Jan 20 | National Championship

[Dizzyphil]

In a unique bit of symmetry, Notre Dame just finished beating the Big 10 runner-up and the SEC champion while Ohio State just finished beating the SEC runner-up and the Big 10 champion.

yep... I believe this makes for a game that the Irish can truly shine because the B1G > SEC this year... and the Irish have beat both with less (injuries).

 

[NDPhilly]

Don't think I truly appreciated the talent level of this OSU defense until I went through the depth chart. All starters going to be drafted, all upperclassmen (except Caleb Downs), and ZERO injuries to starters.

I mean 9-10 guys could get drafted in May on defense alone. Really seems like the year for them, not that they won't win 10 games next year - but they are going to have a ton of turnover.

Michigan really fucked us by ensuring all these guys came back last year after the 2023 loss, and again by lighting a fire under their ass at the end of the 2024 season.

 

[SDIrishFan]

You forgot:
Behind the dumpster at Wendy's...

Hey, $20 bucks is $20 bucks…

 

[GATTACA!]

We just have to sustain their early punch. If we can get to the half even or down 1 score I believe our guys can win a rock fight against anyone.

 

[IrishTusker]

Right, OSU's NIL payroll is mostly about retaining players who might have gone to the NFL. So their defense is very experienced. It's also possible that even if OSU beats Michigan last year, they lose to Alabama or something and the players still come back. NIL obviously played a big role in that.

 

[Dale]

ND hasn't been held under a 100 all year and OSU has given up 100 plus against a majority of their games against P4 opponents. And I'm not sure they've played a single game against a running QB like Leonard.

Iowa, Nebraska and Penn State all went over 100. Oregon reg season and TN in playoffs were over 150, and Michigan was close to 200. Purdue and IU ran for over 100 on them, if you remove sacks. IU ran for nearly 150 if you remove sacks and that punt bock which was a combined -60 yards.

They rarely rotate their front 7 and will keep starters on the field even if they're dragging feet with hands on hips. Rewatch 4th quarter of Michigan game and take a look at their defense - dog tired, standing straight up, getting their asses kicked and they stay on the field.

If ND keeps it close, they'll do the same and we'll rip off chunk yardage runs.

So Bilbo expects us to be one of the weaker run games OSU has faced this season. Got it lol.

 

[Gladiator]

Lou Holtz- KSU CAREER: Earned a Varsity “K” as a linebacker on the Golden Flash grid squad in 1957

Marcus Freeman- Ohio State U. Third year as the starter at will linebacker in 2007. Was an exciting linebacker whose play had helped turn a young Ohio State defense from a question mark to one of the best in the country, equally very talented in coming forward to stop the run and dropping into pass coverage.

-Last Coach to win the Ship in 1988 was Lou Holtz. A lot of people don't know he was a great linebacker at Kent St. In Ohio

I believe that our coach, that was a linebacker in Ohio will bring us the Ship and get that #1 status.
Marcus Freeman Is our next coach to win it all, irregardless of the year It happens.
I pray for this year.

 

[BabyIrish]

ND doesn’t need to beat OSU.
OSU needs to beat us.
Go Irish!

 

[Irish#1]

We just have to sustain their early punch. If we can get to the half even or down 1 score I believe our guys can win a rock fight against anyone.

IMO the best thing would be to keep them out of the end zone on the opening drive.

 

[IrishLion]

IMO the best thing would be to keep them out of the end zone on the opening drive.

Basically been the recipe since ND started their run.

Defer the choice. Don’t give up an opening-drive score. Run the ball. Win the middle eight. Convert efficient 3rd downs in the second half.

 

[T-Boone]

I'll look this up but does anyone recall if Michigan had WIll Johnson locking down Smith when they beat them or was he already out injured?
Edit: no Johnson was out against OSU so not sure who was on Smith.

 

[Irish#1]

I said at the beginning of the playoffs that if ND didn't have the defensive injuries and the NFL OTs stayed another year, then they could go toe-to-toe with anyone.

But you go to war with the army you have. Unless Chip Kelly overthinks this, OSU should score 30. ND is banged up on the DL and will have to compensate with bringing LBs up, and even that didn't work against PSU. The prospect of being depleted in the front seven *and* playing man coverage against the best WR corp in the country. I dunno, but this looks like a pick your poison game.

Defensively, OSU may be the most complete defense in the country. Love probably is not going to house one against them. The running game might not break 100. Leonard will have to earn every inch, again. And the ND WR corp, while upgraded from abysmal to mediocre, is probably going to have to do the unthinkable: be good. I just don't see it.

Hate to say it but I could see Ohio State winning by as much as they throttled Oregon or Tennessee. I wish ND was healthy.

I take it you won’t bother to watch the game? Lol

Texas proved OSU isn’t invincible. That game
came down to Sark making a terrible call going with a pitch. That forced them to pass and suffer the strip. Don’t get me wrong, this won’t be easy, but given The makeup of our Irish I don’t see this being a blowout.

 

[Gladiator]

I said at the beginning of the playoffs that if ND didn't have the defensive injuries and the NFL OTs stayed another year, then they could go toe-to-toe with anyone.

But you go to war with the army you have. Unless Chip Kelly overthinks this, OSU should score 30. ND is banged up on the DL and will have to compensate with bringing LBs up, and even that didn't work against PSU. The prospect of being depleted in the front seven *and* playing man coverage against the best WR corp in the country. I dunno, but this looks like a pick your poison game.

Defensively, OSU may be the most complete defense in the country. Love probably is not going to house one against them. The running game might not break 100. Leonard will have to earn every inch, again. And the ND WR corp, while upgraded from abysmal to mediocre, is probably going to have to do the unthinkable: be good. I just don't see it.

Hate to say it but I could see Ohio State winning by as much as they throttled Oregon or Tennessee. I wish ND was healthy.

You're right. This Is war. We got this. It's not gonna be easy, but what is, In this life.
I would offer 1 suggestion. No big posts from ND fans that claim we're better. We're not at a skill level, but we can win this, from heart alone.
We are the under. We need all the piss and shit OSU throws at us, and I hope Coach Day throws some shade at MF in their presser.

Screw OSU and their nasty campus.

 

[Gladiator]

Don’t ever compare Notre Dame to the Cubs and expect me to accept that analogy.

That's actually a good analogy. The Cubs were'nt the most talented team that year. They won because of their grit and heart.

 

[Gladiator]

Anyone see Day prance down the sidelines on that fumble return? Does their coach running like a woman have any implications on this game?

He does look like a man trying too hard to be apart of a team, that lets his coordinators coach up. He just has a fake part about himself. I can't put my finger on It.
Chip Kelly will be the next OSU coach at some point.

 

[OhioIrish]

Don't think I truly appreciated the talent level of this OSU defense until I went through the depth chart. All starters going to be drafted, all upperclassmen (except Caleb Downs), and ZERO injuries to starters.

I mean 9-10 guys could get drafted in May on defense alone. Really seems like the year for them, not that they won't win 10 games next year - but they are going to have a ton of turnover.

Michigan really fucked us by ensuring all these guys came back last year after the 2023 loss, and again by lighting a fire under their ass at the end of the 2024 season.

View attachment 3057853

It’s a really good defense, but not a ton of truly elite talent — Caleb Downs is about it. This chart would look the same for us absent injuries. Their defense reminds me a lot of the ND 2012 defense — a lot a really veteran college players with a couple of stars sprinkled in. Its certainly impressive, but not intimidating.

 

[Guyjin37]

He does look like a man trying too hard to be apart of a team, that lets his coordinators coach up. He just has a fake part about himself. I can't put my finger on It.

Lou Holtz summarized that quality perfectly, I believe.

 

[LifelongFan]

No team that lost two games is unbeatable. Let's get this chip.

 

[Islandboi]

Damn. I love this. This team is locked in. They not only believe in this institution. But they're fighting for their brothers. We will fight for each other. Let's fucking go. Keep disrespecting this team.

ND's motto should be. BEAT ME IF YOU CAN. SURVIVE IF I LET YOU. LFG

 

[Islandboi]

Damn. I love this. I love how no one is giving us a chance. This team is locked in. They not only believe in this institution. But they're fighting for their brothers. We will fight for each other. Let's fucking go. Keep disrespecting this team.

ND's motto should be. BEAT ME IF YOU CAN. SURVIVE IF I LET YOU. LFG

 

[KMac151993]

I can hear the ghost of Charlie Jones now...

"3 seconds left. National title on the line for Ohio State, it is also there for Notre Dame. It is within the grasp of either ball club.....knocked away, Xavier Watts. Notre Dame wins. 31-24. The ghost of Knute Rockne is living and he is smiling."

 

[Henges24]

Anyone see Day prance down the sidelines on that fumble return? Does their coach running like a woman have any implications on this game?

 

[DCK_1981]

I'll look this up but does anyone recall if Michigan had WIll Johnson locking down Smith when they beat them or was he already out injured?
Edit: no Johnson was out against OSU so not sure who was on Smith.

Johnson didn’t even play that game which makes it all the more inexplicable.

 

[BoredIrish]

When ND wins the championship, Shane Gillis needs to be on stage.

 

[zelezo vlk]

When ND wins the championship, Shane Gillis needs to be on stage.

Dude will absolutely not be sober enough to stand on that stage.

 

[SDIrishFan]

When ND wins the championship, Shane Gillis needs to be on stage.

My guess is Saban will refuse to let him back.

 

[Gladiator]

Dude will absolutely not be sober enough to stand on that stage.

Bud light isn't enough to get drunk, once you're Shane's age.
If he starts taking shots, Look out. Beer is for alcoholics that don't want to get drunk. Some beer addicts, think that's the drunk they need.
When love Is all ya need.
It's a sober mans drink once you hit that point.

 

[MacIrish75]

Bud light isn't enough to get drunk, once you're Shane's age.
If he starts taking shots, Look out. Beer is for alcoholics that don't want to get drunk. Some beer addicts, think that's the drunk they need.
When love Is all ya need.
It's a sober mans drink once you hit that point.

 

[Gladiator]

Go ND. Gillis is a great dude to carry the brand

 

[Pointman02]

I’ve read several people, including sports media personalities, observe that both these teams would have been left out of the CFP in the 4 team playoff. While impossible to prove the hypothetical, I’m almost certain that the committee’s approach in all previous years would have resulted in ND at 3 or 4. This year, they for the first time went out of their way not to “punish” CCG losers, but in the old system ND would have jumped at least one of Texas and PSU.