re: Nick Saban (2008-2014) vs Kirby Smart (2017-2023)

Very true. The 11 win threshold is tricky because there's so little room for error in any given year a team loses 2 games during the regular season and misses out on the SEC Championship game. It then comes to beating a really good opponent in a bowl game the team may or may not be fired up to be in. It only takes one season with a particularly difficult and unfavorable schedule coupled with bad injury luck to a star quarterback early in the season for example to drop 2 or 3 games prior to the playoffs thus missing the playoffs. I agree though that the expanded playoff will make getting into the playoffs much easier thus making getting to 11+ wins much easier going forward.