I think there's a high probability of it. We wouldn't have lost Marshall, we would have been in better shape for Texas, and wouldn't have had a hangover against OkSU. Perhaps Ell would have taken the national championship game a little more seriously than he took the Fiesta Bowl, too.
I'd like to thank the guys in that thread over there for ruining my afternoon by reminding me of 1998. Without a doubt, that was the worst feeling I've had in my life (which means I've actually had a pretty good life). Even today, it still feels like a shot to the gut. I was just a freshman that year, and me and my dad and my bro were all there...helluva long drive back. 2003 took a lot of the edge off that season, but the immediate dropoff of the last two years has brought back some of the pain.