There's a tendency to see the Buffs as on (or should be on) a continuously improving path to the top. First up on this agenda is a bowl game (= win half of games), then win division, then PAC12, then compete for national championship, while maintaining a continuous top-25 ranking and much time in the top 10 for the indefinite future.
No problem with setting the bar high, you can't improve without that. What I don't like to see is assumption that the upward trajectory will and should happen, leading the Program back to the glory days of 25 years ago. We are competing with over a hundred other programs, many with similar or higher $$commitment$$ to "getting there." And many of those in our conference. While (again) I like setting high goals, a 6-6 or 7-5 record should be routine and expected, with the occasional 8-4 or 9-3 (and 5-7 or 4-8) seasons when recruits prove better or worse than rated and various intangibles either fall in place, or don't.
With this I certainly concur, certainly, that a winning season is way overdue, but beyond that I project that there's not likely a path to national championship in the next 50 years, and PAC12 championships may be a once-in-a-decade event, at least given the current conference makeup.
So there it is, sorry for the realism, but it doesn't take away from hope and support to get us back to respectability and being competitive. There's a good chance we're approaching that point now - when we have a winning season, perhaps next year, that will be where we should be routinely (unexceptional). From there we can cheer on our Buffs to compete towards that elusive P12 title, and take great satisfaction when it finally happens.