I hope and can half-believe that we are witnessing phase I of our breaking OU. Not broken as badly as UNL, but dropped from their perch nevertheless. The 12-team format rewards being the big dog of a conference. OU's following us to the SEC means that their days of being "the" big dog in Big8/Big12 are definitively over. They have a significant fan base and non-zero state commercial support for NIL, but they are unlikely to match what we can now do for D/FW guys and other contested potential players. They have been living on "Sooner Magic," the mystical power of pre-NIL cheating and/or dominating MBTF/FUPM squads (followed by the dark days of Strong Tom). They don't have an unfair advantage or a functionally retarded opposing coach to help them. Their recipe for success, regardless of their own perception of it, has been based on bullying, cheating, and our beta behavior at the CB. Now they have tier 2 NIL, a blue blood reputation, proximity to Dallas, and the prestige of being in a P2 conference. But now they can be bullied, and our having a down year won't give them freebie shots at national prominence, should it occur: Bama, UGA, etc. are all going to be elbowing for the front of the conference position. A great coach could still lift them to great seasons. But they may not be fortunate enough to find a great many great coaches, and I am here for it. I hope/think they may be headed toward post-cheating A&M-level long-term success.