[82lsju]

Right.  Especially if the Pac-12 continues to have a down reputation, and we stumble somewhere, a 1-loss team from the Pac-12 with a win over ND has a better case for the playoff than 1-loss teams from other conferences.  Of course, you have to balance that against the possibility that the game against ND gives us a second loss that we wouldn't have had playing a more benign schedule.

That being said, I think despite the team's continued excellence, I think the teams of 2010 - 2015 (excepting 2014) might have been a bit of an anomaly that may be hard to replicate again in the near future.  I am hoping I am wrong, but I am not seeing a lot of 10+ win teams (particularly 12 or 13 win teams) over the next decade.

BC

when I graduated in 1982 I thought if we get to just one Rose Bowl in my lifetime that would be great, we have (so far) been to four......so my expectations have been exceeded!!!!!   Now if we can get a few more in my lifetime.........

[82lsju]

Right.  Especially if the Pac-12 continues to have a down reputation, and we stumble somewhere, a 1-loss team from the Pac-12 with a win over ND has a better case for the playoff than 1-loss teams from other conferences.  Of course, you have to balance that against the possibility that the game against ND gives us a second loss that we wouldn't have had playing a more benign schedule.

That being said, I think despite the team's continued excellence, I think the teams of 2010 - 2015 (excepting 2014) might have been a bit of an anomaly that may be hard to replicate again in the near future.  I am hoping I am wrong, but I am not seeing a lot of 10+ win teams (particularly 12 or 13 win teams) over the next decade.

BC

when I graduated in 1982 I thought if we get to just one Rose Bowl in my lifetime that would be great, we have (so far) been to four......so my expectations have been exceeded!!!!!   Now if we can get a few more in my lifetime.........