I'm not saying that defensively we would've had much success. But I will not submit that we would've been killed. Clemson was a game, LSU was a game. For the vast majority of our season, every game was a game. I have no reason to believe that on paper it would've been a massacre.
NC State and USF got away from us, similarly, as did Louisville. They would've put up points no doubt, but, depending on who was QB, we would've too.
This isn't a coach vs coach thing, this is a team thing. I will not say that we are less talented because I don't think we are.
They were beat by Tenn by 30, beat Maryland by 21 and beat Purdue and UB by a TD.
Transitive properties mean nothing, but just for reference, Central Michigan smoked UB, played Toledo tougher and beat N. Ill. by 10.