Way Too Early Look at 2021

[cyIclSoneU]

Already looking forward to next season. The schedule is shaping up like this:

Non-con:
UNI
Iowa
@ UNLV

Big 12 home games:
Kansas
Oklahoma State
TCU
Texas

Big 12 road games:
Baylor
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
West Virginia

Obviously the biggest game there is @ Oklahoma. I think Oklahoma State, TCU, and Texas very well may be teams 3-5 in the league in 2021, so it's great to get them all at home. There is a legit, realistic path here to 11-1 (not saying that should be an expectation).

There is no game on the schedule that is an automatic L, which is a lot different from some years past where I would hope to find some path to 6 wins.

Which game(s) are you most looking forward to?

 

[20eyes]

Depending on the pandemic...I'd love to get down to LV!

 

[Scruff]

I'm most looking forward to the neutral site game in Dallas, where we win the whole f*ing thing!

 

[Aclone]

There is a legit, realistic path here to 11-1 (not saying that should be an expectation).

There’s a legit, realistic path here to 12-0.

Doesn’t take drinking Kool-Aid to see that.

 

[superiorcyclone]

There’s a legit, realistic path here to 12-0.

Doesn’t take drinking Kool-Aid to see that.

We could be 12-0 or 0-12 and probably end up some where in between. Expectations will never have been higher. Incredible time to be a Cyclone.

 

[cyclone4L]

11-1, loss to OU in Norman.
See you in Dallas.

 

[cycloner29]

I want seven home games with great weather for tailgating!!

 

[jdoggivjc]

There’s a legit, realistic path here to 12-0.

Doesn’t take drinking Kool-Aid to see that.

At the very least this looks like our most legitimate chance at a 10-win season since 2005. What burns about 2020 is it would have been our first 10 win season ever if COVID didn’t happen, as well as no loss to LA.

 

[ZRF]

There’s a legit, realistic path here to 12-0.

Doesn’t take drinking Kool-Aid to see that.

That's a tough schedule. I feel like we are playing the majority of the good/up and coming Big 12 teams on the road. For us to make the next step I feel Purdy needs to eliminate the senseless mistakes as well as improve deep ball accuracy. We also need improvement along both sides of the line of scrimmage. Our Oline is still woefully inconsistent and the D-line gives decent opponents WAY too much time to throw the ball. Much of that is on the schematics, which simply aren't adequate for elite competition. Rushing 3 guys creates a field day for adequate QBs as they have ALL DAY to throw the ball. Decent QBs will pick apart zones at will with 5+ seconds in the pocket. Thankfully Oregon's QB tandem (especially Shough), as well as their greasy fingered receivers, weren't up to par as they beat us pretty handily up front.

The O-Line is where I think the biggest improvement will come from. Across the board we are young. We have most of the depth chart returning. They get a full year under the S and C coach. We should be much healthier up there. Communication should be improved. I'm going to be massively disappointed if our Oline isn't a top 3 strength next year.

I also think Hutch will be a 2nd round pick (at worst) after next season. HE will be a 1000 yard receiver.

 

[CascadeClone]

I think we are looking at 8 or 9 wins; the schedule is a bit tricky. Tough teams Texas and OSU at home are not gimmies at all. KSU and WV are lesser quality, but tough road places to play.

That said, for the 1 millionth time it is all about the o-line. If they go from good to great, a trip back to Dallas is absolutely possible.

I am also worried about depth on the d-line causing the defense to step back. I don't think you just replace JaQuan and Latrell (and maybe Enyi) but hopefully the dudes are there waiting to play to the same level.

 

[Aclone]

11-1, loss to OU in Norman.
See you in Dallas.

That “home and away” is an assumption, not set in stone yet. Not until conference schedules are released.

And even so, I’m not assuming a loss in Norman these days.

 

[cyfanatic13]

That “home and away” is an assumption, not set in stone yet. Not until conference schedules are released.

And even so, I’m not assuming a loss in Norman these days.

Huh? Not much of an assumption the way the Big 12 works. When's the last time we played a conference opponent on the road or at home in back to back years?

 

[cyfanatic13]

I think the biggest thing for next year is finding another WR besides Hutchinson. Hopefully one of Milton, Jackson, or Shaw can step up to be that second guy but with Soehner and likely Kolar gone there are a lot of yards to be had. After Hutchinson, we didn't have another WR that averaged even 2 catches a game and I don't know how sustainable that'll be for another year with coaches having an offseason to gameplan for us.

Not worried about defense at all as long as Heacock stays here. Ain't gonna lose many games when you're giving up less than a TD in the 2nd half almost all season

 

[theshadow]

Huh? Not much of an assumption the way the Big 12 works. When's the last time we played a conference opponent on the road or at home in back to back years?

During the realignment process. Played at OU in 2010 and 2011.

Before that was the mid-80s, when the Big Eight revamped the schedule rotation.

 

[JM4CY]

11-1, loss to OU in Norman.
See you in Dallas.

**** it, 12 - 0. OU can suck it twice. See YOU in Dallas.

 

[cyfanatic13]

During the realignment process. Played at OU in 2010 and 2011.

Before that was the mid-80s, when the Big Eight revamped the schedule rotation.

Ok so as long as new realignment or revamping this offseason we know our schedule

 

[CRCySpy]

Yeah, OU will be in Norman next year. Also, I would think Campbell would mine the transfer portal for a D-lineman or two if things are a little thin because of departures.

 

[CyGuy5]

The first thing we’re gonna have to do is we have to stop getting off to such poor starts to the season. In addition to that, a lot of teams are improving or at least should be better than what we saw this year. I think TCU, WV, and K-State will all be better teams. It’s definitely possible to get back to Dallas but it’s not going to be easy

 

[inCyteful]

Games ranked least likely to most likely for a W:

1) OU - away
2) OSU - home (they are going to be solid)
3) WV - away (anyone see what they are doing in transfer market?)
4) Hoks - home (think there will be any hype around this game?)
5) Tejas - home
6) TCU - home (Patterson may have a sleeper here, this could move up to 3rd toughest)
7) KSU - Away
8) TTU - Away
9) Baylor - Away
10) UNI - Home (just because, always, the same thing)
11) Kansas - Home (Miles will have a little bit of def going there)
12) UNLV - Away (really poor program, thought about moving up a notch because of away and focus but I think CMC will make this work to our favor)

We may be favored in all but 1 of those.

Seriously, we cannot have a slow start to this season, seriously.

 

[inCyteful]

Good list. Just one small note...Taco Tech will be in Lubbock next season.

Good catch, fixed!