I don't think anyone has really been on topic in this thread, what a surprise. Everyone is spouting the same negative narratives as every other thread here (lack of QB, coaches, recruiting). Maybe it has to do with the title and no one reading the OP.
What I will say is that I think it is coaching that is keeping us in these games. I give a lot of credit to the coaches. We are staying in these games against good to great competition because of coaching, heart, and effort. All of that comes back to the coaches. Whether it is getting the guys in the program that won't quit or something happening during practice, it is impressive how this team hangs in there and keeps fighting.
I do think that we have inferior talent at this point as has been discussed ad nauseam. However, I think progress is being made to reduce that gap. We have a lot of competent players now starting that I think could hang on most teams in the PAC-12. We have a couple of players that I think would start on a number of PAC-12 teams. However, we don't have it at the QB position which would be most impactful in covering our other weaknesses. I think Sefo would be a great backup QB, its just unfortunate that he is our starter.
Therefore, the thing that is making us competitive is not the talent that we have making plays that other people couldn't, it is the coaches putting players into a position where all they have to do is be average. Yes we are not able to close out games but I think a lot of that comes down to the players. When the situation gets heightened the coaches have less impact on the game IMO. At the end of the day, we need someone to go above and beyond and make that play that someone else could not. We do not have many, if any, of those players. I think back to Perkins first touchdown. The defense played it well. Not perfectly by any means, but there were players in the position to make the play. That is good coaching. The problem is, Perkins made a couple crazy cuts to open up lanes that weren't previously there and next thing you know he is in the endzone.
Our coaches are doing a great job putting players in position to succeed, our players just aren't quite there to be able to take advantage of it. At some positions, like QB we don't need a world beater, just someone that can consistently hit players in stride who are open. We don't need to be throwing guys open, they are open and often the passes are there for the taking. We just need better execution from the Jims and the Joes. If we had a couple game changing PAC-12 players which would be impactful on any PAC-12 team, we would be seeing a much different record and season projection.
So while the talent is getting to acceptable, it is the coaches keeping us in these games until we can get more bodies to help our depth, and more game-changing players. I, for one, commend them on the job they have done. And yes, this falls on their laps so it's hard to straight out say they are doing a great job across the board, but if we were recruiting in the middle of the PAC-12 with the coaches that we have, I have no doubt we would exceed those rankings on the field.
