OK, how do we look for next year?

[burmafrd1943]

Can we build on this year and take the final step?

First of course we need a QB to step up. angeli and carr fight it out though Angeli showed some things this year

We still have top RBs so that is good.
We need to improve at WR and of course the OL has to play better if we want to win it all

The Defense I am actually not too worried about though more there would be certainly welcomed

 

[Shakin' Down the Thunder]

Can we build on this year and take the final step?

First of course we need a QB to step up. angeli and carr fight it out though Angeli showed some things this year

We still have top RBs so that is good.
We need to improve at WR and of course the OL has to play better if we want to win it all

The Defense I am actually not too worried about though more there would be certainly welcomed

I'm already excited for next year. I don't see why ND can't get back to the NC next year. A lot of talent coming back.

 

[IrishMike409]

On D:

Need to replace Mills and Cross

Might have to replace Al Golden

 

[BGI User 1596]

First two games should be interesting.

 

[Golson5]

Can we build on this year and take the final step?

First of course we need a QB to step up. angeli and carr fight it out though Angeli showed some things this year

We still have top RBs so that is good.
We need to improve at WR and of course the OL has to play better if we want to win it all

The Defense I am actually not too worried about though more there would be certainly welcomed

Don't forget Minchey

 

[sjb75]

Don't forget Minchey

You know damn well Minchey isn’t starting at Miami.

He couldn’t beat out Angeli for the backup job after 1.5 years on campus.

 

[christophero]

Good question. Some unknowns. Off the top of my head my guess is we will be ranked top 10 but not top 5. Maybe 6-8. We should be a playoff team next year. I would think Texas is #1 with Manning. can we lure a top portal WR?

 

[Golson5]

You know damn well muncher isn’t starting at Miami.

He couldn’t beat out Angelo for the backup job after 1.5 years on campus.

Angeli was always going to be the backup on this team. Veteran team, experienced backup QB.

When the comp opens up, Angeli will be the most experience QB on the roster but also the least gifted. Minchey has a lot of talent and tools. I'm not going to count him out. He is more talented than Steve

 

[Golson5]

Good question. Some unknowns. Off the top of my head my guess is we will be ranked top 10 but not top 5. Maybe 6-8. We should be a playoff team next year. I would think Texas is #1 with Manning.

They probably will but shouldn't. They lost a ton and he hasn't proven much

 

[christophero]

Maybe, but they are always talented and I think Manning will explode next year. You have the usual suspects, OSU, Oregon, Penn State, Ole Miss, LSU, and of course Georgia, Alabama and Tenn. Miami and Clemson coud be factors.

 

[ZibbyQuinn]

The reality is, tonight hurts- we didn’t belong here with injuries, adversity, etc and it was a dream season that beat expectations, but it took Oh St 11 years to win a natty. ND has gotten to the stage twice in the last 30 years.. the opportunity is rare.

 

[TalentedMrRippley]

I think anyone with any sense would look at this team and say okay we're losing Watts and we're losing some defensive lineman and we're losing Leonard but everyone else will be back. The offensive line was horrible in the beginning of the season because they were so young. Next to the offensive line is going to be a force. I see this team being ranked number one or number two to start next season and if they aren't well we'll just beat the s*** out of everyone and be there eventually

 

[burmafrd1943]

Maybe, but they are always talented and I think Manning will explode next year. You have the usual suspects, OSU, Oregon, Penn State, Ole Miss, LSU, and of course Georgia, Alabama and Tenn. Miami and Clemson coud be factors.

would you believe that if his name was smith?

 

[burmafrd1943]

The reality is, tonight hurts- we didn’t belong here with injuries, adversity, etc and it was a dream season that beat expectations, but it took Oh St 11 years to win a natty. ND has gotten to the stage twice in the last 30 years.. the opportunity is rare.

If you have the coach you will get there; we have him with Freeman

 

[TalentedMrRippley]

And also we're going to have the best linebacking core in college football

 

[burmafrd1943]

First two games should be interesting.

yeah its going to be tough out of the gate. BUT if we can get by them and NOT pull a NIU we should be in great shape

 

[christophero]

would you believe that if his name was smith?

Like Emmitt Smith's son?
No, but Manning has had 2 years to learn and has played in spurts. They have a good line and WR's so he is set up for success.

 

[Golson5]

Like Emmitt Smith's son?
No, but Manning has had 2 years to learn and has played in spurts. They have a good line and WR's so he is set up for success.

They lost a lot on the OL and WR

 

[christophero]

They did but Texas reloads.

 

[Golson5]

I think anyone with any sense would look at this team and say okay we're losing Watts and we're losing some defensive lineman and we're losing Leonard but everyone else will be back. The offensive line was horrible in the beginning of the season because they were so young. Next to the offensive line is going to be a force. I see this team being ranked number one or number two to start next season and if they aren't well we'll just beat the s*** out of everyone and be there eventually

We're losing more than that but it should be a really talented team

 

[ZibbyQuinn]

If you have the coach you will get there; we have him with Freeman

I don’t disagree but it takes magic for these seasons to happen, the odds are it will be another 5/6 years before this opportunity presents itself. Just look around at the the blue bloods

 

[burmafrd1943]

Like Emmitt Smith's son?
No, but Manning has had 2 years to learn and has played in spurts. They have a good line and WR's so he is set up for success.

certainly he has a good spot but that is all; once again all this hype is ONLY because of his name

 

[burmafrd1943]

I don’t disagree but it takes magic for these seasons to happen, the odds are it will be another 5/6 years before this opportunity presents itself. Just look around at the the blue bloods

they do not have Freeman. You seem to not get that.

 

[burmafrd1943]

They did but Texas reloads.

Not even Alabama under Saban reloaded all the time; they came close and did now and then. I do not put sark there.

 

[chaseball]

Not even Alabama under Saban reloaded all the time; they came close and did now and then. I do not put sark there.

lol what ?

Nick Saban's Alabama team was a lock in the top 2 in F+ since like his 2nd or 3rd year all the way through 2022 (retired in 2023 after making the playoff yet again). Basically bullied/monopolized the rest of college football of its best talent and its highest ranking over the course of nearly 2 decades was consistently better than almost every single other team in college football every single season. Always had a national championship caliber team year in and year out and sealed the deal 6 times at Alabama.

 

[ZibbyQuinn]

they do not have Freeman. You seem to not get that.

Not considering the GOAT, Saban, how many teams/coaches have played for multiple championships in A 3 year span? Kirby? Dabo? It’s a tough ask, especially at ND

 

[chaseball]

Not considering the GOAT, Saban, how many teams/coaches have played for multiple championships in A 3 year span? Kirby? Dabo? It’s a tough ask, especially at ND

How many teams/coaches have won a national title while not having tier 1 talent?

even fewer teams/coaches than in the scenario that you've proposed

 

[burmafrd1943]

lol what ?

Nick Saban's Alabama team was a lock in the top 2 in F+ since like his 2nd or 3rd year all the way through 2022 (retired in 2023 after making the playoff yet again). Basically bullied/monopolized the rest of college football of its best talent and its highest ranking over the course of nearly 2 decades was consistently better than almost every single other team in college football every single season. Always had a national championship caliber team year in and year out and sealed the deal 6 times at Alabama.

take your moronic F crap and stick it where the sun does not shine

Yes he did have a machine but he did not do it year after year after year

Lightbning in a bottle Like Bellicek did in New England, that is not going to happen again

 

[burmafrd1943]

Not considering the GOAT, Saban, how many teams/coaches have played for multiple championships in A 3 year span? Kirby? Dabo? It’s a tough ask, especially at ND

BUT no one has recruited at ND like Freeman since the early years of Lou. So the talent is coming. and the portal allows us to really stock up. Yes it is harder here no argument. But you look at who he is bringing in and so far so GREAT.

 

[echowaker]

would you believe that if his name was smith?

Exactly. Manning is a fine young player but he needs to show it. I had a long time recruiting coordinator in the SEC that Manning was a solid 4 star prospect at best but would never have been rated so highly if he had a different last name. Not fair to the kid either. Unrealistic expectations.

 

[echowaker]

They lost a lot on the OL and WR

I thought their o line was terribly overrated. Huge and stout but stiff.

 

[echowaker]

ND will have an elite o line , a great stable of backs and serviceable wideouts. I believe the QB situation will work itself out fine. Elite back 7 on defense. Tons of talent there. Need a couple of young bucks to step up on the interior. Big off season for those guys. Definitely top 10 Preseason and likely top 5.

 

[IrishMike409]

ND will have an elite o line , a great stable of backs and serviceable wideouts. I believe the QB situation will work itself out fine. Elite back 7 on defense. Tons of talent there. Need a couple of young bucks to step up on the interior. Big off season for those guys. Definitely top 10 Preseason and likely top 5.

Who do you see emerging on the DL?

 

[echowaker]

Who do you see emerging on the DL?

Haven't seen enough of guys like Mukam and Sevillano to say. I do know that off season conditioning is where you make strides physically to compete for sustained playing time.

 

[nptb]

Like Emmitt Smith's son?
No, but Manning has had 2 years to learn and has played in spurts. They have a good line and WR's so he is set up for success.

They lose both tackles to the league.

 

[echowaker]

They lose both tackles to the league.

And their guards were statues. Very overrated.

 

[Terry Jillery]

As Eminem said, “you only get one shot.” Hard reality is we are unlikely to get back to this game for some time.

 

[savvyandsassier]

Next year we'll have a good passing QB and a much more downfield passing offense, one would imagine. Without the same dual threat element at QB, which will be a major change. Defensively, depending on what our coaches do, every reason to think we can be great again. All kinds of young players returning, hopefully Golden will as well. And the OL will presumably be one of the best in the country and a major strength, no matter what our offense turns out as. And we got two good WRs in the portal. Maybe we can add a third after the spring.

So I figure we're preseason top five for sure, maybe top three!

 

[chaseball]

As Eminem said, “you only get one shot.” Hard reality is we are unlikely to get back to this game for some time.

this is a good point

there's so much luck involved with making it to the national title even for teams stacked to the gills full of the best players and coaches in the country

 

[Terry Jillery]

Without Leonard’s legs and converting 3rd and shorts, we lose far worse. We don’t have elite receivers like Ohio State. Leonard helped make up for the talent gap between the two teams last night with his legs. It’s why teams like Buffalo, Kansas City, Baltimore, etc are good.