5, usually top 3 and always above Ohio State? The biggest knock on Michigan back then was they had the most talent, but kept losing games they shouldn't have. 

My point. Michigan used to recruit way up there and didn't win as often as they should. Yes, Michigan can recruit consistently top 3 classes. What makes Ohio State and Alabama there and USC there in the 2000's were they got top players locally, but get the top players nationally too. This is something Michigan used to do consistently under Carr. For him, Michigan and Ohio were local and he got big national recruits with them. Things did change when Sweater Vest came, but also Carr was not putting the same effort he had been as he was approaching retirement.

Cristobal will get some players but he won't come close to "locking up South Florida."  

I think it would level the playing field a bit but would likely hurt programs closer to them way more than UM.  As others have mentioned it would hurt OSU a bit but they'd just double up efforts locally, which UM would have to deal with.  But if USC returns to prominence (a big if still; I think Riley is a fine coach but the Big 12 was REALLY down during his run so I wonder if that continues in a stronger Pac-12) then teams like Oregon, UW, etc. would be hurt, and if Texas and Miami bounce back then I think that would hurt OU, UF, FSU, etc. more than UM given how few kids they pull from those regions anyway.  

I do think the biggest gain will be on overall competitiveness for the playoffs and the after-effects of always seeing the same couple of teams in the biggest games - if USC, Miami, Texas started making appearances along with schools like UM then you have a better value proposition to recruits.  I'm sure a big selling point to Texas and Florida kids from places like OSU was "you'll make the playoffs with us, not <insert local team>".  But if a kid in Texas sees UT or A&M make the playoffs then that message is dulled a bit.

I see a CFB future that will once again include  Michigan among others for several reasons.

1   The recruiting stock has gone up with the success of this season.

2   The transfer portal is a door of opportunity for parity as talent rich teams can no longer                     bench talent without loosing some.

3.   Michigan coaching has a blend of minds that will influence each other. There will be departures          as  some coaches cash in but many will get good contracts after this season and stay.

4.  The philosophy at present is right for the talent. 

5.  Team leadership as mentioned before is a model than can be a pattern. A team needs to play           for each other. 

6.  Synergy is a big part of amateur sports. As Michigan lost each year to the Bucks the belief died a little more. The fan base lost any belief that OSU could lose the game. They were too talented. too prepared. Alas, now the myth is squashed. Now we know the team down south is human. You build a finesse team that scores mega points and it masks defensive flaws. Teams played against them got behind and needed to go over the top and abandoned smash mouth in your face football. The belief that teams don't win with great defense is still true but defensive and offensive balance is absolutely necessary. Balanced teams have a place in the CFP. Great passing teams can be beaten. Its not a fluke. 

Michigan needs to get the top players in the state that they want and steal a few from Ohio.They have done great in the Chicago area the last few years.They can then cherry pick CA,TX,FL to fill out their classes.Fred Jackson made a killing down here in the Bayou state where I’m at.Lloyd used to make a good haul over in PA

I'm not sure we should assume that USC locks up California; we've always gotten top recruits from CA. Harbaugh has also recruited in the past successfully in CA both while he was at Stanford, as well as at Michigan. I'd imagine that he still has good high school coaching contacts.

I don't see South Florida being a lock for Cristobal, either. Florida, Florida State, and Miami have often had strong teams, and we recruited well enough there under a number of coaching staffs. Let's not discount that lots of players want the adventure of going out of state for college, and Michigan is one of the top public Ivies.

Nonetheless, I agree that Michigan is in a strong place, mostly by virtue of its record and a playoff appearance. It's a program moving up, and should be even more attractive to recruits all over the country.

As long as it's harder for OSU, I'm good.  And we beat them in the shoe next year.

Beat Georgia.

 The combination of stronger programs at SC etc. added to the immediate transfer option should damage OSU.  They have been hogging 5 star QBs and WRs.  We saw one WR leave for Alabama and become a star.  Now, two of their highly-rated QBs have entered the portal.  Not having to wait to play plus having more attractive destinations should increase their attrition.  Once that starts to happen, injuries at thinner positions will reduce their ability to crush everyone in their path.  

Michigan won’t EVER likely recruit a top 2-3 class? Are you predicting Armageddon or are you physically chained to a cinder block in the bottom of the BPONE well?

USC being better would probably hurt Michigan since we've been very good at getting CA kids lately.

Also USC has been a national contender in football during the last 30 years only the years Pete Carroll was the head coach and their bagmen were legendary.   I'm skeptical they can change much, their own league is different now.

Recruit Ohio better. Keep getting kids like All and Moore.  Kids that want to beat OSU.  Sadly the lineman we got from Ohio did not work out but recruit better in Ohio.