Here's the good news. Mario has done this before. He has an actual, demonstrable history of improving programs (plural) in year 2:
FIU year 1: 1-11
FIU year 2: 5-7
Oregon year 1: 9-4
Oregon year 2: 12-2
I think we'd all be content with 2 more wins this year and likely happy if we win 3-4 more like FIU and Oregon.
I agree, more than a two win swing would be nice, but probably shouldn't be the expectation. We do have some of the same challenges as last season, to varying degrees: Implementing new systems on both sides of the ball, while we got a nice influx of talent this class they are just freshmans, until we see otherwise probably not strong/deep enough at a few positions (portal in spring could change that), and some potential big contributor guys coming off injury (Qb, Rb, TE, OL).
7-5 while still disappointing in the scope of eventual expectations, is a good indicator that we will have moved in the right direction at least.
Looking at the schedule, I could see it play out about like this-
We should beat Miami of Ohio (1-0)
We will probably struggle with aTm (1-1)
We should beat BCU (2-1)
We should beat Temple (3-1)
We should beat Georgia Tech (4-1)
@North Carolina will be tough (4-2)
Vs Clemson probably a loss (4-3)
We should beat Virginia (5-3)
@ NC St they were a solid team last year and it is on the road, could see a loss (5-4)
@ FSU probably a loss (5-5)
Vs Louisville will be tough, I think we split NCst/Louiville (6-5)
@ Boston College should be a win (7-5)
7-5 is obviously not great, but if that is our record and the offense is fun to watch, the defense isn't embarrassed, and it is clearly just a talent issue, I am ok with that progress.