NDinNJ said:

I have nothing against Leonard, but the hype around him as a dual threat 1st round talent was way overhyped. He's been serviceable and helped the offense score enough to win games, but the defense has been carrying this team all year.

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NDinNJ said:

Again with the what if's. None of it happened. I don't deal in "what if's". I deal in reality.

I can play the what if game too. What if ND recovered the first onside kick, Indiana would never had scored that 2nd TD and the game would have ended 27-11. We could do this all day. it's just dumb.

Even if Indiana recovered the 2nd onside kick, they were still 2 scores down at worst it would have ended 27-25. Again game was never in question period. Stop living in fantasy land.

The fiesta bowl vs oklahoma state was a half-time lead. ND wasn't leading 28-7 with 3 minutes left in the game. Do you not understand how the game works? I can't believe I have to even address this and explain it to you.

The game was never in question, and you seem to be the only person on the planet that believes it was.

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NDinNJ said:

The game was never in question except maybe the first series of the game. Stop embarrassing yourself.

As for Leonard, he has limitations and if you can't see it than that's on you.

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sjb75 said:

I will say 4th and place USC 5. Indiana was a playoff product by way of a pathetically soft schedule.

And SMU had zero business being in this playoff, IMO.

Clemson, 0-3 against the SEC in 2024, only belonged because they won the ACC.

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88ND said:

Stop the insanity.

That's like me saying Jack Kiser had more impact than Michael Stonebreaker because he's played in more games than anyone in ND history.

Book was here way too long. It messed up our QB cycle.

Between the pair???
Book was more accurate with the 3 yard curl and sit route.
Riley can make short passing an adventure.
Neither have a strong arm. No advantage there.
Riley is a far better runner.

The running back room today is much better collectively than when Book was here.
We have 3 backs that could be an elite #1 at any major school.

Book didn't enjoy a collective RB room like we have today.

The collective coaching is better today than under Brian Kelly. The very coach who is still looking for a major bowl/post season win....Brian Kelly...
He and his staff are not as good as what we have today.
Assistants to philosophy...
Present day coaching is much better.

Under BK the biggest of moments/opponents had us highly overwhelmed.
Freeman seems to get them to rally at the importance of these moments.
Something sadly missed since Holtz' days.

MF might be a defensive minded guy but he fully understands that Golden is coaching in a league of his own. Thus he isn't getting his nose involved in the defense.
Kudos to MF for checking his pride at the door.
BK, actually played linebacker, somehow could never help himself but be involved in all things QB. Even having a separate OC and QB coach, still had his fingers all intertwined in the QB position.

We are a better team under MF than BK. Better coaching, better staff, better emotion and most importantly, better players.

Riley, overall, is playing better than Book. That said, Riley is enjoying a better environment.

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hvillebill said:

But that's the point.

A backup only takes so many snaps with the first team until the starting QB gets hurt. Now he's "The guy" and therefore is getting a LOT more reps. He won't be as effective as Beck but don't count him out, either. They can scale down the passing game for him and trust me, they've got a really good coaching staff top to bottom.

They'll have the kid prepared and it will be a dog fight (no pun intended).

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FightingIrish44 said:

If Leonard doesn’t complete that pass, maybe ND only has 20 points. Indiana ended with 17. If they recover the last onside kick, they would’ve potentially had an opportunity to tie. The game was in doubt when Leonard completed that pass to Faison. It’s just that the odds were extremely slim.

What about the ND-Oklahoma State Fiesta bowl? Was that game never in doubt when ND held a 28-7 lead?

You seriously think this game was never in question? No way.

I’m not ignoring the offense’s limitations. I’m just not in favor of calling Leonard “serviceable” like you did.

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BGI User 756 said:

They wouldn’t have made the playoffs…

Amirite, @SJB?!

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banmate6 said:

This.

The Vols had a one of their best defenders on Smith. A standout. But he could do nothing to stop one of the best receivers we've seen in a while.

Ohio State QB also has the arm to hit him and everybody.

Again, this to me seems like one of those rising at the right time things. The players and Day underperformed and know it. Day is under a kind of hot seat and wants to prove a point.

ND by the way has the same grit. But much as I love the Irish, I gotta give credit to the talent on Ohio State. You can't say they're not earning it...Tennessee and now they need to beat Oregon. Gauntlet.

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sjb75 said:

Really?

#8 Ohio St. is favored in Las Vegas over #1 Oregon.

ACC champion Clemson was 0-3 versus the SEC, including losing at home in game 12 to non playoff South Carolina.

Indiana…..who played a pathetically weak schedule, SMU, and Clemson IMO weren’t amongst the 12 best teams in CFB.

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PHJIndy said:

I'm not a prognosticator, but I believe the Irish will win this game. The injured defensive players have a few extra days to get well. more days than usual

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raulduke_007 said:

Will Herbie call out Tenn for being outclassed and not belonging in playoffs like he did for IU?

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