This is why the CTR is big-time. Most evidence, visual and otherwise, points to this being an average-ish LHCBS team thus far. But all the other data points from outside actual games suggest otherwise: Returning QB? Check. Lots of other returners? Check. Strong finish to previous year? Check. Minimal coaching turnover? Check. Scoring 50 in first 2 games? Check. Starting confy play 1-0? Check. Legit pre-season hype and top 3 conference ranking? Check and check. I can't think of a LHCBS team with those demographics that didn't eventually have an unequivocally successful season.
The one major outlier is Vandy. For 9+ win seasons, 93 and 2011 would be the notable exceptions with wins over P5 schools on the road (neutral site Ws in 2000 and 2003). A lot of those teams had plenty of early season stinkers against weak competition, mostly at home-- 97 Ohio, 95 @Cincy, 2011 Eastern Kentucky, 2012 North Texas, 94 Rice (my first time watching the Cats in person), but escaped with Ws.
So is Vandy an anomaly and this is a great Snyder team the schedulemakers did no favors for?
Or is this team an anomaly among Snyder teams? (Unless calling this a LHCBS team is an inaccurate descriptor of coaching duties, which seems unlikely).
We may have our answer Saturday. Texas often serves as a litmus test for Snyder seasons, wins in 98, 99, 11, 12, 14, 16 with 02, 03 and 2010 as exceptions both ways, but Jared Brite and Vince Young aren't walking through that door. I guess CK kinda is, but still.
For now, I'll go with the former, as the preponderance of 25 years of evidence suggests. 27-20, Purples.