Nah, they're close enough to taken they can make it work with the right admin support and coach. maybe not perennially anymore, but more often than not is possible.
Making it work in the minor leagues is not the same as making it work long-term at an actual competitive level. They could compete in the Big 12, sure, but once they're officially in the minor leagues recruiting will be significantly harder. Maryland stands to make $60-70 million more, per year, than VT. They'll be picked apart by Big Ten/SEC schools for any good players using NIL deals. There are going to be haves and have-nots, an VT offers nothing to either conference unless Greg Sankey decides to be really generous.
Shame because Enter Sandman is awesome.
To be fair, Michigan has surpassed Norte Dame as the most overrated and over-ranked team in CFB. No one wants to admit that the Big10 is a one team conference, so Michigan and Penn State get every benefit of the doubt. Hopefully USC becomes that second team and Michigan can fade away again
agreed UM is overrated as hell but still a top 15-20 team. Only a couple teams look actually dominant this year.