2026 ND Portal Targets

FightingIrishLover7

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Freeman and Co waiting for their visitors to show up this week
 

Rocketman84

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The one still playing, respectfully.

Yes their rosters are different. ND does not need to hit the portal as hard as IU and has to spend more to retain their guys, this is all true.

For as much as this board loves talking culture, not retaining guys like Coogan and Burnham is a bigger deal than many want to admit. Those are guys who provide quality depth and bring really valuable experience for a program like IU.

Their recruiting philosophy is a lot less about stars and rankings and a lot more about traits and tendencies. There is a competition at every position group every year for IU and that's how Cig runs his program. It's not the only way to run a program, but it's working pretty well.
We have the better roster but it's no way around it, a "silly" game plan cost us the first game of the year and a "no-call" at the end of the next game cost us A&M. I believe we were about 3 plays away from playing in another title game this year, difference is I believe we would've had a better than 50% chance to win this time.
 

Rocketman84

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Yeah, but Indiana HAS to do that. Their current roster has 3 homegrown blue-chips on it, and they're only adding 2 from their 22 man '26 class.

ND has 58. As well as another 20 from their 28 man class.
Agreed but if we keep whiffing on "quality" depth at a key position such as DL in recruiting then the portal is where you can make up for it in a pinch.
 

rtrn2glory

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How do you figure? Cal and ND have little in common. If he wants to be at Cal to the extent he isn't even visiting ND, odds are pretty good he wasn't very interested in ND in the first place.
These dudes are super impressionable and not willing to lose the bird in the hand. I'm guessing every time they are made an offer these POS agents get involved and make us promise to beat the offer or they're not visiting. Right now it appears ND is saying fuck you to that theory. Personally I feel like if they had first crack it would pay off better for us to allow the kids to see the big picture. When were second to the table we lose that chance.
 

calvegas04

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Too late to cancel the new football facilities? Won't have any players to fill it
 

IrishTusker

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The season from hell continues. Only half joking tbh

Maybe this is a case where the loss of Bowden hurt us. Doesn't seem that the program knows what is going on
 

emaugust

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I wonder if our lack of a post season this year is being used to counter-program against us. I know this is business now, but is it possible some kids don't want to go to a program whom many of their peers, many in the media, and assuredly many behind the scenes are clowning on. Whether it be join a conference, or we are soft for taking our ball and going home for bowl season.

I don't believe those things but it feels naive to think neutrals across the nation aren't hearing it.
 

IrishTusker

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I wonder if our lack of a post season this year is being used to counter-program against us. I know this is business now, but is it possible some kids don't want to go to a program who many of their peers, many in the media, and assuredly many behind the scenes are clowning on. Whether it be join a conference, or we are soft for taking our ball and going home for bowl season.

I don't believe those things but it feels naive to think neutrals across the nation aren't hearing it.
So they're picking Cal in response?
 

rtrn2glory

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We didn't tamper very well this cycle.... Lesson learned hopefully. Obviously Martin thought the NCAA has a sack comparable to the NFL and nobody told him otherwise
 
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