chaseball said:

Is there not a single five-star prospect out there that wants to play for this emerging program?

It just sucks to see that Notre Dame is still gaining no traction with the top flight prospects in the sport even with all of the momentum with the team's 11 game winning streak

Rumor has it this 2026 class might be one of the worst in the last 5 years

Click to expand...

Just because the services rate someone a 5 star doesn't necessarily translate to that athlete developing into a 5 star. Many 4 star athletes develop into 5 star athletes in college. Likewise, many 5 star athletes fall short of their rating in college.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

Telx1 said:

No

Click to expand...

Then it’s kind of hard to say how often someone played a prevent or softer defense.

They blitzed three times on the first drive. Zero plays that could be construed as prevent. On drive 2, there were four plays I think that could be construed as “softer defense”. I wouldn’t call it a prevent. They run those calls occasionally during games as do professional teams.

Minimal success on the softer defenses. It was the other plays where IU had their success.

ZibbyQuinn said:

Clearly it’s become a major issue so the concern was justified. You’re bound to lose 1-2 guys and the drop off from Mills/Cross to Hinish and God knows who else is massive. Probably the biggest gap from 1 to 2s at any position on the roster.

Click to expand...

Then you can say that about every team in the country. We agree then

Through 13 games it wasn't an issue at all. They've been awesome all year long across the DL

Any team that loses 4 key players at a position it will be a major issue and a concern. Even at OSU or Georgia

We've held up with those injuries that 99% of the country couldn't because the depth is so good.

Depth on the DL has been elite this year

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

echowaker said:

RL is way more than a " cog". If you understood the responsibilities and decision making in "zone read" plays ( the staple of the offense) and RPO's you'd know the QB in such an offense is not a " cog" but the pilot so to speak. He's making the decisions that lead to a effective and productive offense.

Click to expand...

He is more of a cog in this offense. His limitations as a passer have very clearly forced our OC's hand, and its to both RL and certainly Denbrock's credit, that they've been able to work around it, by keeping the passing game as low degree of difficulty as possible, and still maintain a credible passing threat. That's a fair statement. You are nevertheless compelled to frame things in such a way so as to portray RL in the best possible light, notwithstanding the reality on the ground. I know that's what fans do, but it is nevertheless misleading. But your hand was forced because somebody compared him to a BK QB so you have no choice but to exaggerate his abilities and achievements thus far.

And I like RL, he's great. But he's not better than Ian Book. And the offense had to be streamlined around his limitations.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

Patrish said:

No it doesn’t.
Doesn’t the cumulative effect of having more reasons to be motivated result in you being more motivated

For starters, Indiana has been a Notre Dame’s shadow for decades, ergo that’s additional motivation for Indiana to beat ND.

Being an underdog, inherently creates more motivation

While I would love to see a blowout, I’m concerned about this game

Click to expand...

Irish looked pretty motivated on Friday night!

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

A very tough one, but next man in.

I think we naturally always look for someone or something to blame, but we have to remember this is football, and injuries are sadly all too common. I’m a Detroit Lions fan being from Michigan and we have 22 players on IR.

Sometimes you’re just dealt a bad hand, luck being the culprit.

Well it’s true.

Golson5 said:

Maybe it was a concern for some but they answered that question all year that it shouldn't have been.

We played so many guys and they all played well and the DL has been really good all year long on one of the best defenses in the country

We've played 12 guys on the rotation throughout the year. 4 are gone. Now we have to activate 1 more,probably Mukam or Sevillano

Click to expand...

Clearly it’s become a major issue so the concern was justified. You’re bound to lose 1-2 guys and the drop off from Mills/Cross to Hinish and God knows who else is massive. Probably the biggest gap from 1 to 2s at any position on the roster.

Activate both. The playoff games don’t count toward a redshirt Play the big man !

savvyandsassier said:

Alright, then. Cool. But there's no larger point. Other than bashing some new coach who, as I said, wasn't humble and meek enough after losing to ND. That's the point. I don't give a shit what he does next year. And I like I say, why do you want to ruin this? You want to make the guy seem good, it makes our win look better. When you belittle him like this, and get all nasty, it's cheapens our success. Like, they suck, anybody could have beaten IU. And we'll probably lose to UGA. I guess everyone was bashing IU before the game started, so no reason it would change after the fact.

Click to expand...

No.

No one said they suck. Cignetti is just a jerk. He turns people off.

He had a great year. No doubt about it. But he's not as good as he thinks he is. We'll see how he does in 25. He went from the Hunter, to being the Hunted. 2025 Saturday afternoons will be different for him vs 2024.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

stu4don said:

Totally agree, Golson! Just reporting what I heard. I hope Freeman sticks to what he said. No QB transfers this year.

Click to expand...

If Quinn Ewers calls, Marcus Freeman and Mike Denbrock have a tough decision to make. He’s a 2026 first round draft choice, IMO.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

ZibbyQuinn said:

Yikes, 3 man rotation of Cross, Hinish, Rubio. Wonder if they’ll try Oben in the interior? DL depth was a major concern heading into the season and may cost ND- how will they stop the UGA rushing attack.

Click to expand...

Maybe it was a concern for some but they answered that question all year that it shouldn't have been.

We played so many guys and they all played well and the DL has been really good all year long on one of the best defenses in the country

We've played 12 guys on the rotation throughout the year. 4 are gone. Now we have to activate 1 more,probably Mukam or Sevillano

ZibbyQuinn said:

Yikes, 3 man rotation of Cross, Hinish, Rubio. Wonder if they’ll try Oben in the interior? DL depth was a major concern heading into the season and may cost ND- how will they stop the UGA rushing attack.

Click to expand...

It scary to think about the lack of depth. There are some bigger guys on he depth chart in Mukam, Houston and Vernon. I know Mukam has played but not sure he is ready for Georgia.

Vernon was a big shot recruit and I haven’t heard a peep outta him. Hinish is a tough Philly kid but he is just so undersized.

This is a devastating loss. Probably our best defensive player outside of Watts.

Fightingirish595 said:

Great job by our strength and conditioning coach

Click to expand...

Be better.

How about sevillano.
No one seems to know if he’s been available?

futuredomer said:

He should be fired yesterday!

Click to expand...

Be better.