Scenario A: The team somehow finds a way to 6 wins but loses the bowl game. The offense grinds out enough points to win but it's not good and still leaves a lot of questions for next year. So pretty much the same offense as last year. The Defense plays well enough to win, not the iron wall but solid. (like last year's D).
Scenario B: The team does not make a bowl and wins 4 or 5 games. The offense and defense make steady improvement each game to where they are able to upset a few teams down the road.
I contend that scenario B is the best case of the two for the long term success of the program. I realize that for scenario A to happen there will have to be upsets as well and more than what would occur in scenario B. However, it is how the team wins. They had chances to win against UNI and Iowa but they performed and executed poorly. In Scenario B win's happen because the players developed and results in executed game plans not due to dumb luck or sloppy opponent play.
Scenario B gives the team momentum into next year which will have the bulk of the players returning. A good platform for the team to make the elusive next step. Scenario A gives us a bowl but like last year it seems the program is mired.
Not sure A is realistic. If this team gets to six wins, it means we go 5-4 or 6-3 in the conference. That kind of improvement would point to a good chance to win a lower tier bowl (kind of like how Baylor finished strong last year). Frankly, I am pinning my hopes on seeing something like this. As I've said in other posts, it just won't be good if this Coach puts up a three win season in year five of his tenure. It will stop whatever momentum this program has dead in its tracks. CPR needs to figure some things out quickly. I think he has a chance to do it. He just needs to make some tough managment decisions.