X’s and O’s or Jimmies and Joes? I’ve always been a contrarian in that debate because I’ve long felt that coaching is much more important than talent. Nebraska has led the Big Ten’s west division in recruiting nearly every year...but has only had one winning season since Bo Pelini was let go.
Then there’s the counter-example: Northwestern. The Wildcats haven’t finished better than 10th in the Big Ten in recruiting rankings going back to 2011, yet NW has played in the Big Ten championship game two out of the last four seasons. Northwestern doesn’t out-talent their opponents, they just out-play their opponents because Pat Fitzgerald out-develops and out-coaches them.