To say that the rookies "salvaged the season" would mean that the guys in the first list meant more to beating OSU, ISU and CU than the guys on the second list and people like Jordy, Watts, etc. Are you willing to say that? I doubt it. My point is that most of the new guys simply play more than the older guys now. That doesn't mean you would not have beaten OSU, CU, and ISU if the older guys had played. Heck, you might have even been competative against Baylor, NU and MU.
But if you want to hang your hat on those new guys right now, be my guest.