Nobody is putting a ceiling on this team. People are just giving their predictions based on what we've seen so far.
It's great that we're 6-0. We were also 6-0 last year and finished 10-2. The same could happen again this year but with USC in the rear view mirror and OSU the only remaining elite opponent there's a reasonable chance of 11-1. I personally don't see us beating OSU.
So far we beat:
(3-3) WVa 34-12
(2-4) BGSU 34-27
(0-6) Kent State 56-0
(5-1) Illinois 21-7 (Purdue just took them to OT)
(1-5) UCLA 27-11
(3-3) USC 33-30 (OT)
USC is 3 plays away from being 6-0 and they are loaded with 4* talent. IMO that was a big win on the road. But has our body of work convinced me that we're likely to run the table? No. I think we're a bit weak at LB, S, and WR and the run game has been inconsistent. I'll be happy if we can finish 11-1 and get a home playoff game.
The media is absolutely putting a ceiling on us. We are to make the playoff and bow out game 1 or lose to Georgia or Texas in round 2.
All talking heads I've seen have said we are merely very good, like they know already what we can be. They all have Texas on a pedestal now, with Oregon, Ohio State and Georgia above us at a minimum. David Pollack at least did say that very good night play for a national title this year.
It's OK to temper expectations, but crapping on a team that just won under less than ideal circumstances on the road seems unnecessary.
I feel like all the pieces are there where if this team plays it's A game there won't be many teams that can beat us.
I don't see the '85 Bears out there. Any team can be beaten this year. I am not convinced Ohio State's assemblage of mercenaries is necessarily a better team than what they've had. I think our defense is about as good as any and we have an offense that can score on anyone. I see no reason we can't beat them. But everybody's conceding this one already. Ok
I think my annoyance goes back to 1986 when everyone just knew Miami was going to win.
