Athlon 2013 Top 25

[tommyIRISH23]

A Very Early College Football Top 25 for 2013 | AthlonSports.com

I think they are over emphasizing our defensive losses. Manti is a huge loss, the kind of loss that can't be replaced. KLM is tough, but we are pretty deep a long the line. We should miss too much there. I think Nix will stay. Bennet Jackson going to the NFL? What? This is the first I am hearing this

 

[Sweetness34]

I think it's pretty accurate. After years of not being ranked, I'm not complaining about being in the top 10. I think Nix and Bennett will stay. I liked the article because of the " 30 Best College Football Cheerleaders" Link on the side of the page!

 

[IrishLion]

I find it laughable that tOSU is at no.2. They lose nearly as much defensively as ND, and have less proven depth to replace it with. In terms of star power, their front 7 could be better. But depth, and overall production of defense? ND by a mile.

Also, they were fortunate to play a weak-*** schedule this season. Their best OOC game was Cal.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think it's pretty accurate. After years of not being ranked, I'm not complaining about being in the top 10. I think Nix and Bennett will stay. I liked the article because of the " 30 Best College Football Cheerleaders" Link on the side of the page!

Athlon's only excuse for ranking us behind 7 other teams is that Z. Martin, Nix and Jackson "could leave early for the NFL". Most people who follow the program know all three are likely to stay.

"Accurate" isn't the word I'd use to describe this.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

I find it laughable that tOSU is at no.2. They lose nearly as much defensively as ND, and have less proven depth to replace it with. In terms of star power, their front 7 could be better. But depth, and overall production of defense? ND by a mile.

Also, they were fortunate to play a weak-*** schedule this season. Their best OOC game was Cal.

But...but they have Braxton Miller!!

I Respect that kids talent, i'd just like to see him versus a respected defense.... and no the 2012 PSU Nittany Lions don't count!

 

[Fbolt]

Texas aTm will fail next year. That is all.

 

[Kak7304]

Oh well, I love being the underdog. Preseason rankings mean absolutely nothing. How'd USC's preseason #1 work out for them?

 

[PraetorianND]

Oh well, I love being the underdog. Preseason rankings mean absolutely nothing. How'd USC's preseason #1 work out for them?

If Oregon and KState won out we would have been #3. That would have been awful. Higher is better IMO.

 

[Wolverine1997]

I find it laughable that tOSU is at no.2. They lose nearly as much defensively as ND, and have less proven depth to replace it with. In terms of star power, their front 7 could be better. But depth, and overall production of defense? ND by a mile.

Also, they were fortunate to play a weak-*** schedule this season. Their best OOC game was Cal.

This.

If Michigan swapped schedules with them, I assure you Michigan would have done similar. Pretty hard to bag on a team who wound up playing the two teams that are playing for the MNC. Michigan's combined opponent's record this year is 96-63. That is the best COR ever in program history. 5 teams with 10+ wins.

If Al Borges didn't decide to eat his playbook at halftime, Michigan may have won The Game. They held that all mighty prolific meyer offense to two touchdowns, on the road. They also kept miller in check.

I think Michigan beats them at home next year.

Louisville being in the top-15 is a freaking joke. They're going to get beaten like a 1950s housewife in the Sugar Bowl.

 

[NDPhilly]

If we win on Jan 7 we will definitely be top 3 possibly even #1

 

[NDohio]

Texas aTm will fail next year. That is all.

Well, they just lost their OC. Off to be the head man at Texas Tech!

 

[Buster Bluth]

I find it laughable that tOSU is at no.2. They lose nearly as much defensively as ND, and have less proven depth to replace it with. In terms of star power, their front 7 could be better. But depth, and overall production of defense? ND by a mile.

Also, they were fortunate to play a weak-*** schedule this season. Their best OOC game was Cal.

Ohio State is going to be very very good in 2013. If they lose a game, Urban Meyer should be fired. If you thought their schedule was bad this year (and I did too), just look at next year's.

They are as close to a lock to go 13-0 as one can get.

 

[Buster Bluth]

If we win on Jan 7 we will definitely be top 3 possibly even #1

I don't see how Alabama isn't #1. They return so much. If the Irish don't beat them this year, Saban could have a dynasty going on. That's a scary thought. They are already at that Miami-esque level of everyone else hoping they screw up in the regular season so that they don't have to play them. Sorta like USC from 02-09.

 

[IrishLax]

0% chance BJax leaves.... is this guy crazy?

 

[irishfanjho15]

This.

If Michigan swapped schedules with them, I assure you Michigan would have done similar. Pretty hard to bag on a team who wound up playing the two teams that are playing for the MNC. Michigan's combined opponent's record this year is 96-63. That is the best COR ever in program history. 5 teams with 10+ wins.

If Al Borges didn't decide to eat his playbook at halftime, Michigan may have won The Game. They held that all mighty prolific meyer offense to two touchdowns, on the road. They also kept miller in check.

I think Michigan beats them at home next year.

Louisville being in the top-15 is a freaking joke. They're going to get beaten like a 1950s housewife in the Sugar Bowl.

About time.

 

[Wolverine1997]

About time.

I don't think there is much chance of that ever happening again unless the B1G somehow becomes the SEC. With ND cancelling the series with Michigan and Dave Brandon being anti neutral site games & non-conference road games, Michigan will most likely load up on mid-majors and/or crappy to average BCS conference teams. Take a look at their future non-conference-

2013: vs CMU, vs notre dame, vs akron, at uconn
2014: vs app state, at notre dame, vs miami university (OH), vs utah
2015: at utah (Thursday night), vs oregon state, vs UNLV, vs BYU
2016: vs hawaii, vs miami university (OH), vs colorado, vs ball state
2018: vs arkansas
2019: at arkansas

 

[irishfanjho15]

I don't think there is much chance of that ever happening again unless the B1G somehow becomes the SEC. With ND cancelling the series with Michigan and Dave Brandon being anti neutral site games & non-conference road games, Michigan will most likely load up on mid-majors and/or crappy to average BCS conference teams. Take a look at their future non-conference-

2013: vs CMU, vs notre dame, vs akron, at uconn
2014: vs app state, at notre dame, vs miami university (OH), vs utah
2015: at utah (Thursday night), vs oregon state, vs UNLV, vs BYU
2016: vs hawaii, vs miami university (OH), vs colorado, vs ball state
2018: vs arkansas
2019: at arkansas

That's pitiful. But when you're a program that has made your history on winning at home and very rarely going outside of your Midwest comfort zone it's not surprising.

 

[Wolverine1997]

That's pitiful. But when you're a program that has made your history on winning at home and very rarely going outside of your Midwest comfort zone it's not surprising.

Michigan had some nice scheduling back in Bo's time. I remember they got the defending champion miami in 1984 and beat them. Almost had them again in 1988 but blew a huge lead and wound up on the short end 31-30. Trips to south carolina, ucla, washington. That's about it though. Usually road games with big time opponents have turned out to be a disaster.

See: UCLA 2000, Washington 2001, Oregon 2003.

It's too bad the B1G-PAC-12 Challenge was called off by the PAC-12. Would have loved to make a trip out west to Husky Stadium or maybe the Rose Bowl.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'll give it to Michigan, Wolverine1997. They did play a tough schedule this year. They're better than the 8-4 record indicates. While we're a better team offensively than we were in September, Michigan held on despite the numerous turnovers in that game. The only head scratcher game for Michigan this year was the Nebraska game. I know they lost Robinson there, but...it's Nebraska, that defense is atrocious.

 

[BGIF]

'13 ND Football Schedule

'13 ND Football Schedule

8/31 TEMPLE
9/07 @ UM#20
9/14 @ PU
9/21 MSU*
9/28 OU#9
10/05 ASU (Dallas) #25
10/12 Bye
10/19 USC #21
10/26 @ AF
11/02 NAVY
11/09 @ PIT
11/16 Bye
11/23 BYU
11/30 @ SU#10

*Others receiving consideration for Athlone Top 25

Two in the Top 10 OU and SU, three ranked 20-25, and one on the cusp, MSU. strikes me as comparable to '12.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Ohio State is going to be very very good in 2013. If they lose a game, Urban Meyer should be fired. If you thought their schedule was bad this year (and I did too), just look at next year's.

They are as close to a lock to go 13-0 as one can get.

I was flabbergasted, yes flabbergasted when I saw Ohio State's 2013 schedule. They will absolutely be undefeated at the end of the season if they get past their one game.. UM.

 

[chicago51]

I'm ok with ND at 8.

For Notre Dame its all about the underclassman coming back. If everyone comes back besides C. Wood then ND to me should be top 5th. If they lose everyone that could realistically leave (as mentioned in the article) then to me they should be about 10th.

 

[GowerND11]

10/26 @ AF
11/02 NAVY

Anyone else like that we play Air Force and Navy back to back?

 

[chicago51]

Ohio State is going to lose on 9/28/13 to a Bob Diaco coached Wisconsin team.

Just kidding, just kidding, please don't hurt me.

 

[RDU Irish]

I think this dramatically underestimates player development. Are you telling me that our secondary with all the youth and inexperience that has been just short of phenomenal is not going to only get better? Offense now has an experienced playmaker behind center and feels like the cork could pop any minute and start putting up huge numbers....

Trying to be impartial, let's say the defense is 3-5 point worse next year primarily b/c Manti is gone. I can easily expect the offense to be 7 points better almost exclusively from Golson being seasoned. Losing Eifert is big but everyone else developing, being a year older and closer to their potential more than makes up for it IMO.

The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and ours is getting impressively stronger next year. Pretty much everyone here thought 2014 was the year to make a run at it and now we are acting like we are taking a huge step backward?

 

[Wolverine1997]

Ohio State is going to lose on 9/28/13 to a Bob Diaco coached Wisconsin team.

Just kidding, just kidding, please don't hurt me.

I wouldn't be surprised if Alvarez pulls a Snyder and does come back full time. He denies it now, but if somehow they win that Rose Bowl...

 

[General Colon Bowel]

0% chance BJax leaves.... is this guy crazy?

I don't think he'll leave either, but some people think very highly of him apparently...
NFL Draft - 2013 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[chicago51]

If Z Martin and Watt stay next year's O-line will be one of the best in America.

 

[chicago51]

With Z Martin and Nix coming back to ND I think the Athlon folks should rethink this ranking.

 

[irishmarine]

Who is our last game against? SU?