Me thinks some formed impressions early and could not see the development of the team in the 2nd half of the season. Still given SDSU was, what, 13-0 vs the MAC I can see a casual fan giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Still lost to Miami.....
They did, but, at least in my opinion, they grew a lot from that loss. They got down big, and then came back hard, and were clearly not happy at all about the loss, and took it out on Buffalo, Akron, and SDSU. My guess is that they feel that there is some unfinished business, and they start 2019 playing with the same attitude they ended 2018 with. If I had to guess, I'd guess that the Seniors who have played their last game are imploring this year's Juniors to accomplish next year what they wish they had accomplished themselves.
Miami, like Ohio, finished a lot stronger than they started. They took a very good Army team to 2OT, managed a 2pt win over Ohio, the next week took down West champion NIU, (this the week Ohio beat East champion Buffalo). Then Miami finished over Ball State 42-21. Streak W3. At season's end Ragland, Smith and Young were playing very well. A few will make the Miami game the 2018 baggage to spring up with anytime a positive from this season is mentioned. I think we just saw the first time.
Doesn’t make it any less true though, unfortunately.
And that’s the perplexing part. How does a team that has the second highest point differential over its opponents since October 22nd (second only to Clemson), a team that has literally been tearing through MAC teams like they were fodder, lose to a team that was only .500 and didn’t even get a bowl invite? What could have been! And from what I read in Solich’s postgame interview last night, that game together with the NIU and Cinci games, just gnaw at him. Understandably so. Guess it proves the old adage true, on any given Saturday or Sunday (or Wednesday in Ohio’s case).
But regardless, Ohio showed its true mettle last night, over a quality opponent on national tv.