I agree with both of you. I think the ceiling of this team is mid tier, 6-4 range. I also think scoring 51.5 points is underperforming. Per Wikipedia, here are the point results of 5th place finishers, where OSU landed, and the champion going back to 2015.
2015 5th: 71.5, OSU 1st: 102
2016 5th: 81, OSU: 86 3rd, PSU: 123 1st
2017 5th: 86.5, OSU: 110 2nd, PSU: 146.5 1st
2018 4th: tied for 80, 6th: 61.5, OSU: 134.5 2nd, PSU: 141.5 1st
2019 5th: 62.5, OSU 96.5 2nd, PSU: 137.5 1st
2020: Covid
2021 5th: 69, OSU: 46 9th, Iowa: 129 1st
2022 5th: 59.5, OSU: outside top 10, PSU: 131.5 1st
2023 5th: 64.5, OSU: 70.5 4th, PSU: 137.5 1st
2024 5th: 67, OSU: 62 8th, PSU: 172.5 1st
2025 5th: 51.5, OSU: 51.5 tied for 5th, PSU 177 1st
OSU scored 62 points last year and finished 8th. Scoring 51.5 points for 5th place, considering more than 2/3 of our total came from Mendez and D’Emilio, is not very good. Based on our team’s pedigree, we should have scored more than that and it’s not unreasonable to have those expectations.
Tom Ryan is a great coach, except for brick throwing. In fact, the whole staff needs to relinquish those duties. Yikes. The assistants are not up to par, imo. Great guys, questionable coaching prowess. Maybe Stieber. Not bashing, but I don’t know what Bo Jordan brings to the table. There needs to be a shake up, but I doubt that happens. What’s Jason Nolf doing these days?