ND has no significant advantage in NIL against the NCAA field…but it has, thus far, chosen some important parts from the portal …
The culture is indeed a selling point
ND has deep pockets which is a major advantage. Irish can get the top student-athletes from a large enough pool. And as you and others note, the brand, culture, and a great coach like MF are a strong center of gravity to build and retain a team. Icing on the cake is select transfers of seniority.
The only thing ND cannot give is a free academic pass. But I believe in this new normal it won’t prevent ND from winning a NC. The other programs will struggle to pack and retain talent.
Note that SEC pumpers are baying for limits. Crying. Because they cannot lead with under the table payments. Now they hypocritically want faintness…but only around money, not academics.
Let’s not lose sight of college football being monstrously sordid. Even covering up some crimes. ND however might prove you can have some virtue and yet bear the cheats.
Don’t get me wrong. Nobody is a saint. Ivies accept athletes under their norms for GPA and SAT. But there as well as ND, Stanford, Duke, and so, you still have legit student athletes.
I’m only into college football because of ND and such teams. The majority are a farce. But the irony is their greed might promote ND.