Still -
Footing what they would have received in media rights for *7 years*, along with forking out NIL $ for "big time" players seems like a pretty risky gamble.
Like what level of recruiting are the expected to elevate themselves to now?
At the end of the day they are still competing with OU, Texas, Texas A&M and the rest of the SEC for the elite recruits in Texas. And they are competing with Ok State, TCU, Baylor, etc., for the next-tier down recruits... only those teams are all playing the vast majority of their games in Texas or at least in the region vs. playing half of their games on the east coast.
So is the plan to beat out OU/Texas/SEC for the top elite recruits in Texas? Is that realistic?
Because otherwise if they just raise their level of recruiting to what OSU, TCU, Baylor, etc., are doing that is no guarantee of success. You need great coaching that can develop players and have great schemes as well. You can easily have a top 20-25 recruiting class year after year and be a losing program.
Will the big cigar donors continue to be happy about shelling out big $ year after year for a handful of 8-4 or 7-5 type seasons? And then especially what happens when the top ACC brands bolt for the B1G and SEC? You're right back where you were before, except you've paid like $100mm (or whatever the number is) out of pocket that you could have gotten by staying put.
The whole thing seems risky AF to me.