• It was a rough New Year’s Eve.  I vote that we never play on New Year’s Eve again.  I don’t think we’ve ever had a good outcome on New Year’s Eve but after a few days of contemplation and listening to others analyze this season and the most recent games I’ve been able to come to some conclusions 
   

This team didn’t win it all but they were as good as advertised.   They weren’t the only team good enough to win it but I believe that over multiple iterations of this tournament the Bucks would prevail more than any other participant.   We have more paths to win than any team in field but inexperience at QB, less than average place kicking and an OL that is very good but not great added up to losses in our last two games. We missed multiple good chances to take advantage of Miami’s weak secondary when we drew up plays to get Tate open twice and Klare open once and Sayin missed all of them, likely due to extra attention to the pass rush, which was understandable.  The defense held them to under 300 yds and only 10 non garbage time points.  The pick six is NOT on the defense.  Nobody in this tournament would score over 20 offensive points against this defense more than 15 times in 100 games.  

Miami has a legit D Line but another game against them would be completely different outcome.   They played almost their best game possible against our D and their defense would likely not repeat a 5 sack effort in another 30 tries against us.

I don’t need to rehash the IU game but it was 13-10 with a missed late chip shot  FG to force OT. IU beat the SEC runner up 38-3 and is best team left   Will they win it?  We’ll see but they are the best left. Miami could beat them in a 14-10 type game but Miami wont get 20 offensive points.  A rematch with a team you already beat will be a tall task too but I think they are better and up to the challenge

I have no doubt we will make the fixes necessary regarding the kicking game and another year of experience means Sayin will miss fewer of his opportunities to make some big plays.   All is good, not perfect but good. Good enough to win it all again in 2026 with just a few tweaks and a year of experience.  It hurt to watch these guys fall short cuz they were as good as advertised, all the advanced metrics support that notion, but in a one game playoff format 1 little miss can be the difference.

Since Day has been head coach we had championship level team in 2019,2020,2021 (yes I know we didn’t make playoff but that team could outscore anyone on a given day even Georgia) 2022,2024,2025. Not even Alabama and UGA can say that.   All is good

I look forward to seeing what new faces we add to next years team.  I feel like defense will be the emphasis for the big portal moves but I’m sure we might see a RB, WR or an OL to add reinforcements.

Boy am I looking forward to the Bucks coming here to Austin  ext season and wearing my “ We  Messed  With Texas” shirt on my first trip to DKR stadium 

Chins up fellow Bucks, all is good!