The downside to this hypothetical is I'm not sure everyone comes back for 2023 in that event. But I think 2022 could have very easily been national runner up with those two guys still here.
I’ll see your hypothetical and raise it.
If the 2022 team makes the playoffs and those guys go to the NFL, is Fats still coaching at UW?
*I tried quoting @dnc but Vanilla sucks donkey dicks and doesn’t appreciate characters.
So since we deal in hypotheticals now, in this one we're playing Michigan in the Fiesta. Win or Lose? We know Georgia wins the whole thing no matter what, so do any of Michigan's players who came back go pro after reaching Natty (assuming they beat us)?
I like to imagine in this world Michigan wins Fiesta but loses to Georgia, our guys all come back cause they want one more shot, but Michigan loses some of their senior talent. Then in 2023, because Michigan is slightly weaker, tOSU beats Michigan. Ryan Day in the Rose Bowl as an undefeated team doesn't come through against Bama, and then we play Bama for Natty in Houston. We win Natty, Saban retires and who coaches where?
Oh this is fun….