College Football Playoff Rankings 2015 (ND #8...)

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Stay in the top 10???

I really don't think we will be in the top 10.

We will be jumped by OSU, North Carolina, Stanford for what I am figuring.

With the possibility of FSU and or Baylor if they beat Texas.

Still a chance to get in the top 10. But, this defense doesn't warrant a top 10 ranking. I just hope we play a really bad offense in a bowl game, because right now I don't think we can stop anybody. BC, Stanford, Wake, and Pitt proved to me we have major defensive issues.

a lead and 30 seconds and we lose is absolutely unacceptable. Red zone and turnover aside, if the offense give you a lead with 30 seconds and kicking off. It is on you as a defense to stop. Absolutely unacceptable. Sorry, the defense is putrid.

 

[philipm31]

ND staying in the Top Ten? Not really important, nor is it likely.

 

[philipm31]

Stay in the top 10???

I really don't think we will be in the top 10.

We will be jumped by OSU, North Carolina, Stanford for what I am figuring.

With the possibility of FSU and or Baylor if they beat Texas.

Still a chance to get in the top 10. But, this defense doesn't warrant a top 10 ranking. I just hope we play a really bad offense in a bowl game, because right now I don't think we can stop anybody. BC, Stanford, Wake, and Pitt proved to me we have major defensive issues.

a lead and 30 seconds and we lose is absolutely unacceptable. Red zone and turnover aside, if the offense give you a lead with 30 seconds and kicking off. It is on you as a defense to stop. Absolutely unacceptable. Sorry, the defense is putrid.

Typical of this team in the last five years, that we can NOT score in the RZ...and of course, it cost us the game. We should have won that game going away.

But at least now, we do not have to worry about people complaining about ND getting screwed by OU.

We had a VERY good year, but we should easily be unbeaten and #1 in the country.

Oh well.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Philip, good post. Hard to disagree. Like all complaining why we dropped from 4 to 6. The committee saw the BC Game. And how was the D going to stop Stanford, or the Red Zone issues, or the turnovers.

OU deserves to be in, they rose up when they needed and we sunk. Even if we won it wouldn't have mattered for the top 4. But, a team that blows a lead with 30 seconds left and kicking off doesn't deserve even a top 10 ranking IMO. Still a good year, but we do what we do since 1988. Let down!

Still love the school, love the team. But, ripping the heart out is what happens.

At least we have 1 national champ. Molly Seidel won the NCAA Cross Country Championship, followed up her 10K National Championship. She knows how to close out. Heck, even our little freshman Anna Roher got 6th overall, and the team got 8th. We have at least 1 top 10 Team this year.

Gotta leave on a positive. Go Irish

 

[NDWorld247]

ND staying in the Top Ten? Not really important, nor is it likely.

How is it not important? The only way we get into the New Years 6 bowls is if we finish top 11 (with 12th spot going to group of 5 highest rated team).

 

[IrishinSyria]

ND staying in the Top Ten? Not really important, nor is it likely.

It's both important and likely.

Clemson
Bama
Oklahoma
Sparty
Iowa
Ohio State
Stanford
Notre Dame
FSU
North Carolina
Baylor

 

[NDWorld247]

If favorites hold serve next weekend, this is what the Playoffs and New Years 6 Bowls will look like:

Orange Bowl - Playoff Semifinal
#1 Clemson vs #4 Big Ten Champ (MSU/Iowa)

Cotton Bowl - Playoff Semifinal
#2 Alabama vs #3 Oklahoma

New Years 6 Bowls

Rose Bowl
MSU/Iowa loser* vs Stanford/USC winner
*I think the Rose Bowl could also take Ohio State, which will probably end up ranked ahead of the Big 10 CG loser, but I think the committee is more likely to give them the loser of MSU/Iowa.

That leaves 6 spots for the Fiesta, Sugar and Peach bowls.

1. Highest ranked Group of 5 team - Houston vs Temple winner is in
2. Ohio State or MSU/Iowa loser if Rose selects Ohio State
3. Florida State - will likely finish in top 11
4. Notre Dame - I think we stay in top 11

5 and 6 is where it gets really interesting...
ACC - can UNC stay in top 11, assuming they make it there this week, with a loss to Clemson? Probably not.
Big 10 - three teams already in with MSU/Iowa/OSU. Northwestern has a shot but I think they barely miss the cut. Michigan was eliminated today.
Pac 12 - Oregon will be in the mix. Stanford would probably also be considered if they lose to USC.
SEC - Florida won't end up ranked in top 11 after losing to Alabama. Will Ole Miss make the jump? Maybe, but I think the SEC is more likely than not to get shut out.
Big 12 - Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State finish in a 3-way tie for 2nd place at 10-2. Baylor beat Ok State and lost to TCU. Ok State beat TCU and lost to Baylor. TCU beat Baylor and lost to Ok State. I'm not sure how to rank these three teams. My guess is at least one gets in.

I haven't analyzed every team's resume in writing this, but a) I think ND is safe and b) the committee puts in either Oregon and a Big 12 team or two Big 12 teams. This week's ranking will be very telling.

 

[philipm31]

How is it not important? The only way we get into the New Years 6 bowls is if we finish top 11 (with 12th spot going to group of 5 highest rated team).

The reason it is not important is because ND should be unbeaten and #1, not begging for fucking scraps.

NY6 is a massive letdown, especially considering we now have to deal with the crappy ACC tie-ins, which will leave us wanting.

We might as well just drop out of the Top 11 because right now, we are NOT deserving of that ranking.

People thought I was crazy for saying that ND would drop out of the Top 4, which they did, emphatically.

Considering all the teams that will likely move up, over and around ND in the coming week, I do not see ND staying in the Top Ten. Nor do I care, because it is literally playoffs or bust for ND, every single year. It is that simple.

ND was not getting in this year regardless, but it is and should always be the goal. 4 points from an unbeaten season.

And we got outcoached by Dabo and Shaw???? SMH.

 

[Grahambo]

NY6 a massive let down? Alright. I'll simply disagree and say that it's a step in the right direction.

 

[Wingman Ray]

NY6 a massive let down? Alright. I'll simply disagree and say that it's a step in the right direction.

Running out of steps there. Your biggest playmaker on offense is gone next year. Your biggest playmaker on Defense should be gone if he is smart. Your best DL by far is gone. You are replacing your LT, the most important OLman to the pros.

Oh and you are losing clearly the only guy remotely possible of running BVG's crap defense in Joe Schmidt.

 

[Irish YJ]

The reason it is not important is because ND should be unbeaten and #1, not begging for fucking scraps.

NY6 is a massive letdown, especially considering we now have to deal with the crappy ACC tie-ins, which will leave us wanting.

We might as well just drop out of the Top 11 because right now, we are NOT deserving of that ranking.

People thought I was crazy for saying that ND would drop out of the Top 4, which they did, emphatically.

Considering all the teams that will likely move up, over and around ND in the coming week, I do not see ND staying in the Top Ten. Nor do I care, because it is literally playoffs or bust for ND, every single year. It is that simple.

ND was not getting in this year regardless, but it is and should always be the goal. 4 points from an unbeaten season.

And we got outcoached by Dabo and Shaw???? SMH.

One could say we should have lost to VA and never been in the discussion in the first place. Without and almost miracle finish, we would have been begging for NY6 bowl..

 

[kmoose]

Running out of steps there. Your biggest playmaker on offense is gone next year. Your biggest playmaker on Defense should be gone if he is smart. Your best DL by far is gone. You are replacing your LT, the most important OLman to the pros.

Oh and you are losing clearly the only guy remotely possible of running BVG's crap defense in Joe Schmidt.

Lost your best QB (Golson), lost your second best QB (Zaire). Lost your best RB(Folston), lost your second best RB(Bryant). Lost your best DL(Jones).............. might as well toss the season down the drain, right? "Oh, wait.............. they did WHAT!?!?!? Nevermind........"

 

[Cackalacky]

The reason it is not important is because ND should be unbeaten and #1, not begging for fucking scraps.

NY6 is a massive letdown, especially considering we now have to deal with the crappy ACC tie-ins, which will leave us wanting.

We might as well just drop out of the Top 11 because right now, we are NOT deserving of that ranking.

People thought I was crazy for saying that ND would drop out of the Top 4, which they did, emphatically.

Considering all the teams that will likely move up, over and around ND in the coming week, I do not see ND staying in the Top Ten. Nor do I care, because it is literally playoffs or bust for ND, every single year. It is that simple.

ND was not getting in this year regardless, but it is and should always be the goal. 4 points from an unbeaten season.

And we got outcoached by Dabo and Shaw???? SMH.

If you take the hyperbole out of this post you are left with a few facts:

ND exceeded most everyone's expectations this year, especially after the Virginia game. Expectations began to rise after it became clear our backups were mostly ready to play.Saying a NY day bowl game is a massive letdown should not be viewed as such. We have not won a major bowl in over two decades. Overall this was a great season. Team 127 was fantastic and elite offensively.

ND was inexplicably passed by Oklahoma last week and virtually everyone who does not use eye test as deciding factor thought ND clearly had the better resume and a win last night was good enough to stay in the top four.

The expectation of getting to the playoffs every year is a bit much IMO. 10 wins and a premier bowl should be the low end target with being in a position to make the playoffs as a yearly goal. I think the committee has made several unspoken statements on what it is looking for. Unfortunately for ND... 13 games and conferences championships are the top reasons. I still think ND has to be undefeated to not only be in the Top 4 but stay in the Top 4 after everything shakes out in the championship week games.

 

[Irish YJ]

Lost your best QB (Golson), lost your second best QB (Zaire). Lost your best RB(Folston), lost your second best RB(Bryant). Lost your best DL(Jones).............. might as well toss the season down the drain, right? "Oh, wait.............. they did WHAT!?!?!? Nevermind........"

yup,,, smh....
very good year. f'ing fantastic year given all the challenges...
still only a hand full of points from being undefeated hurts. F'ing monsoon... lol

If you take the hyperbole out of this post you are left with a few facts:

ND exceeded most everyone's expectations this year, especially after the Virginia game. Expectations began to rise after it became clear our backups were mostly ready to play.Saying a NY day bowl game is a massive letdown should not be viewed as such. We have not won a major bowl in over two decades. Overall this was a great season. Team 127 was fantastic and elite offensively.

ND was inexplicably passed by Oklahoma last week and virtually everyone who does not use eye test as deciding factor thought ND clearly had the better resume and a win last night was good enough to stay in the top four.

The expectation of getting to the playoffs every year is a bit much IMO. 10 wins and a premier bowl should be the low end target with being in a position to make the playoffs as a yearly goal. I think the committee has made several unspoken statements on what it is looking for. Unfortunately for ND... 13 games and conferences championships are the top reasons. I still think ND has to be undefeated to not only be in the Top 4 but stay in the Top 4 after everything shakes out in the championship week games.

spot on.
wish we could add a 13th game vs. BYU as a 13th game.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Vs FSU, Iowa/MSU or Ohio State in a NY6 bow (Fiesta or Peach) is a very good possibility. Rose picking loser of Big 10 champ or OSU. ND likely to play the other.

Thanks. I have a few friends that are UofM fans on one that's an FSU fan. I'd like to punch them in the throat.

We are affiliated with the ACC bowl tie ins, so not sure we could face FSU.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks

Stay in the top 10???

I really don't think we will be in the top 10.

We will be jumped by OSU, North Carolina, Stanford for what I am figuring.

With the possibility of FSU and or Baylor if they beat Texas.

Are you high? We lost on a last second FG to the #9 team (at the time) who's going to their conference championship game. So if we were #6 and get jumped by 3 possibly 4 teams that would put us at 9 or 10. That would be in the Top 10. As far as Baylor and Texas, that happens after this week's rankings. It irrelevant to this week's top 10.

 

[Irish Insanity]

If favorites hold serve next weekend, this is what the Playoffs and New Years 6 Bowls will look like:

Orange Bowl - Playoff Semifinal
#1 Clemson vs #4 Big Ten Champ (MSU/Iowa)

Cotton Bowl - Playoff Semifinal
#2 Alabama vs #3 Oklahoma

New Years 6 Bowls

Rose Bowl
MSU/Iowa loser* vs Stanford/USC winner
*I think the Rose Bowl could also take Ohio State, which will probably end up ranked ahead of the Big 10 CG loser, but I think the committee is more likely to give them the loser of MSU/Iowa.

That leaves 6 spots for the Fiesta, Sugar and Peach bowls.

1. Highest ranked Group of 5 team - Houston vs Temple winner is in
2. Ohio State or MSU/Iowa loser if Rose selects Ohio State
3. Florida State - will likely finish in top 11
4. Notre Dame - I think we stay in top 11

5 and 6 is where it gets really interesting...
ACC - can UNC stay in top 11, assuming they make it there this week, with a loss to Clemson? Probably not.
Big 10 - three teams already in with MSU/Iowa/OSU. Northwestern has a shot but I think they barely miss the cut. Michigan was eliminated today.
Pac 12 - Oregon will be in the mix. Stanford would probably also be considered if they lose to USC.
SEC - Florida won't end up ranked in top 11 after losing to Alabama. Will Ole Miss make the jump? Maybe, but I think the SEC is more likely than not to get shut out.
Big 12 - Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State finish in a 3-way tie for 2nd place at 10-2. Baylor beat Ok State and lost to TCU. Ok State beat TCU and lost to Baylor. TCU beat Baylor and lost to Ok State. I'm not sure how to rank these three teams. My guess is at least one gets in.

I haven't analyzed every team's resume in writing this, but a) I think ND is safe and b) the committee puts in either Oregon and a Big 12 team or two Big 12 teams. This week's ranking will be very telling.

Great post

 

[Irish Insanity]

Lost your best QB (Golson), lost your second best QB (Zaire). Lost your best RB(Folston), lost your second best RB(Bryant). Lost your best DL(Jones).............. might as well toss the season down the drain, right? "Oh, wait.............. they did WHAT!?!?!? Nevermind........"

Golson wasn't our best QB. He left prior to this season. Bryant left prior to this season.

 

[Grahambo]

Running out of steps there. Your biggest playmaker on offense is gone next year. Your biggest playmaker on Defense should be gone if he is smart. Your best DL by far is gone. You are replacing your LT, the most important OLman to the pros.

Oh and you are losing clearly the only guy remotely possible of running BVG's crap defense in Joe Schmidt.

Fuller said he is returning.

While Jaylon and Sheldon are gone, the team still returns quite a bit of athletic playmakers on defense while adding Jarron Jones and whomever comes in as a frosh. LB corps gets more athletic overall with or without Jaylon. Secondary is a big question mark but honestly, can't get much worse.

Just because Stanley is getting replaced doesn't mean the OL overall is taking a step backwards. I think the Center position will be upgraded with Mustipher coming in. Sure, it'll be tough to replace Stanley but not impossible, just like its as tough to replace Zach Martin but not impossible.

I'm not overly convinced the defense was as complicated as others have made it out to be. It sounds as if it was an excuse to play Joe. Maybe last year it was rough for them but this season? Just not buying it.

 

[yankeehater]

I think ND bailed out the committee and made their lives easy. How would they have explained keeping a won loss ND team out of the playoff? I am not sure what is more difficult for the players losing your shot on a last second FG or having only one loss and being left out by a stupid committee?

 

[IrishinSyria]

Not finishing with one loss also saves ND from having to have a very hard conversation about whether or not it's time to bite the bullet and become full fledged members of the ACC. Most fans hear just chose to ignore it, but the selection committee's mandate is to only put in an independent when they are clearly one of the 4 best teams in the country. As a functional rule, that means a one loss ND should almost never get in to the playoff.

I think it's a very open question if our independence is worth having a heavier burden than most teams in making our case for playoff eligibility.

 

[kmoose]

Golson wasn't our best QB. He left prior to this season. Bryant left prior to this season.

Did you read the post that I quoted? Or are you just taking the opposite stance because it is me? Because the post I quoted talked about all of the talent that is on this team, that will not be here next year. Whether they transfer in the summer or enter the draft, the result is still the same.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Running out of steps there. Your biggest playmaker on offense is gone next year. Your biggest playmaker on Defense should be gone if he is smart. Your best DL by far is gone. You are replacing your LT, the most important OLman to the pros.

Oh and you are losing clearly the only guy remotely possible of running BVG's crap defense in Joe Schmidt.

Fuller said he'd be back so unless that changes I see us being fine, not to mention Hunter, Folston, Procise, and Adams are all back. And you'll have Jarron Jones and an older Tillery. I mean Sheldon Day is a monster but let's not act like there will be no DL left.

Stanley graduating hurts but that OL will be stacked with talent and returns four starters.

We should be better overall at LB as a position group, getting rid of Schimdt is addition by subtraction.

College teams lose good to great players every year. I think ND will be just fine.

 

[kmoose]

College teams lose good to great players every year. I think ND will be just fine.

A great point. Sometimes I wonder if college football message boards are full of teenagers who think that Joe Montana and Dan Marino must have worn leather helmets, they played so long ago.

A lot of people have accused me of thinking I am smarter than everyone else. That's not quite true.....

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SEbwZfkeIt8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'm not any smarter, or dumber, than most people on this board. But what I do have, that is unique, is my perspective. And my perspective has been formed by watching A LOT of college football over the years. I'm not the only one on this board who has spent enough time in front of a college football game that I probably could have built Rome, if I had spent my time differently. But spending that much time watching college football has taught us a thing or two about the sport. Did Oklahoma State cease to exist when Barry Sanders left? Did Auburn, when Bo Jackson left? Did Ohio State, when Archie Griffin left? Did USC cease to exist in the college football world when Todd Marinovich moved on? Did Tennessee when Peyton Manning left? Did Miami when Vinnie Testaverde left? No. And neither will Notre Dame, when Will Fuller, CJ Prosise, DeShone Kizer, Sheldon Day, Jerry Tillery, and Joe Schmidt all move on.

 

[beryirish]

A great point. Sometimes I wonder if college football message boards are full of teenagers who think that Joe Montana and Dan Marino must have worn leather helmets, they played so long ago.

A lot of people have accused me of thinking I am smarter than everyone else. That's not quite true.....

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SEbwZfkeIt8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'm not any smarter, or dumber, than most people on this board. But what I do have, that is unique, is my perspective. And my perspective has been formed by watching A LOT of college football over the years. I'm not the only one on this board who has spent enough time in front of a college football game that I probably could have built Rome, if I had spent my time differently. But spending that much time watching college football has taught us a thing or two about the sport. Did Oklahoma State cease to exist when Barry Sanders left? Did Auburn, when Bo Jackson left? Did Ohio State, when Archie Griffin left? Did USC cease to exist in the college football world when Todd Marinovich moved on? Did Tennessee when Peyton Manning left? Did Miami when Vinnie Testaverde left? No. And neither will Notre Dame, when Will Fuller, CJ Prosise, DeShone Kizer, Sheldon Day, Jerry Tillery, and Joe Schmidt all move on.

Rep but must spread first.

 

[beryirish]

Running out of steps there. Your biggest playmaker on offense is gone next year. Your biggest playmaker on Defense should be gone if he is smart. Your best DL by far is gone. You are replacing your LT, the most important OLman to the pros.

Oh and you are losing clearly the only guy remotely possible of running BVG's crap defense in Joe Schmidt.

I forgot that by losing "5" players your team turns to total shat...

 

[Irish YJ]

I forgot that by losing "5" players your team turns to total shat...

LOL yup.. just like we lost starting 2 QBs (EG, MZ), 3 RBs (TF, GB, CJ), TE, DL, CB, S, etc., etc., and we were 4pts and a few minutes from undefeated... lol....lol....lol...etc., etc., ......

I agree that the D scares me a bit, but the O will be better next year. Just wish we would have played some of the younger guys more on D... Not a big deal though. Thinking we'll be fine.

 

[beryirish]

LOL yup.. just like we lost starting 2 QBs (EG, MZ), 3 RBs (TF, GB, CJ), TE, DL, CB, S, etc., etc., and we were 4pts and a few minutes from undefeated... lol....lol....lol...etc., etc., ......

I agree that the D scares me a bit, but the O will be better next year. Just wish we would have played some of the younger guys more on D... Not a big deal though. Thinking we'll be fine.

I don't feel too worried about the D. Year 3 under BVG.

Isaac Rochell
Jarron Jones
Andrew Trumbetti
Jerry Tillery
Daniel Cage
(reserves one more year of development)

James Onwualu
Nyles Morgan
Jaylon Smith - you never know until he says so
Greer Martini
(sophomore high recruits Barajas, Bilal, Coney -EE)

Cole Luke
Max Redfield
Drue Tranquill...
Kei Russell...........
(One more year of development - Watkins, Crawford, Butler, Coleman)

Then who knows who would come in as a freshman and impress but looking at the returners i'm not worried about it. I'll be more excited to see it.

 

[gkIrish]

I don't feel too worried about the D. Year 3 under BVG.

Isaac Rochell
Jarron Jones
Andrew Trumbetti
Jerry Tillery
Daniel Cage
(reserves one more year of development)

James Onwualu
Nyles Morgan
Jaylon Smith - you never know until he says so
Greer Martini
(sophomore high recruits Barajas, Bilal, Coney -EE)

Cole Luke
Max Redfield
Drue Tranquill...
(One more year of development - Watkins, Crawford, Butler, Coleman)

Then who knows who would come in as a freshman and impress but looking at the returners i'm not worried about it. I'll be more excited to see it.

To me, the bolded is terrifying. If Jaylon doesn't stay, at LB we have one starter returning from injury and 2 guys that could barely see the field over a walk on with inferior talent. Then there are a bunch of unknowns.

In the secondary I like Luke and Max has improved but neither guy is someone I consider an elite defender. I won't believe Tranquill can get through a season without injuries until I see it. The other guys are all unknowns too.

IMO you need an elite defender at each of the three levels and then at least 2 average to above average defenders to field a defense of the caliber we should expect in year 7.

We probably will have an elite guy on the Dline. I don't see it at LB and I definitely don't see it in the secondary. This by itself is not an issue but when most of the guys are not in the "above average category" that spells trouble. I see the defense being just as bad next year unless a new DC comes in and changes things up.

 

[koonja]

I'm not yet convinced going from Jaylon and Schmidt to Coney and Morgan will be a drop off. I also think the DL overall will be better. In 2014 Jarron Jones was better than Sheldon Day IMO. I personally don't think much of Okwara, so basically we're getting everyone a year better if you substitute Jarron in for Jones.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Well if Russell and Smith come back you would have:

DE: Rochell
DT: Tillery
NG: Jones
DE: Trumbetti
SAM: Onwualu
MIKE: Morgan
WILL: Smith
CB: Luke
CB: Russell
S: Redfield
S: Tranquill? Avery?
NB: Crawford


That's a top 25 defense IMO. The offense will be lights out again so they don't need to be elite for ND to be very good. I think it's reasonable to expect them to cut down on the egregious breakdowns they had this year. And if we're being honest, outside of those the defense was fine IMO.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk