Quote Originally Posted by R2Dawg View Post
Well the problem with real easy is the logic. First Leach won 8 games. So take that logic, everytime MSU won 8 games the year prior, means the next year we compete for a championship? And that has happened maybe never in MSU history? What facts says we would have had a better team? 2001 we returned the entire offense and was picked to win the SECW but finished last.
Bill Connelly has a formula that he uses to predict team win totals. Returning production is a major part of that and is considered to be a key factor in success. Which means 2001- and if I remember correctly we lost a TON off of our defense from 2000- is a an outlier although I have a feeling that if I did a deep dive it would show that we didn't return as much as you remember.

So, yes it is pretty logical to assume that if we returned most of our players, had an easier schedule and returned the same coach which would have been the case had Leach not passed away- that we would have had a year as good or better in 2023.