[Goose]

My sense is the program wouldn't call any year a great year where they don't win the Pac-12.

Totally agree. Every year, especially when asked about the National Championship playoffs, Shaw points out that our goal(s) are to win the North and win the PAC-12 Championship, because that is what we can control. To be a great year, we need to reach those goals. However, I am not sure the boundary between "good" and "great" is that important. If we win 11 games but lose the North to another team that is undefeated in the conference, that is by definition not a "great" year. However it would be a disappointingly "good" year.

[Goose]

My sense is the program wouldn't call any year a great year where they don't win the Pac-12.

Totally agree. Every year, especially when asked about the National Championship playoffs, Shaw points out that our goal(s) are to win the North and win the PAC-12 Championship, because that is what we can control. To be a great year, we need to reach those goals. However, I am not sure the boundary between "good" and "great" is that important. If we win 11 games but lose the North to another team that is undefeated in the conference, that is by definition not a "great" year. However it would be a disappointingly "good" year.