Have your season expectations changed with the 0-2 start?

[alarson]

I felt like we should win SDSU, 60% chance iowa would win in iowa city, and we'd lose to OU, potentially big given the revenge factor.

We would have beaten SDSU, the iowa game was close until iowa pulled away a bit at the end (and i think there's a good chance we flip that into a win had we had a week 1 game but we'll never know), and we went right up there with OU.

I'd say we're right about on track with where expectations should be, based on what we've seen. We don't exactly have the greatest of data points though, with El Assico and one of the best teams in the country being our only information.

 

[1976]

I’m at 8-4 now.i think we can get 9 but 10 seems like a long shot now.

 

[RedBlooded]

The way this season has started has thrown a lot of fans off. I think that if we were 1-2 right now and 2-2 next week, there would be a lot more optimism.

 

[kentkel]

If our OL can keep making strides, I think 7 wins is very possible. Akron and IW should be easy wins. I think Tech, KU, Baylor should be wins. OSU is good, but I think we can beat them now that Mason is gone. That leaves the fighting Vampires - I think we will finally get over the hump this year, but I really wish they had been our first conference game instead of OU. I suspect the Purple Kitties will be much better by the end of the year. I don't feel as confident about the Texas game as I did at the start of the year (plus it is an away game). I did like what Coach Riley said about us - that we would give teams fits this year. When was the last time (if ever) you heard that about our team by an opposing conference coach (especially from the top team in our league)? I think his assessment gives me assurance that the performance we saw vs Iowa will NOT be the norm (especially from our O) this year.

 

[CentexCyclone]

We are 0-2 now, obviously.

I would say our win percentages here on out are roughly...

90% = Akron
20% = TCU
15% = Oklahoma State
45% = West Virginia
60% = Texas Tech
70% = Kansas
75% = Baylor
35% = Texas
80% = Kansas State
100% = Incarnate Word

5.9 wins
6.1 loses

Absolute win = Akron and Incarnate Word
Likely wins = Texas Tech, Kansas, Baylor, Kansas State
Likely losses = TCU, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Texas

Probably screw up one likely win and pull one upset.

6-6

Agree with your absolute and likely wins. I think we should win at least one of the "likely losses" listed above.

• WVU at home is certainly winnable: their offense is not as multi-faceted as OU and their defense is not quite as good.
• Texa$: I'm also not sold on Texas yet. They put together a nice 2nd half against USC, but that's not saying much. USC, like Texas, is one of those programs that is perenially overrated early in the season. Texas' offense still has some things to prove against legit Power 5 defenses and their defense is not quite as good at last year.
• OSU is shaping up to be a classic OSU team: score a lot of points while giving up lots of yards. They allowed Boise State to run 87 plays compared to only 65 for OSU. Without the blocked punts and turnovers, that would have been much closer. I think we can hang with them.
• TCU: Um, yeah. That's probably going to be a loss. They looked great for 3 quarters against Ohio State and would have won were it not for a handful of plays.

 

[khardbored]

Nope. Still have us at 6-6.

IW
KU
TT
Akron
KSU
BU

Pretty much agree with this, getting to 6 shouldn't be too tough. If we drop KSU (ugh), we might upset someone.

I'll just be happy with 6 and anything more will consider icing on the cake.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Agree with your absolute and likely wins. I think we should win at least one of the "likely losses" listed above.

• WVU at home is certainly winnable: their offense is not as multi-faceted as OU and their defense is not quite as good.
• Texa$: I'm also not sold on Texas yet. They put together a nice 2nd half against USC, but that's not saying much. USC, like Texas, is one of those programs that is perenially overrated early in the season. Texas' offense still has some things to prove against legit Power 5 defenses and their defense is not quite as good at last year.
• OSU is shaping up to be a classic OSU team: score a lot of points while giving up lots of yards. They allowed Boise State to run 87 plays compared to only 65 for OSU. Without the blocked punts and turnovers, that would have been much closer. I think we can hang with them.
• TCU: Um, yeah. That's probably going to be a loss. They looked great for 3 quarters against Ohio State and would have won were it not for a handful of plays.

I agree with your analysis on why all of those likely loses, with the possible exception of an excellent TCU team that should have beaten Ohio State if not for some really bad special teams play and giving up a defensive touchdown, could happen. Each of the remainder of the likely loses have their known flaws, as you point out, and I do think it is likely that we are able to exploit at least one of them before the end of the season.

Then again, things rarely go to plan, and it would not surprise me if we run into a "should win" and just have a bad day, poor officiating, and have bad stuff happen.

I think we have one of each, probably end up 6-6.

That is no ideal for me, no, but I am satisfied with that season given our schedule, how difficult the start to the year was for several reasons, and returning to a bowl game. I think we could have a team this season that is better than last year and still end up at 6-6 just given the difficulty of the schedule and the luck we had in winning some of those really close games that we had last year, which we might not win again.

 

[DarkStar]

My expectations for the season was a range of 6 wins and a bowl victory to playing in the conference championship game and going to the Sugar Bowl. All of those outcomes are still in play.

Our defense has faced both extremes of offensive styles under adverse conditions and we held up well. As the season plays out, I expect it will be shown that we held both opponents to well below their average offensive output.

CMC has already admitted and is owning the mistake he made with the O line against the TOE. It is back on track with where it was headed during fall camp. It also looks like CMC is working out issues with play calling and getting him the information on types of adjustments their defenses are doing so he can adjust his play calling.

The next two weeks will go a long ways towards defining this season. Akron game to fix issues and then TCU. Win both those games and we are still in the conversation for the CCG and back on track to getting to a bowl game.

 

[ZB4CY]

Our D's inability to get off the field on 3rd and long coupled with Tech's 100 point outburst yesterday.

I hope and won't be surprised if we win, it's just not the lock I thought it was.

We won't face another Kyler Murray.

 

[IcSyU]

Started at 7-5

SDSU W
Iowa L
OU L
Akron W
TCU L
OSU L
WVU W
TTU W
KU W
Baylor W
TX L
KSU W

Still think 7-5

 

[Cyclonepride]

I always assumed a 2-1 or 1-2 start, so we're on track with that (though obviously I'd prefer 2-1) since our "1" is at the end of the season now.

 

[CycloneNorth]

I thought 6-6 and think we're on track. Had us starting 2-5.

 

[madguy30]

Pretty much agree with this, getting to 6 shouldn't be too tough. If we drop KSU (ugh), we might upset someone.

I'll just be happy with 6 and anything more will consider icing on the cake.

It's getting to a point where beating KSU would practically make the season.

 

[DeereClone]

I had us beating SDSU and was calling the Iowa game a toss-up. So my win expectations may have slipped by 1 game, but we can nullify that by willing another toss-up.

I feel pretty good about the rest of the season after Saturday.

 

[FOREVERTRUE]

We won't face another Kyler Murray.

Except when we do face him again in the conference championship game.

 

[jay moe]

Was a topic of conversation after the game at our tailgate. I had us splitting Iowa/OU and winning 8 games in the regular season so yesterday was a little letdown. I could still see us at 7 wins. Big 12 is better than most thought.

No, expectations the same, I had us 1-2 after the first 3 games anyway. 7 or 8 wins is still attainable, I like what I saw Saturday, OU is better than they were a year ago in my opinion.

 

[83Clone]

Some people need to R-E-L-A-X

 

[heitclone]

I had us at 1-2 right now, penciling in the Incarnate Word game, we're still sitting where I thought. I think it still ends up 7-6 after winning the bowl game.

 

[spitfyr36]

Was a little disappointed at what could have been, think we handle Iowa with q prep week. OU escaped, with better tackling I think we squeeze it out.

Still 6-7 wins on the board which is either where I had us. I think Noland is better than Kempt as far as opening up the offense and gives us a higher ceiling

 

[SCarolinaCy]

It's only week three and we're still not sure exactly how strong the rest of the conference is (except for Oklahoma). I would not be surprised if we win three of four over TCU, Ok State, Texas and West Virginia (pick your combination). Having us lose to Kingsbury and Tx Tech in Trice? Making us an underdog to Baylor in our house? You gotta be kidding me. Six conference wins plus IW + a bowl win still adds up to 8 wins.

I will be very happy if we win ONE of these, plus 3 of either Baylor, Tech, KU, and KSU, plus Akron, and......IW, making 6 total.