Yeah, 2019 was a step back. The problem is that people see 2020 as a natural progression downward. I see it as a blip, a weird pandemic inspired year that cost is nothing eligibility wise, etc.
I think if 2020 were a normal year, we’d have had 5-6 wins. Questions would still remain, but without a 1-10 around his neck.
Was it a blip though? 2018 is really the blip. 2020 was right in line with the other seasons had we played OOC cupcakes.
2016 2-2 OOC and 2-6 ACC
2017 2-2 OOC and 2-6 ACC
2019 3-1 OOC and 2-6 ACC
2020 0-1 OOC and 1-9 ACC
Had we played only 8 ACC games and gone 1-7 it is one game worse. Had we played an FCS and a MAC team we have 2 OOC Ws. Look at our original schedule. Wouldn't we have been right in line with the other seasons?
at BC - we played them close without TD but it was at home. BC had a new HC but beat Duke easily to open last year. (0-0-1)
at Rutgers - they opened last season with a W but it also was the 3rd week of October. (0-0-2)
Colgate - we are winning that. (1-0-2)
at Western Michigan - we are winning that. (2-0-2)
Louisville - Would TD still be healthy and playing? I think being at home makes a difference but we were so bad that game we likely still lose. (2-1-2)
Liberty - we lose still. (2-2-2)
At Clemson - we still lose. (2-3-2)
GA Tech - we beat them pretty easily but it was with TD. Would he be playing? (2-3-3)
at Wake - we still lose. (2-4-3)
NC State - is TD playing? If so then we likely win. We were up 29-20 late 3rd Q without him. That saves us the downing it on 4th down play. (2-4-4)
FSU - they were bad last year. Although they beat up Duke to end the season. I think we most likely win this even without TD. (2-4-5)
at Pitt - we still lose this. (2-5-5)
If we assume that TD still gets hurt then we lose to NC State. (2-6-4). If we assume we can't handle the Rutgers blitz with that make shift OL then we lose that game. (2-7-3). I still think we beat GA Tech even without TD. We turned them over and ran the ball well. (3-7-2). I think we beat FSU too, but let's be conservative and say we lose. (3-8-1).
So if we beat BC on the road with TD to open the season, 2020 looks exactly like 2016 and 2017. We start off decent (3-1), we go 2-2 OOC, our QB gets hurt, we end 2-6 in the ACC and 4-8 overall. That is a copy of 2016 and 2017.