my expectation is any coach of the gophers makes the tournament. I view that as a contender. I'd assume pretty much every blue blood would say the exact same. He gets a little more leeway given it's year one and Bob left him no intact D core, but this is not Gopher football and year 0 a la PJ and kids want to come here. Of the blue bloods, who helpfully have hired a lot of coaches in the modern era, in year one with the prior year results
Michigan: Naurato FF (Pearson FF)
Wisco: Hastings NCAA tourney regional semis (Granato 13-23)
UND: Jackson FF (Berry 18-15 and missed tourney)
DU: no new coach in the modern era but Carle made a FF in his first year after Monty lost in the regional finals
BC: Brown missed tourney (prior year York missed tourney)
BU: Pandolfo FF (OConnell 19-13-1 and missed tourney)
So yeah at the blue bloods the expectation is to make the tourney. Little different prior to the last 3 or so years when you had to build more slowly over time. That need is gone