This regular season OM went 9-3. Last season, they went 10-2. So according to some this was a bad year because the team lost three games instead of two. (Disappointing due to preseason expectations... absolutely)
So my question is, does anyone seriously think last year's team was overall and objectively better than this year's squad? If they played each other (healthy) would anyone take 2023 OM over 2024?
Shit happens. Sometimes the objectively better team loses the game. Sometimes the better team loses more games in a season. 2023 OM probably overachieved. They caught all or most of the breaks. The 2024 team popped off before the season started, and then destroyed a string of gimmies (IMO the thing that set them down the road to losing to Kentucky) and got ambushed.
But to say that 2024 OM, because it went 9-3, wasn't worthy of a playoff spot is ridiculous. It's a better team than the 2023 team... just not as lucky.
But by any eye test OM was a legit top 10 team this season. Alabama as well.