If we do get a more refined Portal system and something like Madden’s “Persona Engine” in next year’s CFB, stuff like this needs to be accounted for (if it isn’t already). …both on the player side and on the side of Team identity / or “blueprint”. Right now I think if you’re Delaware in CFB27 the only way to pull this off is to spend everything. And maybe that is the reason he chose Delaware but what about…? 👇 > Career-path logic: Maybe a player doesn’t want to sit. Maybe he wants to build confidence and shine against lesser competition with an eye to enter the portal later with leverage. Maybe he wants a coach willing to build around him. Maybe that’s home. Or what about a 4-star guy who did sit at a bigger school and hasn’t produced as much as he thought and now just wants to try to raise his draft stock with more production and some real game film with a guaranteed/star role? > Small schools could become launchpads, rehab spots, local pipelines, scheme-fit factories, or development programs with star-player opportunities. > Big schools sell brand, NIL, playoff access, NFL visibility/connections, and elite finishing development. While also managing crowded depth charts, unhappy backups, NIL expectations, and talent traffic jams. — Multi-dimensional. Reasons to move up and reasons to move down. Weaker schools with less money should still be able to make a persuasive pitch to talented players without breaking the bank. Not just “best player goes to biggest bag or the biggest brand” but different players making different career decisions based on their own motivation. and different programs building rosters through their own philosophy (based on their core identity and current circumstances/outlook) according to different timelines/strategies.