MSU Postgame

IrishLax · 2026-09-19T22:41:41-0400

1. The defense is good enough that you can kinda play like shit in other areas and still be very likely to win because it's unlikely that the opponent will get to 21+... biggest issues they seem to have through a quarter of the season seem to be occasional coverage busts and handling misdirection, but overall it's hard to find a better group in all of college football.

2. I feel good about my hot takes post-Wisconsin that Gilbert looked the part despite not really getting many targets / opportunities. We clearly have two dudes you can trust now to be playmakers, but they gotta figure out why the slot WR is just a total non factor in the offense right now.

3. Nolan James has got to be the guy. They also gotta figure out scheme and the run blocking. It's a whole unit failure right now.

NDPhilly · 2026-09-19T22:43:35-0400

CJ Carr is so so good

Some Irish Bloke · 2026-09-19T22:44:13-0400

Holy shit this game got played!

TALICH is a dude. Micah is a dude. Nolan might supplant Williams. Fuck Sparty.

Not pretty, but 3-0.

IrishinSyria · 2026-09-19T22:44:15-0400

I think this was good for the team. Showed they can win a slugfest.

RudyVerse · 2026-09-19T22:44:29-0400

No injuries!

MacIrish75 · 2026-09-19T22:44:31-0400

All I’ve got: If this is our OL going forward, then Nolan James is your starting RB.

Got the dub.

Onto Purdue.

notredomer23 · 2026-09-19T22:45:57-0400

A bit frustrating of a game but I think two significant season long developments occurred tonight

Micah Gilbert coming out party gives ND a 1 2 punch with Faison they haven’t had at the position in years
Nolan James is clear RB1 going forward.

Silentkaw · 2026-09-19T22:46:01-0400

If Denbrock’s running game needs Price or Love to be successful then it isn’t good enough. Get out of the fricking shotgun and run the ball like a real team.

Dizzyphil · 2026-09-19T22:46:15-0400

looking at the rest of the NCAAF field... I'm content with this 'three-possession' win!!!!

ACamp1900 · 2026-09-19T22:46:40-0400

I turned it to the stupid freshwater bowl and immediately cannot believe how much louder it is,… for all the ND stadium regulars,… is it NBC or does our environment just lag behind that much?

Tejas · 2026-09-19T22:47:15-0400

it was the best of time it was the bester of times

GowerND11 · 2026-09-19T22:47:17-0400

Bit of a BK never a doubt but uncomfortable type win.

Gotta figure out the run game. Free defenders are just bum rushing through the hole. Are we tipping stuff off? Are we just doing too much to try to run?

Maybe just do the Jack Coan experiment this year and become an “Air Raid” lite team. Idk

dang227 · 2026-09-19T22:47:21-0400

NBC mutes the crowd like assholes

jerseyborn1971 · 2026-09-19T22:47:25-0400

Run game will get better once he stops trying to make it a RB by committee like they had with Love and Price. NJJ is the RB. Williams or Walton can come in to give him a rest, but no more alternating series.

402puck · 2026-09-19T22:47:26-0400

Nolan James RB1, get Walton ready to be RB2 going forward, they’ve found something with James

Somebody for the love of god get Freeman some help in game management. I get going for the FG early, but then going for the fake punt on 4th and 15 makes zero sense after that, and neither does kicking a FG up 3 possessions where best case scenario you make it and are up….3 possessions still. I love that he’s aggressive but it has to be done right and he continues to struggle making in game decisions on management.

WRs are legit, Gilbert, Graham and Faison is going to be a problem going forward

3 total 2nd half points thru 3 games, 0 in games 2 and 3 combined, the defense is everything that was promised and then some…and doing it without Tae Johnson

Onto a Purdue splattering

FOTY977 · 2026-09-19T22:47:28-0400

ACamp1900 said:
I turned it to the stupid freshwater bowl and immediately cannot believe how much louder it is,… for all the ND stadium regulars,… is it NBC or does our environment just lag behind that much?

It’s NBC

ACamp1900 · 2026-09-19T22:47:43-0400

Dizzyphil said:
looking at the rest of the NCAAF field... I'm content with this 'three-possession' win!!!!

We may need another level to beat OSU or UGA but we can beat anyone else right now,… and we have a bit of time to get to that next level

sfk324 · 2026-09-19T22:48:12-0400

ACamp1900 said:
I turned it to the stupid freshwater bowl and immediately cannot believe how much louder it is,… for all the ND stadium regulars,… is it NBC or does our environment just lag behind that much?

¿Por qué no los dos?

jerseyborn1971 · 2026-09-19T22:48:30-0400

Defense has given up 2 touchdowns in 12 quarters.

TNUtoNotreDame · 2026-09-19T22:48:45-0400

Gilbert, great game

GowerND11 · 2026-09-19T22:48:49-0400

402puck said:
Nolan James RB1, get Walton ready to be RB2 going forward, they’ve found something with James

Somebody for the love of god get Freeman some help in game management. I get going for the FG early, but then going for the fake punt on 4th and 15 makes zero sense after that, and neither does kicking a FG up 3 possessions where best case scenario you make it and are up….3 possessions still. I love that he’s aggressive but it has to be done right and he continues to struggle making in game decisions on management.

WRs are legit, Gilbert, Graham and Faison is going to be a problem going forward

3 total 2nd half points thru 3 games, 0 in games 2 and 3 combined, the defense is everything that was promised and then some…and doing it without Tae Johnson

Onto a Purdue splattering

The fake punt was there. That was a player misreading the block more than anything. But it was ballsy

IrishInOntario · 2026-09-19T22:48:55-0400

I feel like coming out relatively healthy vs two physical Big 10 games in the first three weeks will prove beneficial to this team down the road when they play on the road at BYU and at home vs Miami. Both games will be very physical.

SportsingHard · 2026-09-19T22:48:57-0400

Coachspeak aside, Freeman seems genuinely irked that they gave up ten points. I love that.

RudyVerse · 2026-09-19T22:49:03-0400

Will Black got spanked today. Something to monitor

Irish2155 · 2026-09-19T22:50:21-0400

We haven’t been beat in a long time.

Irish2155 · 2026-09-19T22:51:09-0400

CJ throws dimes

Dizzyphil · 2026-09-19T22:51:37-0400

ACamp1900 said:
We may need another level to beat OSU or UGA but we can beat anyone else right now,… and we have a bit of time to get to that next level

yes'r... agreed. But, the D is only going to get better. Just need to get the run game going and I deem NJJ is the answer to the RB question

IrishInOntario · 2026-09-19T22:51:43-0400

RudyVerse said:
Will Black got spanked today. Something to monitor

Good point. He has a lot of growing to do if he's going to live up to the ND standard at that position.

mhunter123 · 2026-09-19T22:51:44-0400

Positives:

Weather held out...no lightning delays
Defense dominated 2nd Half
0 Turnovers for the year....+8 TO differential for the year
CJ, Gilbert, Nolan James played well
No injuries (that I'm aware of)

Negatives:

Fake Punt was horrible call...why didn't they run it on the original 4th down?
Offense needs a lot of work (obviously)
IMHO, CJ takes too long at the LOS...affects the offensive rhythm
Aneyas Williams penalty was boneheaded...why?
Denbrock and this offense is frustrating...why so vanilla...is this by design?

402puck · 2026-09-19T22:52:37-0400

GowerND11 said:
The fake FG was there. That was a player misreading the block more than anything. But it was ballsy

And that’s fine…but it doesn’t make sense if you pair it with kicking a FG trying to conservatively bank points before the rain comes. ESPECIALLY after the holding penalty. Especially given how good your defense is. It’s like hitting or staying on 16s in blackjack…you have to be consistent with what you’re trying to do or the house edge will eat you alive. Punt it and lean on the best defense in the country early

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