OU last year was #27 overall in FEI, #26 in OFEI, #46 in DFEI and got positive adjustments due to #31 SOS.
they lost to literally every single good team they played last year (0-6 vs top 40 FEI teams, 3-6 vs top 60 teams, 3-1 vs 60+ teams) - they were the only team in FEI's top 50 who had 0 v40 wins (for comparison Oklahoma State went 4-5 vs top 40, A&M went 2-6, Baylor went 2-3, TTU went 3-3)
2022 isn't 1999 (Stoops), or 2007 (Saban) and don't use that tOSU season where Fickell had a 1 year contract to serve as interim for only that year due to Tressell and the recruiting stuff as an example.
we have been in the same spot where you are. when you have subpar coaches who are also subpar recruiters who are also fucking up management of their room? that's bad. (see Drew Mehringer, Charlie Williams, Derrick Wareheim, Herb Hand, Corby Meekins, Jay Valai, Andre Coleman, Jay Boulware, Shawn Watson)
when you have OL issues? that's bad (see Texas under Wickline and Wareheim and Herb Hand)
when you have QBs who are made of glass? that's bad (see David Ash)
when you are looking at your record in 1 score games and saying "regression says has to get better!"? that's bad (see Tom Herman)
but sure. maybe he's Nick Saban. Maybe he's Bob Stoops. Maybe he is Luke Fickell.