I’m old enough to remember the 90s.

In 1993, it felt like a good season after about a decade of 3+ loss seasons. We were excited after wins over Washington and Penn State, a little bummed but relieved to escape Madison with a tie and shot down to earth after a 28-0 walloping at TTUN. The Bucks won their bowl game.

We’ve come miles since then. TTUN has gone from a frustratingly-anticipated loss to an all-but-expected win with a 16-2 record since Tress took over and 7-straight under Urban.  A 13-1 season culminating in a Rose Bowl win was a “what-if” season. Seasons with Fiesta and Cotton Bowl wins over ND and USC were disappointing seasons. Winning the Big Ten has become an absolute expectation. Making the playoffs every year has become a near expectation. Urban had 7 outstanding seasons here, and all but two resulted in lamentations over higher expectations. It has become an annual NC or bust scenario.  Our staff and players have earned this success.

Ohio State is on the verge of setting a record for straight wins of 24+ points that hasn’t been seen since the early 1900s. Today’s game was so dominant once again that the starters barely sniffed play in the 2nd half. Our starting QB was pulled after going 15/19 with 4 TDS and 0 INTs. The score was 42-7 when the starters were pulled, the opponent’s only score coming from a muffed punt. The backups played to a 14-14 tie in the freezing cold during 1.9 meaningless quarters with the outcome certain.

Yet to some you’d think the Bucks lost. We have fans questioning whether a team that was dominant enough to pull their starters 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter should drop in the polls. We have fans questioning how the team didn’t cover a 50+ point spread. We have fans “disappointed” with a 5-touchdown margin of victory road win. Rutgers is historically bad I get it. But if a 42-7 start on the road in 30-degree temps isn’t enough, what is?

I get the sense some legitimately expected this team to put up 80+ while not allowing a score. Man, what a great time to be a Buckeye when we are critiquing 5-TD margin of victory wins in a season where no team has come within 3 TDs of the Bucks! Time to find out what this team is made of these next 5 games.