AP Top 25 (ND #11)

[NDohio]

They have literally zero quality wins and I have a suspicion that the CFP committee might try to "Iowa" them to some degree in the initial poll. If PSU wins this weekend, I expect them at best to be 3rd behind PSU and Georgia.

To be fair, Bama has also beaten the hell out of everyone they've played. But they're certainly going to struggle more than usual to get in with a loss.

Right - I agree completely.

They basically have three games: LSU, Auburn, and SEC Championship Game. If they lose one of those games they don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

 

[Irish YJ]

I can see your logic, ...however, I've never seen a young oline come together so much as to be able to deal with the typical Bama front. From the ND perspective, if you have a bunch of guys with south of 25 starts...i think that spells trouble...JMHO.

Have faith in Harry lol.
I get your point too.

I think our biggest deficit with Bama is D. IMO, if Balis and Elko can close the gap a bit with another year, that might be more important?

My brain tells me though, we're probably 3-4 years away from challenging Bama. And that's assuming Balis and Elko aren't one year wonders.

 

[IrishLax]

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | FEI COLLEGE FOOTBALL RATINGS 2017

Up to #3 in the country by one of the two most renowned advanced statistical profiles. That's how efficient and dominant ND has been this year.

NC State - #16... their offensive rank (#14) is way better than their defensive rank (#56). ND's units are #4 and #15, respectively.

Bama is #5, FWIW, probably because their SOS is so terrible. They have played the 69th toughest schedule. Georgia is #1 with the #1 most efficient defense.

 

[ulukinatme]

I want Bama. I do. They're the standard of excellence right now.

However, I want to meet them in the 'ship. If we lose again, at least we'll have won a playoff game and have nothing to lose. At the same time, we'll be facing Saban with less time to prepare his players. I believe he's the best in the country at keeping his players focused for a bowl game, so longer breaks between games favor him over most other coaches.

The worst thing about 2012 was how that loss somehow meant we didn't belong, as though some other team had performed as well as we did leading up to the game.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

~Wayne Gretzky

~~Michael Scott

Give me Bama

I think we'd beat Clemson, and probably Penn State. Haven't seen enough of OSU to know. But there's cachet in making the playoffs. At this point way more than making the Fiesta Bowl or whatever like we did in 2015. And I don't think Bama blows us out. So 4 and Bama.

Alabama every time. We need to know where we are as a program and they are the ultimate test.

That being said, can anyone tell me how good 'Bama really is this year?

Florida State - Complete dumpster fire
Fresno State - LOL
Colorado State - LOL
Vanderbilt - LOL
Ole Miss - Struggling
Texas A&M - Coach on the hot seat
Arkansas - Coach will be fired
Tennessee - Coach will be fired

They definitely have more talent than anyone else, but I don't think anyone can say how good they really are...yet.

4 and Bama, it'd prob take a bolt of lightning to win any of those games and might as well roll the dice on the most meaningful...

Jeebus, I'm having flashbacks to all the people saying they wanted Bama at the end of 2012...

LoL.... I leave for a few minutes and come back to the “We want Bama” crowd. A whole lot of football left to play before that would happen. Right now we want LSU and I am sure you guys want NC State.

Jesus, you people who want bama don't want another title. get real, they'd crush almost anyone, us included. Wimbush would have 15 passing yards.

This. You're giving Saban too long to prepare. Best case scenario is facing 'Bama in the 2nd round, but I'd love to draw a scenario where we face someone else ala OSU/Oregon a few years ago for the championship. Had Oregon won that game, no one would have seen their championship as illegitimate having dodged 'Bama. The fact is, as strong as your running game is, I don't see why 'Bama would be afraid to load the box. They have the bodies to shut down the run, and I'm not sure we could get it done all on passing.

 

[GowerND11]

This. You're giving Saban too long to prepare. Best case scenario is facing 'Bama in the 2nd round, but I'd love to draw a scenario where we face someone else ala OSU/Oregon a few years ago for the championship. Had Oregon won that game, no one would have seen their championship as illegitimate having dodged 'Bama. The fact is, as strong as your running game is, I don't see why 'Bama would be afraid to load the box. They have the bodies to shut down the run, and I'm not sure we could get it done all on passing.

The thing about Alabama's D is they are so good at their reads. They can diagnose run/pass so well, sometimes pre-snap based on alignment. Watching them play Arkansas (I know they suck) was something. The run fits were almost perfect all game, and the coverage was impeccable even on PA pass.

 

[ulukinatme]

I feel like gameplanning/playing Alabama is like Monty Python facing the white rabbit in Holy Grail.

King BK "How many did we lose that series?"

Sir Long the Brave "Wimbush, Adams, and St. Brown."

King BK "That's 5"

Sir Elko the Pure "3, Sir!"

King BK "3, 3! We better not risk another frontal assault, that front 7 is dynamite."

Sir Rees the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Long "Would it help to confuse their Defensive Coordinator if we run away?"

King BK "Oh shut up, and go and change your pants."

Sir Elko the Pure "Let us taunt them. They may become so cross that they will make a mistake."

King BK "Like what?"

Sir Elko the Pure "Well..." [silence]

Now only if we had a Holy Hand Grenade...

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">STAT: 4 teams in the Top 10 have not played an opponent that is currently ranked. <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDFootball</a> has played three. H/T <a href="https://twitter.com/waynecookucla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@waynecookucla</a>. <a href="https://t.co/pxBHyGFJMQ">pic.twitter.com/pxBHyGFJMQ</a></p>— College Sports Now (@CSNowTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSNowTweets/status/923357798209064961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Cackalacky]

I feel like gameplanning/playing Alabama is like Monty Python facing the white rabbit in Holy Grail.

King BK "How many did we lose that series?"

Sir Long the Brave "Wimbush, Adams, and St. Brown."

King BK "That's 5"

Sir Elko the Pure "3, Sir!"

King BK "3, 3! We better not risk another frontal assault, that front 7 is dynamite."

Sir Rees the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Long "Would it help to confuse their Defensive Coordinator if we run away?"

King BK "Oh shut up, and go and change your pants."

Sir Elko the Pure "Let us taunt them. They may become so cross that they will make a mistake."

King BK "Like what?"

Sir Elko the Pure "Well..." [silence]

Now only if we had a Holy Hand Grenade...

"We cant risk another frontal assault... that rabbit is dynamite!"

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Simms, of all people, going in on the national media about Notre Dame: <a href="https://t.co/9ML7DZQYlu">pic.twitter.com/9ML7DZQYlu</a></p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/923951600934236161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Blazers46]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Simms, of all people, going in on the national media about Notre Dame: <a href="https://t.co/9ML7DZQYlu">pic.twitter.com/9ML7DZQYlu</a></p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/923951600934236161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Exactly. I dont see ND losing to anyone on the schedule.

 

[Blaise]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Simms, of all people, going in on the national media about Notre Dame: <a href="https://t.co/9ML7DZQYlu">pic.twitter.com/9ML7DZQYlu</a></p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/923951600934236161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chris talking the truth about Adams.. He has more 50+ yard runs than almost anyone but rarely see it on talking head shows. He doesn't look sexy but is one of the best backs in college football.

I think IF our OL and Adams can beat up NC ST, we will find ourselves in top 6 for the playoff rankings. At that point the media will turn and It will be all about Notre Dame being a real threat

 

[IrishSteelhead]

AP Top 25 (ND #9)

AP Top 25 (ND #9)

ESPN Gameday intro always showed a split second of the ESB flip against Texas, and a split second of gold cleats on the turf.

Today, they had a clip of Wimbush celebrating, and another ND shot.


THE KOOL AID IS FLOWING!!!!!

 

[Bishop2b5]

Alabama every time. We need to know where we are as a program and they are the ultimate test.

That being said, can anyone tell me how good 'Bama really is this year?

Florida State - Complete dumpster fire
Fresno State - LOL
Colorado State - LOL
Vanderbilt - LOL
Ole Miss - Struggling
Texas A&M - Coach on the hot seat
Arkansas - Coach will be fired
Tennessee - Coach will be fired

They definitely have more talent than anyone else, but I don't think anyone can say how good they really are...yet.

From the SOS so far we probably can't tell much. We put together what, back in August, appeared to be (and was ranked as) one of the tougher schedules in the country this year. Unfortunately, damn near every team on it has fallen apart since then. All that aside though, Bama is still dominating those teams, many of which have plenty of top talent, despite not necessarily using it very effectively. Bama has Saban, more talent on the bench than most teams have in their starting 22, and is executing very well with few mistakes and no glaring weaknesses at any position. It's very unlikely Bama is a paper tiger that's just been feasting on lambs. the LSU, Auburn and UGA games in the next month or so will tell, but we're probably every bit as much the legit top team in the country as we appear to be.

 

[zelezo vlk]

From the SOS so far we probably can't tell much. We put together what, back in August, appeared to be (and was ranked as) one of the tougher schedules in the country this year. Unfortunately, damn near every team on it has fallen apart since then. All that aside though, Bama is still dominating those teams, many of which have plenty of top talent, despite not necessarily using it very effectively. Bama has Saban, more talent on the bench than most teams have in their starting 22, and is executing very well with few mistakes and no glaring weaknesses at any position. It's very unlikely Bama is a paper tiger that's just been feasting on lambs. the LSU, Auburn and UGA games in the next month or so will tell, but we're probably every bit as much the legit top team in the country as we appear to be.

Bishop and T Town, will Y'all be mad of you aren't #1 in the first CFP rankings?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[Bishop2b5]

Bishop and T Town, will Y'all be mad of you aren't #1 in the first CFP rankings?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

No, not at all! In fact, I hope we aren't. Saban will use it as a motivation tool if we aren't, and given our SOS so far, I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't. I don't think it will really make much difference to us in the long run. If we win out and beat UGA in the SECCG, we'll still likely be #1 in the final CFP rankings, and if we aren't, I don't think it will really make much difference. I don't think there's much difference between the top 4 or 5 teams this year, so whether we're #1, 2, 3 or 4 won't matter much. We'll beat whoever we face or we won't.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

No, not at all! In fact, I hope we aren't. Saban will use it as a motivation tool if we aren't, and given our SOS so far, I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't. I don't think it will really make much difference to us in the long run. If we win out and beat UGA in the SECCG, we'll still likely be #1 in the final CFP rankings, and if we aren't, I don't think it will really make much difference. I don't think there's much difference between the top 4 or 5 teams this year, so whether we're #1, 2, 3 or 4 won't matter much. We'll beat whoever we face or we won't.

Your CFB dynasty privilege is showing. Recent history has shown that it's almost inconceiveable that the SEC champion doesn't make it to the playoffs, and once you're in that's all it takes. Sure other fan bases, including ND's, might not like it but the record is hard to argue with.

 

[D-BOE34]

Just as long as Bama and ND are not the semi-final game, I will be happy. I would rather get our ass kicked in the Championship after a big semi final win. I would be shocked if we could actually win the whole damn thing.

 

[Fbolt]

If-and it's a big IF-Wimbush can steadily improve, I would not be shocked.

 

[SonofOahu]

Love the enthusiasm, but I think some of y'all need to slow your roll. We're not Bama good, yet. Let's not kid ourselves.

 

[GATTACA!]

Fuck Ohio state

 

[ickythump1225]

UGA should be #1 when the real rankings come out on Halloween.

 

[Luckylucci]

We have the best resume of 1 loss teams, IMO

 

[NDRock]

We have the best resume of 1 loss teams, IMO

I think Oklahoma and Ohio State can both say they have a better win than we do. Overall, we've played a tougher schedule (IMO) and won big in every game. I wouldn't be surprised if one or both are above us.

 

[Luckylucci]

I think Oklahoma and Ohio State can both say they have a better win than we do. Overall, we've played a tougher schedule (IMO) and won big in every game. I wouldn't be surprised if one or both are above us.

Oklahoma has a worst loss. And so does OSU, IMO. As they got destroyed at home. We lost to a better team than both, by 1 pt. It’s pretty simple

 

[wizards8507]

I think Oklahoma and Ohio State can both say they have a better win than we do. Overall, we've played a tougher schedule (IMO) and won big in every game. I wouldn't be surprised if one or both are above us.

Ohio State wouldn't bother me. Oklahoma or Clemson would send me into a rage.

 

[koonja]

Georgia
Bama
ND
Clemson
OSU
PSU

 

[Luckylucci]

Georgia
Bama
ND
Clemson
OSU
PSU

ND deserves to be that high for what they’ve done. Are they that good? We’ll see but resume says so.

 

[ickythump1225]

I think Oklahoma and Ohio State can both say they have a better win than we do. Overall, we've played a tougher schedule (IMO) and won big in every game. I wouldn't be surprised if one or both are above us.

Our overall body of work is superior to any of the 1-loss teams. OSU and Oklahoma might have better top end wins than we do, but we have way more depth in our wins if that makes any sense. Our loss is "better" than theirs and we have played 7 real teams and Miami (OH).

After OSU lost (by double digits to OK) they had a daunting stretch where they played:
-Army
-UNLV
-Rutgers
-Maryland
-Nebraska

Oklahoma has played Tulane, UTEP, and Baylor.

 

[stlnd01]

I think Oklahoma and Ohio State can both say they have a better win than we do. Overall, we've played a tougher schedule (IMO) and won big in every game. I wouldn't be surprised if one or both are above us.

Kinda how I feel.
Our best win is still a loss, and will probably be that way all season.
We play a tougher schedule than any of the one-loss teams, and - at this rate - have a more impressive body of work. But, come December, we're probably not going to have a win over a top ten team, and Ohio State and Oklahoma probably will.
That's going to hurt us in the playoff rankings.

 

[woolybug25]

Here’s an interesting question... Bama only plays, and has only played, two more teams currently ranked in LSU (23) and Auburn (19). It’s possible that both, one, or even none will be ranked in the final polls. For the sake of being in the middle, let’s say only one remains ranked and Bama goes undefeated. But then they go to the SEC title game and lose to UGA. They wouldn’t go in over an 11-1 Notre Dame would they?