Here's why a lot of us say it's mediocre: 2-10. That's our record against FBS teams that have finished the season with a winning record over the last three years. That's the measuring stick I have for quality. Not winning the pathetic MAC East. Not winning seven or eight games. Not moral victories. How do we stack up against good FBS teams? The clear answer is not very well.
http://i.imgur.com/m4119Ba.gif Pretty much how I picture this conversation going with folks who "ignore" that 2-10 mark.
Since no one has risen to this bait, I'll chum the waters a bit. I went back another year to 2013. Since then, we are 3-14 against FBS teams that finished with a winning record. Less than one win per year over the last four years. Two of those wins are Marshall and one is this year's win at Toledo. This program's consistency is a mirage.
I don't want to do this but I have to do this.
All-time finish in Solich regime versus opponents who finished with a winning record: 19-45. Only one season did Ohio finish with a better than .500 record versus winning record opponents, in 2011.
Shut your mouths!!!! How dare you use facts and logic to show that Ohio's 7 and 8 win seasons over the years are propped up by weak schedules and beating up on bottom-dwellers!
Don't you realize how hard these players work!
You never played the game....you don't understand!
Loud noises!!!!
2016 (1-3) (8-5, 6-3)
L Tennessee
L Eastern Michigan
W Toledo
L Western Michigan
? Troy
2015 (3-3) (8-5, 5-3)
W Marshall
W Akron
L Western Michigan
L Bowling Green
W Northern Illinois
L Appalachian State
2014 (0-5) (6-6, 4-4)
L Marshall
L Central Michigan
L Bowling Green
L Western Michigan
L Northern Illinois
2013 (2-4) (7-6, 4-4 overall)
L Louisville
W Marshall
W North Texas
L Bowling Green
L Buffalo
L East Carolina
2012 (1-3) (9-4, 4-4 overall)
L Buffalo
L Bowling Green
L Kent
W UL-Monroe
7-18 vs. teams that finished over .500 (3-13 vs. MAC teams that finished over .500)
Overall (38-26, 23-18)
So quick math:
vs. teams that finished over .500 (7-18, 3-13 MAC)
vs. teams that finished .500 or below (31-8, 20-5 MAC)
*****DISCLOSURE***** Before you start chirping...yes, the last two years have been mildly better and this year showed improvement.
But these numbers speak volumes. Ohio plays bad schedules and feasts on the bottom feeders.
When they play "winning" teams...especially in the MAC...they struggle.
So are those that say they'd like to see something better....are they really that wrong?