2025 College Football Playoffs

[ulukinatme]

Facts for those Miami fans that say "ND couldn't play an ACC schedule." You'd think they were trolling, but they were not.

 

[MrNimbus]

Facts for those Miami fans that say "ND couldn't play an ACC schedule." You'd think they were trolling, but they were not.

Also a fun fact: ND and Miami are both 0-1 in the acc title game since 2005. Only difference is they're eligible every year. Lol.

 

[Ndaccountant]

One thing that I think the committee could be taking into account is how flukey the loss to aTm was. Almost like 2 loss with an asterisk.

 

[MNIrishman]

One thing that I think the committee could be taking into account is how flukey the loss to aTm was. Almost like 2 loss with an asterisk.

"Flukey" is a funny word for "suspiciously missed holding on 4th and 11"

 

[NorthDakota]

Texas Tech is a good team.

Texas Tech is also delusional.

Lord of delusional fans in football rn

 

[rtrn2glory]

Tech is solid on defensei think that gives them a chance..

 

[IrishLax]

TT fans this year remind me a bit of ND fans in 2012 in that there is a general sense of naivety and overconfidence that has formed around them and I think their bubble will be burst hard in the postseason.

much like Indiana fans last year too

 

[stlnd01]

Lord of delusional fans in football rn

The Cinderella stories like Ga. Tech and Vandy, and the transfer-fueled out-of-nowhere teams like Texas Tech and Indiana, make for great stories - and high hopes - in October and November. In December and January the teams that are loaded with experienced talent (and the stud players who many of the transfers were stuck behind) will win out.

 

[MacIrish75]

Anyone that thought NIL, the CFP, and the loss of “tradition” would kill college football got it woefully wrong. Sure, the nostalgia for old rivalries is always going to sting a bit…

…but there’s more juice in the sport now than there has been in my 38 years.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I cannot wait until Tech gets fucking stomped. They think they are an elite team because they plow the B12. Please don't give them a first round bye. Let them see how the competition ratchets up a few notches when you start playing the best teams.

They need a rapid fall back to earth.

 

[BabyIrish]

Texas Tech's defense is very good. I would discount them so easily.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Texas Tech's defense is very good. I would discount them so easily.

I can read charts and rankings as well. I don't disagree. I think they will have a tougher time trading blows with the big boys. Their defense does look excellent but what happens when they run into a team with equally strong lines? With players that make plays despite good coverage? How will they respond if they go down 2 scores? I don't think they have the offense to match any of the top teams. They can suppress points but the top 15 teams can all do that to varying degrees.

Sadly, Notre Dame's field goal unit is going to be tested and I'm not confident it'll pass. And that will be important in some of the bigger games where ND can't convert their short yardage plays.

 

[BabyIrish]

My point is I would not characterize them as this year's Indiana. They are much better than that. But I agree, the playoffs are an altogether different matter. I also agree about their offense.

 

[GowerND11]

Anyone that thought NIL, the CFP, and the loss of “tradition” would kill college football got it woefully wrong. Sure, the nostalgia for old rivalries is always going to sting a bit…

…but there’s more juice in the sport now than there has been in my 38 years.

No. I wasn't wrong. It killed what college football was. That doesn't mean it's less entertaining, but it did ruin what made college football "special" to a lot of us.

 

[DillonHall]

I can read charts and rankings as well. I don't disagree. I think they will have a tougher time trading blows with the big boys. Their defense does look excellent but what happens when they run into a team with equally strong lines? With players that make plays despite good coverage? How will they respond if they go down 2 scores? I don't think they have the offense to match any of the top teams. They can suppress points but the top 15 teams can all do that to varying degrees.

Sadly, Notre Dame's field goal unit is going to be tested and I'm not confident it'll pass. And that will be important in some of the bigger games where ND can't convert their short yardage plays.

That's probably what 90% of college football fans said about ND last year

 

[rtrn2glory]

Anyone that thought NIL, the CFP, and the loss of “tradition” would kill college football got it woefully wrong. Sure, the nostalgia for old rivalries is always going to sting a bit…

…but there’s more juice in the sport now than there has been in my 38 years.

yep. 100%

would have preferred that they had a better plan for the NIL, but the CFP is about 15-20 years overdue. Honestly, wouldn't be mad if they did away with bowl games and just did a format closer to the FCS and D2. Eliminates the worry of players sitting out.

 

[FOTY977]

My point is I would not characterize them as this year's Indiana. They are much better than that. But I agree, the playoffs are an altogether different matter. I also agree about their offense.

They remind me a bit of ND in 2018 in that respect. Top end talent and depth wrote the end of that journey, too.

 

[IrishLax]

I can read charts and rankings as well. I don't disagree. I think they will have a tougher time trading blows with the big boys. Their defense does look excellent but what happens when they run into a team with equally strong lines? With players that make plays despite good coverage? How will they respond if they go down 2 scores? I don't think they have the offense to match any of the top teams. They can suppress points but the top 15 teams can all do that to varying degrees.

Sadly, Notre Dame's field goal unit is going to be tested and I'm not confident it'll pass. And that will be important in some of the bigger games where ND can't convert their short yardage plays.

I feel like the best way to look at TT is to compare them to Ohio State. Ohio State has an even better defense and then has unicorn WRs on the outside that no one can cover.

If Ohio State played Texas Texh does anyone really think they'd keep the score within 10 points? I don't. So I can see TT making some noise but absolutely cannot see them winning a championship unless someone takes out the Ohio States + Georgias of the world for them.

 

[tussin]

Anyone that thought NIL, the CFP, and the loss of “tradition” would kill college football got it woefully wrong. Sure, the nostalgia for old rivalries is always going to sting a bit…

…but there’s more juice in the sport now than there has been in my 38 years.

You're only loving it because ND is an elite program again.

They should have found a way to get to where we are now on NIL and the CFP without all the terrible realignment that has killed rivalries and disappointed fans.

 

[stlnd01]

You're only loving it because ND is an elite program again.

They should have found a way to get to where we are now on NIL and the CFP without all the terrible realignment that has killed rivalries and disappointed fans.

The expanded CFP has been a boon for college football. So many more fan bases are engaged for so much longer. Just two years ago our season would have been over on Sept. 14. But now we're still dreaming of a natty.

NIL is ultimately harmless, and given all the money sloshing around the sport, why shouldn't players get a piece?

The wide open transfer portal is more of a mixed bag. It can basically destroy a program, or create one overnight. I think it leads (some) players to pursue short-term gratification, to the detriment of their development (and perhaps their education). But, it has enabled far more parity, which is fun.

Conference consolidation/realignment just sucks. A pure money grab that ultimately brings nothing good to the sport and especially to its fans. I agree with those who think we'll have a 32 or 64-team football-only mega-conference within, probably, a decade. And that'll be fine.

 

[DillonHall]

You're only loving it because ND is an elite program again.

They should have found a way to get to where we are now on NIL and the CFP without all the terrible realignment that has killed rivalries and disappointed fans.

I'd rather have 20 teams playing meaningful games in November than old rivalries

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Tech is not significantly better than last year's Indiana. They are very similar actually in advanced metrics. You could argue they are marginally better but they are in the same tier of "playoff contenders but not serious title contenders."

 

[greyhammer90]

If conference realignment hadn't changed since 2015 and we had this post season/NIL structure the sport might have been basically perfect.

 

[thekid33]

If conference realignment hadn't changed since 2015 and we had this post season/NIL structure the sport might have been basically perfect.

This.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

95 - that would get them to averaging exactly 40 ppg


Fan Duel had the hypothetical line at ND -3.5 last night.

LOL

NOTRE DAME DOESN'T BELONG!!

Favored on the road in Norman

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Group of 5 representative needs to have some parameters around it, like needing to be ranked in top 20. Boise was a unique G5 representative last year, masking some of the wide gaps in talent inherent in the system.

 

[BabyIrish]

Tech is not significantly better than last year's Indiana. They are very similar actually in advanced metrics. You could argue they are marginally better but they are in the same tier of "playoff contenders but not serious title contenders."

I disagree with the metrics. There are pundits out there that believe Tech has the best d line in all of a college football. No one made that argument for Indiana last year.

 

[IrishLax]

We are at a point where it might actually be best to completely blow up the conferences, create a 32 team super league where everyone is independent (or maybe you do 8 team divisions with 5 games of scheduling freedom), and host a 16 team playoff for that group. Because I actually sympathize with the SEC/Big Ten that it is definitely not "apples to apples" trying to compete to Big 12 or ACC teams. The idea that Oregon could get left out if they lose to USC but BYU (who is ass) and Georgia Tech, UVA, Pitt all have clear paths is crazy. 12 is too few of a number in the new era of parity where you are giving away autobids to unworthy G5 and ACC teams.

EDIT: Who says no to this? Top 4 teams from each division go to playoffs, no OOC games factor into standings so you can play as many tough games as you want without consequence. 9 teams each division for 8 round robin games.

WEST
USC
Oregon
Washington
Utah
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Colorado
UCLA

MIDWEST
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Michigan
Nebraska
Indiana
Minnesota
Iowa
Illinois
Michigan State

SOUTHEAST
Bama
LSU
Florida
Georgia
Tennessee
Ole Miss
Arkansas
Missouri
Kentucky

EAST
Penn State
Clemson
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia Tech
Florida State
Miami
Pitt
Maryland

 

[NDRock]

We are at a point where it might actually be best to completely blow up the conferences, create a 32 team super league where everyone is independent (or maybe you do 8 team divisions with 5 games of scheduling freedom), and host a 16 team playoff for that group. Because I actually sympathize with the SEC/Big Ten that it is definitely not "apples to apples" trying to compete to Big 12 or ACC teams. The idea that Oregon could get left out if they lose to USC but BYU (who is ass) and Georgia Tech, UVA, Pitt all have clear paths is crazy. 12 is too few of a number in the new era of parity where you are giving away autobids to unworthy G5 and ACC teams.

I really don’t want a mini NFL to be honest. If they were to “blow it up” I’d prefer a different route that’s distinct from the NFL.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I disagree with the metrics. There are pundits out there that believe Tech has the best d line in all of a college football. No one made that argument for Indiana last year.

So you think they are a title contender?