Sept 13 | Texas A&M

[NDFAN2008]

Only 10 - 2 teams that got left out last year were Miami and BYU. Both lost twice in three weeks to end the year.

Tennessee was rather easily in with 1 ranked win and a loss at Arkansas.

I know we’re still in downer mode but I highly doubt a 10 - 2 Notre Dame with 10 straight wins gets left out. As long as Miami is ranked high and USC/A&M have pulses, I would expect them to be in.

This is where I'm at granted Clemson won their conference tourney last year, but they had 3 losses, got spanked by Georgia week 1

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Dawson did a good job taking advantage of it w/ his WR. They got our secondary out of position all night w/ change of direction.

Was Knapp the only one struggling w/ humidity/dehydration?

He‘s the only one confirmed but I’d guess others were affected as well……I heard speculation that Aamil Wagner was also struggling with it later in the game. Unfortunately, when the humidity is off the charts along with warm conditions, it’s next to impossible to prevent some dehydration/cramping issue even with state of the art hydration techniques.

 

[stlnd01]

A lot of this can be resolved by beating aTm

Yep. Our chances of making the playoffs at 10-2 depend on so many variables they are hard to predict right now. If we go 11-1 we are a lock. That starts with A&M.

 

[pumpdog20]

Only 10 - 2 teams that got left out last year were Miami and BYU. Both lost twice in three weeks to end the year.

Tennessee was rather easily in with 1 ranked win and a loss at Arkansas.

I know we’re still in downer mode but I highly doubt a 10 - 2 Notre Dame with 10 straight wins gets left out. As long as Miami is ranked high and USC/A&M have pulses, I would expect them to be in.

You're likely right, but the difference with Tennessee was that ranked win over CFP #11 Alabama. That would be hard to have a similar win this year if we lose to Texas A&M. It would all hinge on how good USC is.

 

[Free Manera]

He‘s the only one confirmed but I’d guess others were affected as well……I heard speculation that Aamil Wagner was also struggling with it later in the game. Unfortunately, when the humidity is off the charts along with warm conditions, it’s next to impossible to prevent some dehydration/cramping issue even with state of the art hydration techniques.

It sounded like Knapp was more than just cramping. The sideline reporter was saying he was "overheated" and had ice packs on like 3 different body parts while eating a popsicle. I can't remember what the game time was exactly but I remember thinking "oh shit, already!?"

 

[The Backer]

Right or wrong, the narrative on a 10-2 ND on a 10 game winning streak would be "they came out of the gate slow with a new QB and DC, but they're ready to bear and have deep playoff experience." It'd take a large number of undefeated and/or 1 loss teams to keep that out of the playoffs.

 

[tko]

A&M=First Playoff Game

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

A&M=First Playoff Game

Kinda feels like it. If we win, MIGHT have a little wiggle room at 10-2. But 10-2 with Miami and aTm losses makes me question if our SOS/SOR will stack up well enough against the rest of the field without a CCG data point, when push comes to shove.

And, honestly, if we aren't good enough to beat the Aggies at home, I would question our ability to run the table for the remaining 10 games, anyway (FTR, I absolutely think this roster is good enough go 11-1).

USC might be good when the dust settles but I doubt it. Boise looked like ass. Might be our only chance at a "quality" dub.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Sampson made a good point yesterday, that if we lose to A&M, that you are out of the national media discussion until at least November. This happened to some degree last year after NIU. After the media was done taking their shots the week after, ND was out of the national discussion until at least Navy, almost 2 months.

To me, it kills any juice the program had and likely eliminates the benefit of the doubt earned last year.

This is a huge game and ND can't afford to lose this one, even if they rattle off 10 straight after it.

 

[HouseofPain]

Yes if ND loses to A&M, you really need to be thinking bowl game. And you really need to question what direction the program is going. Last year brought a lot of ND attention. Mostly because ND really beat the odds time and time again. Miami is a good, not great team. For NDs OL and defense, two units that were supposed to be advanced, struggle so much against Miami really makes you question what is going on.

 

[dublinirish]

Yes if ND loses to A&M, you really need to be thinking bowl game. And you really need to question what direction the program is going. Last year brought a lot of ND attention. Mostly because ND really beat the odds time and time again. Miami is a good, not great team. For NDs OL and defense, two units that were supposed to be advanced, struggle so much against Miami really makes you question what is going on.

A 3 pt loss on the road to a top 10 team shouldnt have yall circling the drain like this

 

[Katzenboyer]

Yes if ND loses to A&M, you really need to be thinking bowl game. And you really need to question what direction the program is going. Last year brought a lot of ND attention. Mostly because ND really beat the odds time and time again. Miami is a good, not great team. For NDs OL and defense, two units that were supposed to be advanced, struggle so much against Miami really makes you question what is going on.

Come on man. We went to the national championship game last year, recruiting has never been better, Freeman has shown real growth in the role - not only as a coach, but as a person and a representative to ND - and the program's vibes haven't been higher since the Holtz years.

That goes out the window and raises questions about the direction of the program if we struggle out of the gate against two Top 15 teams? Seriously?

 

[Dale]

Sampson made a good point yesterday, that if we lose to A&M, that you are out of the national media discussion until at least November. This happened to some degree last year after NIU. After the media was done taking their shots the week after, ND was out of the national discussion until at least Navy, almost 2 months.

To me, it kills any juice the program had and likely eliminates the benefit of the doubt earned last year.

This is a huge game and ND can't afford to lose this one, even if they rattle off 10 straight after it.

This isn’t true. The Louisville game was a Top 20 game on NBC. Georgia Tech was a 2 loss team on ESPN that a ton had us on upset alert. Even the Purdue game was on CBS and got bet down to 7 pt favorites.

I’m also not sure how he came up with November when USC is mid October. That would be the absolute latest

Reality is ND is never out of the national spotlight

 

[zelezo vlk]

A 3 pt loss on the road to a top 10 team shouldnt have yall circling the drain like this

We are a website of bedwetters, man.

 

[Dale]

We are a website of bedwetters, man.

The Miami game was basically the PSU game except Beck isn’t a idiot like Drew Allar and people act like this game was an insult to the Notre Dame name and that game is an all time memory lol

 

[zelezo vlk]

The Miami game was basically the PSU game except Beck isn’t a idiot like Drew Allar and people act like this game was an insult to the Notre Dame name and that game is an all time memory lol

Great point. Ultimately most sports fans have an astounding lack of context. Things that are utterly beyond the pale and a sign of the apocalypse for their program are actually pretty common. It's one reason why I enjoy reading the Rakes Report. It's pretty easy to see that every time struggles

 

[notredomer23]

The Miami game was basically the PSU game except Beck isn’t a idiot like Drew Allar and people act like this game was an insult to the Notre Dame name and that game is an all time memory lol

Thank God we only have to bed wet until September 13th rather than all offseason like PSU.

 

[Free Manera]

The season isn't lost with a TAMU loss and there is nothing inherently catastrophic about it. But it could make holding onto all the difference makers in this recruiting class harder. And it's already gonna be hard.

 

[SDIrishFan]

This isn’t true. The Louisville game was a Top 20 game on NBC. Georgia Tech was a 2 loss team on ESPN that a ton had us on upset alert. Even the Purdue game was on CBS and got bet down to 7 pt favorites.

I’m also not sure how he came up with November when USC is mid October. That would be the absolute latest

Reality is ND is never out of the national spotlight

Agree to disagree. It was something I noticed last year and can see it happening this year if we have to 0-2.

And if ND and USC are both say 4-2, or similar, that’s not a national interest game.

 

[Dizzyphil]

The season isn't lost with a TAMU loss and there is nothing inherently catastrophic about it. But it could make holding onto all the difference makers in this recruiting class harder. And it's already gonna be hard.

No it's not. I see a lot of parity based on week one. But MF needs to lean on the staff And get 'things' right

 

[stlnd01]

It would be better to beat A&M, compared with losing to them. In this I am confident.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

It would be better to beat A&M, compared with losing to them. In this I am confident.

 

[Irish4life]

A 3 pt loss on the road to a top 10 team shouldnt have yall circling the drain like this

Things have been going to well, they were gonna come out in full force at the first shred of adversity

 

[NotKoon]

A 3 pt loss on the road to a top 10 team shouldnt have yall circling the drain like this

Truly I think CFB fans brains (mine included to a degree) have not yet fully adapted to the 12 team playoff and what a loss now means, as opposed to what it used to mean

 

[IrishWayDomer]

Truly I think CFB fans brains (mine included to a degree) have not yet fully adapted to the 12 team playoff and what a loss now means, as opposed to what it used to mean

I'm more specific. My fear is not making the playoffs, my fear is limping into the playoffs, playing another juggernaut in round 1, missing out on home field and/or BYE.

With this new layout, overtime, the teams with the BYEs are going to show a massive win % in playoffs (seeding and removal of game).

 

[Dizzyphil]

Truly I think CFB fans brains (mine included to a degree) have not yet fully adapted to the 12 team playoff and what a loss now means, as opposed to what it used to mean

Better now than October

 

[PutuporShutup]

The Miami game was basically the PSU game except Beck isn’t a idiot like Drew Allar and people act like this game was an insult to the Notre Dame name and that game is an all time memory lol

Except ND was supposed to be improved pretty much everywhere except safety due to all the injuries we had leading into and during the psu game. The issue is we weren’t better at all and probably even worse in the trenches, and like psu we had a poor offensive game plan first half.

Psu and osu lines owned us and you’d think we’d have put focus on not letting that happen our next game

 

[mrmcgrail]

I don't know why people think this is the year? We are very similar to last year's team with a harder schedule. We have no rg right now. Xavier Watts was a two time all American and to be honest if he plays in that game we probably win. We have a new dc. We have rs freshman QB. The defensive line is weaker than last year. We beat Georgia and should have lost to PSU. We are close but we aren't some world beater. We are young in some positions and next year is the year I think they can win it all.

 

[Dale]

Except ND was supposed to be improved pretty much everywhere except safety due to all the injuries we had leading into and during the psu game. The issue is we weren’t better at all and probably even worse in the trenches, and like psu we had a poor offensive game plan first half.

Psu and osu lines owned us and you’d think we’d have put focus on not letting that happen our next game

It is possible more than just Notre Dame could have gotten improved in the off-season.

You’re also comparing January 2024 ND to August 2025 ND. Check back in January where this team is.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

I don't know why people think this is the year? We are very similar to last year's team with a harder schedule. We have no rg right now. Xavier Watts was a two time all American and to be honest if he plays in that game we probably win. We have a new dc. We have rs freshman QB. The defensive line is weaker than last year. We beat Georgia and should have lost to PSU. We are close but we aren't some world beater. We are young in some positions and next year is the year I think they can win it all.

Currently seniors we will lose: JD Price, Malachi Fields, Eli Raridon, Gabriel Rubio, Jared Dawson, Jason Onye, Junior T, Botehlo, Stroman, Pauling, DeVonta Smith.

Underclassman likely gone: Jeremiyah Love, Jalen Sneed, Billy Schrauth?

I'm not sure next year is the year. This team has more talent and upperclassmen.