# of AP poll appearances by decade:

20s: 40 so far or 8.0 per year (will be 8.2 after we are in the poll next week)
10s: 9 (0.9/yr)
00s: 56 (5.6/yr)
90s: 73 (7.3/yr)
80s: 81 (8.1/yr)
70s: 25 (2.5/yr)

Yes, we won the natty in '84 and Ty won the Heisman in '90 but the '20s is when we finally joined the big leagues. As long as we are in the top four in the Big 12, we will be ranked more often than not and should be in the conference game about every 5 years and the playoff once every 10. In no previous decade have we been so well set up to 1) play tough competition 2) be ranked and 3) have a shot at the natty.