chicago51
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Yes its at Standford. Ending on the west coast as usual.
Athlon 2013 Top 25
- Thread starter tommyIRISH23
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Yes its at Standford. Ending on the west coast as usual.
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Buster Bluth
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Why? Notre Dame didn't dominate a lot of games this season; they could easily have been 10-2. The difference between #1 and #10 is absolutely tiny.
8/31: vs Temple (99%)
9/07: at Michigan (night game) (70%)
9/14: at Purdue (85%)
9/21: vs Michigan State (65%)
9/28: vs Oklahoma (55%)
10/5: vs Arizona State* (Arlington, TX) (65%)
10/12: BYE
10/19: vs Southern Cal (55%)
10/26: at Air Force (90%)
11/02: vs Navy (90%)
11/09: at Pittsburgh (85%)
11/16: BYE
11/23: vs BYU (80%)
11/30: at Stanford (50%)
On the surface it looks like a 10-2 season should be expected. 12-0 is certainly possible.
Considering that the Irish will have to rebuild 2/5 of the OL, will have no proven RBs, and need Day and Grace to be studs to have an elite defense....#8 seems perfectly fine for a meaningless poll.
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stlnd01
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I love Bennett Jackson, but he's not going anywhere. Guy's basically got one year of experience under his belt. A lot of room to grow yet, and he seems smart enough to know that.
As for Athlon's prediction: We're only losing three starters off the #1 scoring defense in the country. Yes, one of them's Manti Teo, and obviously we'll miss him. But KLM and Motta, while smart, tough veterans, are not more talented than the guys in line to succeed them. Unless player development falls off the rails, the D will be fine. The O will get better as Golson does, though I could see a bit of a dropoff in our running game.
Overall, like Bluth put it, the line between undefeated and 10-2 is pretty thin. And of course, even one loss, even to, say, #9 Oklahoma, would automatically mean we're worse than half the SEC.
As for Athlon's prediction: We're only losing three starters off the #1 scoring defense in the country. Yes, one of them's Manti Teo, and obviously we'll miss him. But KLM and Motta, while smart, tough veterans, are not more talented than the guys in line to succeed them. Unless player development falls off the rails, the D will be fine. The O will get better as Golson does, though I could see a bit of a dropoff in our running game.
Overall, like Bluth put it, the line between undefeated and 10-2 is pretty thin. And of course, even one loss, even to, say, #9 Oklahoma, would automatically mean we're worse than half the SEC.
Sherm Sticky
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I'm not to sure about that.
stlnd01
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I think Sheldon Day probably has a higher ceiling than KLM. Collinsworth maybe isn't more naturally talented than Motta but Shumate may well be and Redfield - should we land him - probably is.
My point is more simply that graduation is a part of college football, and much as I appreciate both the skills, and especially the leadership, of Motta and KLM, they are by no means irreplacable talents. Based on experience so far, I tend to think the coaching staff will develop players who can fill their shoes. Teo is a taller order, obviously.
NDhoosier
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I agree with you, but another year with Day and Jones could easily soften the loss of KLM. I dont see a very big drop off there.
Collinsworth (the guy that was going to start ahead of Motta next to Slaughter), Farley, and all the young talent we have in the waiting at the safety position will allow the safety position to remain strong. While Motta is talented, I am not worried about Safety AT ALL.
Grace replacing Teo is the mystery. How big of a drop off will that be?
Losing only 3 starters on defense is something every team in the nation would love to have (especially from a #1 ranked defense) and two of those positions are going to have only a minimal drop-off, if any. That is definitely something to brag about.
chicago51
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I believe Notre Dame will be a top 10 maybe even top 5 defense next year. It depends on the pace Kelly has the offense go at next year.
The points per game may be higher next year. Maybe from 10.1 this year up to 14-15. I think part will because Kelly speeds up the tempo on offense with a more experienced Evert Golson. Faster game means more possessions for the opponent as well and that will hurt the ND defense some.
Domina Nostra
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This! I am not am not in the "you get what you deserve crowd" when it comes to you exact W-L record. Personally, I think hard work, chemistry, and the right players get you into that Top tier. After that, unless you have just dominating talent, you have to get a little lucky. If we are already calling 10-2 a bad season, Kelly is going to burn out FAST!
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Bogtrotter07
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I think Athlon pulled this one out of their a$$. But the number eight rating is perfect. Lets stay under the radar.
The easiest schedule in five years, well laid out too; another year of player development; rumor is they are going to place front numerals with big red "S"s on some players; and overhype on certain other teams.
My dream season would be of course ND undefeated, the SEC beating the crap out of each other, pOSU going undefeated and meeting us in the last BCS NC game. With an ND victory, everybody else would be pi$$ed as hell, with nowhere to go! Yeah, BABY!
The easiest schedule in five years, well laid out too; another year of player development; rumor is they are going to place front numerals with big red "S"s on some players; and overhype on certain other teams.
My dream season would be of course ND undefeated, the SEC beating the crap out of each other, pOSU going undefeated and meeting us in the last BCS NC game. With an ND victory, everybody else would be pi$$ed as hell, with nowhere to go! Yeah, BABY!
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chicago51
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Yes that would be my dream as well. I want Urban Meyer's a$$ in a bowl game next year even if its not for the BCS national championship. That said to be able to play OSU in a bowl game I think it will take an undefeated record; as mentioned the OSU schedule is a joke a virtual lock for 13-0 with the biggest threat for them being UM (possibly twice).
zbikowski88
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Bryan Fischer @BryanDFischer
RT @finebaum: 2012 College Football Preview releases Top 25 for 2013 : 1) Bama 2) Stanford 3)LSU 4)ND 5)Oregon. 2013 College Football Top 25 Preview
Stanford #2?
RT @finebaum: 2012 College Football Preview releases Top 25 for 2013 : 1) Bama 2) Stanford 3)LSU 4)ND 5)Oregon. 2013 College Football Top 25 Preview
Stanford #2?
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PraetorianND
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They are currently #6 and if Chip leaves Oregon they will be the best team in the Pac12. They lose Stepfan Taylor though. Seems high but it's about time we get teams other than SEC teams ranked highly early.
chicago51
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Standford does return a lot of guys. Good for them if they are that good. That ND Standford end of the year show down out west might be huge.
Think the list is alright. Slighty more accurate than athlon to me at least.
Got one objection with the returning starters they got listed. I think Collinsworth starts over Nicky Baratti.
ClausentoTate
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Doesn't stanford lose all three of their LBs? Thought they were all Seniors.
Chris P. Bacon
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IDK, Collinsworth was apparently a star throughout the fall, being one of Diaco's werewolfs, but due to injury and Baratti having some PT this year, he may have a step on Collinsworth, but that doesn't mean he can't get it back from Baratti. All falls back to the offseason and their ability to get better, either way, it's a good problem to have, our secondary should be one of our strengths next year on defense, which I'm hoping the injuries in the secondary don't happen again next offseason.
We all know what that means if we become thin in the secondary: 'Mr. Neal, we need you to go out and fair catch the rest of the season, thanks for showing up.'
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nationalchamps.net just released their Early Bird preview for the 2013 preseason rankings:
It's been pretty accurate over the years, so TIFWIW.
It's been pretty accurate over the years, so TIFWIW.
^ I was about to make a joke about this list having only 2 SEC teams in the top 5, but then I looked at the top 10 and thought it wasnt really worth it...
When will the SEC bias end?
January 7th
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Bogtrotter07
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Stanford has to replace a bunch of players; Ohio State does not; and how did we look in this past edition, if they are so accurate?
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Their ranking has been close to what the AP has put out preseason. That's how they've been accurate.
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Bogtrotter07
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Oh, so you are saying they are accurately uninformed nine months before everyone else.