I don't view 2015 the same - even as bad as BVG was, that defense was obliterated with injuries in the last quarter of the year.

With the defensive injuries?

Look at each of those rosters. 2015 may have actually been able to be a national championship year for BK if he didn’t have BVG. That team was loaded offensively and had at worst the 2nd-best defensive player in the nation. The most talented team in the nation (OSU) didn’t make the playoff. Unfortunately, BK is unlikely to catch lightning in a bottle like that again:

Going 8-5 with 2011’s roster is a borderline fireable offense on its own merit.

2011 should've been a hands down BCS team. That was the strangest, and most frustrating 0-2 start ever.

2015 was the year I'm sure we were all circling after 2012. In an alternate reality where Everette Golson does his work, Kelly doesn't ruin quarterbacks, and Brian Van Gorder doesn't exist, 2012-15 should've been the run we'd been waiting for. Every one of those teams should've made major bowls with at least one after 2012 playing for the chip and, for all we know, winning it.

Then Kelly could've gone to the NFL. 2016 never happens. Everyone is so happy that we are just now starting to grumble that Coach Mike Sanford might be in just a weee bit over his head.