[JohnR34231]

I think of this game as being more important than TCU. TCU imo was likely a loss against a better team. We should at least be a step above Cal Poly and if we aren’t then we’re in for a long season.

IMO we should be several steps above Cal Poly. If we are not, we are indeed in for a long season. Unfortunately the converse is not true. We may be several steps above Cal Poly and still be in for a long season. The danger of interpreting positive results from the Cal Poly game is that things that work against them may absolutely not work against any of our other opponents. As an example, our OL may be dominant against Cal Poly. That doesn't mean they have suddenly become a "good group". It means they are better than Cal Poly, nothing more.

Friendly reminder that Shaw's horrible 2022 team dominated Colgate 41-10. Cal Poly is similarly ranked. (Last year's Sac State was ranked over 100 spots better.) This shouldn't even be a discussion.

how do they compare to the 2005 UC Davis team.....

Ouch!
In recollection, a headline from back then:  UC Davis Stuns Stanford For Improbable 20-17 Win

Hopefully TT isn't another Wlat.
However we did go on to win five games that year. I don't think that would be considered a horrible outcome for 2024.

[JohnR34231]

I think of this game as being more important than TCU. TCU imo was likely a loss against a better team. We should at least be a step above Cal Poly and if we aren’t then we’re in for a long season.

IMO we should be several steps above Cal Poly. If we are not, we are indeed in for a long season. Unfortunately the converse is not true. We may be several steps above Cal Poly and still be in for a long season. The danger of interpreting positive results from the Cal Poly game is that things that work against them may absolutely not work against any of our other opponents. As an example, our OL may be dominant against Cal Poly. That doesn't mean they have suddenly become a "good group". It means they are better than Cal Poly, nothing more.

Friendly reminder that Shaw's horrible 2022 team dominated Colgate 41-10. Cal Poly is similarly ranked. (Last year's Sac State was ranked over 100 spots better.) This shouldn't even be a discussion.

how do they compare to the 2005 UC Davis team.....

Ouch!
In recollection, a headline from back then:  UC Davis Stuns Stanford For Improbable 20-17 Win

Hopefully TT isn't another Wlat.
However we did go on to win five games that year. I don't think that would be considered a horrible outcome for 2024.