In Reply to: If we win our first two, we have a real chance to be 9-1 going in to posted by UCLA23OSU10 on April 01, 2026 at 11:18:51
The first 3 games. Unless a team has really played together for a year or two, there's just a getting a feel for a team. You don't really know how good or bad the teams you played are and guys are just building a chemistry and getting plays down. I just don't know much about a team after September.
Then there is the middle part of the season which is about 6 games of just seeing where the team is in the standings. The team has basically been established and it's what product is on the field now.
Then the last month. Now is the how severe injuries are, how's the depth chart, and the mental part of can you finish strong when there is so much on the line.
It's just so hard for me to really predict a team's results unless they've been together for a while. Going back a while, look at 1997's team. 1996 was not much of a year but finished with an incredible win over $c in OT. 97 was now with a Junior QB who felt like might break out. Starts with a close loss at WSU which was winnable. Then a loss to Tennessee. Then the blowout win at Texas and next thing you know, Ucla was arguably the best team in the country by the end of the year.
It can just a easily go the other way and finish weak. 2005 is good example for me. Fun year, but a few key injuries and just not as strong as I'd hope for. Horrible $c game.