All Things SkunkBear

[Irishize]

So annoyed by that penalty leading to the int. 2nd down on the 1 to a Michigan touchdown. 14 point swing.

That was a bonehead play be the Army QB. WTH was he thinking throwing that ball in bounds?!?

If ND can find a RB, I like our OL vs scUM’s front seven. Meatchicken will still win but u know their fans are shitting their jorts.

 

[Circa]

Wheres the rest of Army on that fumble?

 

[Circa]

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[ND88]

That was a bonehead play be the Army QB. WTH was he thinking throwing that ball in bounds?!?

If ND can find a RB, I like our OL vs scUM’s front seven. Meatchicken will still win but u know their fans are shitting their jorts.

Whut? I thought Tom Haverford was banned.

We will smoke Michigan. And that doesn't even have to do with whether or not we are a great team. Verdict still out on that one.

But Michigan... they are gawd awful.

 

[dad4aa]

That was a bonehead play be the Army QB. WTH was he thinking throwing that ball in bounds?!?

If ND can find a RB, I like our OL vs scUM’s front seven. Meatchicken will still win but u know their fans are shitting their jorts.

Whut? I thought Tom Haverford was banned.

We will smoke Michigan. And that doesn't even have to do with whether or not we are a great team. Verdict still out on that one.

But Michigan... they are gawd awful.

I think he was referring to Michigan will still win today against Army

 

[ND88]

I think he was referring to Michigan will still win today against Army

Ah, okay. Thanks for the clarification. My bad, Irishize!

 

[Old Man Mike]

Although it goes against all IEs grain, we sort of could use Michigan winning games (while showing vulnerabilities.) That way they will have an unearned high ranking when we beat them. We kind of need Michigan to have at least a decent record this year for our strength of schedule. If one or both of the California schools go bust, our schedule strength will be hanging on the State of Virginia.

 

[KPENN]

Although it goes against all IEs grain, we sort of could use Michigan winning games (while showing vulnerabilities.) That way they will have an unearned high ranking when we beat them. We kind of need Michigan to have at least a decent record this year for our strength of schedule. If one or both of the California schools go bust, our schedule strength will be hanging on the State of Virginia.

No

 

[ulukinatme]

Although it goes against all IEs grain, we sort of could use Michigan winning games (while showing vulnerabilities.) That way they will have an unearned high ranking when we beat them. We kind of need Michigan to have at least a decent record this year for our strength of schedule. If one or both of the California schools go bust, our schedule strength will be hanging on the State of Virginia.

Strength of schedule wasn't that great last year and we still made it through. I'm pretty convinced that we have to run the table either way to get in, I think there will be too much bellyaching from the Power 5 if a 1 loss ND gets in over a Conference Champion. Besides, short of destroying a team like Ohio State I don't see anyone believing this year that Michigan is going to live up to their lofty billing.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I'll agree with some of that if all one cares about is getting into the playoff final four. I on the other hand (though I would love ND being in the playoffs) wouldn't mind being ranked as high as possible even though we just missed it.

Kelly could argue to recruits last year that if Clemson said that we were the best team they played, we had an argument for being #2. If we follow that up with #1-#4 great, but if it's "only" #5 or so, that's two straight years of elite performance.

That's the start that I want to the "new era" of people thinking that ND is a ball cracker every year. IE has been in constant gripe mode for years that we aren't consistently top ten. Well, I think that we're right there, but could use the "experts" seeing us that way.

 

[wizards8507]

Strength of schedule wasn't that great last year and we still made it through. I'm pretty convinced that we have to run the table either way to get in, I think there will be too much bellyaching from the Power 5 if a 1 loss ND gets in over a Conference Champion. Besides, short of destroying a team like Ohio State I don't see anyone believing this year that Michigan is going to live up to their lofty billing.

There are many paths to the playoff with one loss. Multiple conferences with two loss champions is a distinct possibility.

 

[ulukinatme]

There are many paths to the playoff with one loss. Multiple conferences with two loss champions is a distinct possibility.

Not bloody likely though, and it certainly would be extremely tough to get in over a 1 loss Conference Champion.

 

[wizards8507]

Not bloody likely though.

It literally JUST happened in 2017. Alabama made the playoff at 11-1 without playing in a conference championship game. They were selected over 11-2 conference champions Ohio State, 11-2 conference champions USC, and 12-1 conference runners-up Wisconsin.

 

[NDdomer2]

Except ND had people saying they didn't belong when they went undefeated. So 1 loss probably guarantees ND out

 

[NorthDakota]

There are many paths to the playoff with one loss. Multiple conferences with two loss champions is a distinct possibility.

If ND loses to UGA by 1-7 points, and wins every other game, I suppose its possible ND could get in.

 

[stlnd01]

If ND loses to UGA by 1-7 points, and wins every other game, I suppose its possible ND could get in.

It is. But we'd probably then need Georgia to win the SEC. If they were 12-1 with a loss to SEC champ Alabama (or, I suppose after last night, LSU), both those teams get in ahead of us and we're scrapping for two spots with all other conference champs, one of whom would almost certainly be undefeated Clemson.

In which case we'd definitely need Michigan to be good. Like, Big Ten Champ/Top Ten/only loss to Notre Dame good. Wouldn't hurt if USC was the same.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Clemson has to be a lock to get in I honestly don’t see any team left on their schedule even coming within two touchdowns of them

 

[wizards8507]

I think we need to beat Georgia and lose to someone else to get in with one loss. The SEC East is ass, and if Georgia beats us then the SEC almost certainly gets two.

 

[OhioIrish31]

I think we need to beat Georgia and lose to someone else to get in with one loss. The SEC East is ass, and if Georgia beats us then the SEC almost certainly gets two.

Agree!

 

[Irishize]

If ND loses to UGA by 1-7 points, and wins every other game, I suppose its possible ND could get in.

That’s where I’m at and if the early returns are any indication (I hope like hell they are not), then ND will get embarrassed....again...when the lights are brightest. And much like the Clemson loss, we fans arguing “but injuries!!” Will fall on deaf ears.

 

[BobbyMac]

It's either beat UGA or start rooting for Michigan, SC and Stanford which I'd rather just skip the season and watch the NFL.

 

[Valpodoc85]

a lot of football yet to be played

 

[wizards8507]

a lot of football yet to be played

Exactly, which is why we should want our SOS to be as strong as possible. Maybe it won't matter. But maybe it will.

 

[ulukinatme]

Michigan falls 3 spots in the rankings, not enough if you ask me.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I'm with a couple others who've already said it: only way to the playoff this year is to beat Georgia period. No other way we build the credibility, right or wrong.

 

[dad4aa]

I’m not there yet. The excuse we don’t belong is bc we have gotten blown out in the big games. If we can go 11-1 with a close loss AT Georgia if 3 points or less I still think we have a shot.

 

[BobbyMac]

I'm with a couple others who've already said it: only way to the playoff this year is to beat Georgia period. No other way we build the credibility, right or wrong.

I’m not there yet. The excuse we don’t belong is bc we have gotten blown out in the big games. If we can go 11-1 with a close loss AT Georgia if 3 points or less I still think we have a shot.

Of course there's a shot with a good loss to UGA. ND has the possibility of beating:

A PAC champs = USC
A PAC Runner Up = Stanford (or flip flop the two)

A BIG Champ = Michigan

An ACC Champ or Runner up to Clemson = Virginia

An AAC Champion = Navy

As of now, there are countless paths to the playoffs with a loss to UGA.

 

[greyhammer90]

If we're bad enough that a loss to Georgia is guaranteed, I think I'd rather just go to a good bowl game and avoid getting pantsed by Clemson.

Let's just beat Georgia and then discuss how we belong.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Of course there's a shot with a good loss to UGA. ND has the possibility of beating:

A PAC champs = USC
A PAC Runner Up = Stanford (or flip flop the two)

A BIG Champ = Michigan

An ACC Champ or Runner up to Clemson = Virginia

An AAC Champion = Navy

As of now, there are countless paths to the playoffs with a loss to UGA.

I just dont think any of the other teams you listed would be wins to hang your playoff hope on. The would all be second tier, at best, wins. Maybe Michigan figures it out or USC goes on a tear with their frosh QB, but I'm not counting on it.

 

[stlnd01]

I’m not there yet. The excuse we don’t belong is bc we have gotten blown out in the big games. If we can go 11-1 with a close loss AT Georgia if 3 points or less I still think we have a shot.

I think the bigger issue, if we lose to Georgia, would be lack of marquee wins this season. That's why we need Michigan - and USC and/or Stanford or Virginia or whoever - to have good years, as distasteful as it might be to root for them.
If history is any indication, most of the other one-loss playoff contenders will have wins over top ten teams (like, let's say LSU loses to Bama but otherwise wins out, and Texas beats Oklahoma and wins the Big 12).
But, aside from Georgia and maybe maybe Michigan, it's hard to see how anyone else we play winds up there.