CAUSEWAY 2019 I hesitate to put too much stock in 2017's results because it was Hawkins's first year in charge and the team was coming off three years where they went a combined 7-26. So 5-6 was a step forward. It always takes a couple years for a college coach to get his recruits in and get the players used to his system. Years 3 and 4 are the big ones because you've had enough time to mold the program the way you want to. FWIW, I'd do the same even if the results were good. Helfrich went 11-2 and 13-2 at Oregon his first two seasons including a national title game appearance but when Kelly's recruits left, results went downhill quickly (9-4, 4-8 and fired after year 4). So it goes both ways.
I hope I didn't come across as hand waving off this season's results as meaningless because of the schedule and losing Doss. The team took a big step back. They had one blowout (Lehigh). I guess you can count Southern Utah since we were up big going into the 4th but Poly and Portland were close in the 4th. Regardless of the schedule, they were worse next year.
Next year's schedule won't be easy but it doesn't appear to be the gauntlet this year was. Two FBS games, at Weber, home to EWU and Sac. But that's life in the Big Sky. You're going to have at least one FBS game and a couple tough league games. It's not an excuse. But it also affords some leeway when competing for the playoffs. 7-5 probably gets them in. I think that should be the expectation next year, even with a new QB. Like Dr Mike said, you don't win 10 games with subpar coaching. You also don't go in to the Fargo Dome and give NDSU a game without some talent and at least decent coaching.
Next year is a big year. 7 or 8 wins and a playoff berth and we're good. Another 5 win season and the seat starts getting a little warm.