Obviously some coaching changes could shake up a few rosters and make them seem almost, if not actually entirely different than last year. Given what we see right now and what we could see, I think there are a few teams that come to mind that could make another leap next season... and I don't think either of them are Stanford (with Koll's massive recruiting class) or North Carolina (I think he is at least a season away - if not two - from a trajectory leap there). Cal Poly, Chattanooga, and Illinois.
Cal Poly
They came in to the season with high expectations and because their upward trajectory didn't seem to pan out and LRA came 'out of nowhere' it can be ignored that they had a comparable season to last year. That is still a massive improvement for 3/4/5 years ago.
If they were to play with their lineup a bit and get a solid incoming transfer (or two - ahem Saldate), they could make another step forward. They will need to with OSUW, ASU, and LRA all improving as well. I want to see them land Saldate (I will explain what I, as a fan, want to see below). They either need an incoming 141
125 - Mendez, SO 15W - 12L
133 - Romney, SO 19W - 9L
141 - Heracules Windrath, TrFR - He will need to live to his name...
149 - LEGEND Lamer, SR 15W - 12L
157 - CHANCE Lamer, JR 19W - 7L
165 - Wick, SO 14W - 12L - Coming off Injury
174 - Saldate, SR 25W - 8L - Incoming Grad Transfer
184 - DASCHLE Lamer, FR 8W - 4L
197 - Priest, SR 9W - 9L OR Hodges, FR 4W - 3L
285 - Tinker, JR 11W - 7L
Their only true hole will be at 141lbs and I understand their valley could be right where they are now, depending on injuries, but their peak could be an outright P12 title. Saldate a double bump? Why? Because I don't think Wick has the strength, even if he has the length, to go 174lbs. I would be okay with the swap, though. Saldate could have a helluva chance for content on social medias with 'bulking' or whatnot. I think the 'smaller' Lamer brothers swap and both will see an increase in productivity. Big Lamer will wrestle outside his weight class for a season, though. He'll be fine as I think he should focus on 184lbs long-term anyways. Priest? He is a 165lber at heart, but he always gives it his full-go.
Anyone else care to give it ago? With a breakdown with hows and whys?
Illinois and Chattanooga to follow...