Couple things people need to keep in perspective,
The 9 games instead of 8 is what is making the schedule tougher and nothing else!
Woe, Woe to ISU football! Woe to ISU fans, the end draweth nigh! ....wait a minute....
THAT'S NORMAL at ISU.
So your point is ISU will be more of the same because the future is doomed to repeat the past.
OK.....that's helpful.