You are right that we are not LSU. We actually have a proven track record of having a better offense than them. Toledo has had a good defense once in that time period (2015) which is the on field difference between the 2 types of programs (and all of the recruiting advantages). In that year we knocked off ranked Arkansas and Arkansas eventually knocked off ranked LSU.
points per game NCAA rank:
2010- Toledo- 54th
2011- Toledo- 8th
2012- Toledo- 44th
2013- Toledo- 40th
2014- Toledo- 18th
2015- Toledo- 31st
2016- Toledo- 19th
2017- Toledo- 16th
Coaching has been wildly successful and consistent. Beckman- Campbell- Candle. This year will be no different. Playmakers are better at Toledo than LSU lately too. Sure some great RB'S have come out of LSU but they were still losing games 17-20... We have had NFL caliber backs as well, just with a passing attack attached. It hurts your brain to think about but it's true. Lots of the time it's with guys who aren't recruited anywhere else (Logan Woodside, Kareem Hunt, Cody Thompson). Sometimes it's with 3* guys who want playing time (Alonzo Russel, Bernard Reedy, Desmond Phillips). Toledo is a G5 recruiting genius even it's not the highest number of star recruits but finding guys right for the system. If that wasn't true we wouldn't have blown away some of that Miami blue Chip DB talent in 2017.
Having said that, the defense hasn't come along yet. Miami will be the first test in 2018. IMO we smoke Miami in special teams and everything else is strength against strength/weakness against weakness.