Aug 31 | Miami

[ulukinatme]

That was an absolute waste of time. Some ignorant folks posting over there. I think Miami has a helluva chance to win. I think Beck will need to be clean, low pressure, then he can deliver with enough time and boost their chances.

They seem to think J. Love is vastly overrated by....everyone. They think he's weak and not fast enough to beat "real athletes". They really like the fact that we'll have a first time starter at QB. I particularly like their green and orange brand of vitriol, can't wait for the game!

Miami delusion is some of the strongest there is around. They lost against every ranked team they played last year, and lost 3 of their last 4. That team was severely overrated. I think they'll be better this year, and I'm sure we'll get their best shot of 2025 because it's Game 1 and their hopes will be up, but I think we're more talented, battle tested, and experienced.

Funny, one post was touting their WRs above, and I just saw this:

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I dont think this game will be close. ND by 3 TDs.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Hopefully Miami talks some smack before the game,

 

[Rizzophil]

I dont think this game will be close. ND by 3 TDs.

Opening night. On the road. On the heat….

It will be closer than that for sure

 

[Irish#1]

Yeah, that was me, lol. I am a big believer in the Lou style. He would make the little sisters of the poor sound like the 85 Bears. I would much rather talk up an opponent and highlight their strengths than puff out your chest and say how great you are. I won't mention who, but we did have an Irish person on one of Miami's shows this off-season and he very much talked up how great the Irish were. I had to balance it out in the football universe

Of all the thousands of Irish fans out there...............lol

 

[Katzenboyer]

I know some SEC fanbases/Clemson outdo them for the "man, these guys are completely delusional" crown, but I can tell you that Miami fans are 1000% in the Top 5 of delusional fanbases. I was listening to a podcast my wife was playing on a road trip, and it's actually astounding. Every year, they have "potential first round picks" all over the field. Never happens.

 

[rikkitikki08]

I dont think this game will be close. ND by 3 TDs.

What a statement that would be. I sure hope you’re right

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Opening night. On the road. On the heat….

It will be closer than that for sure

We heard the same thing last year and we went down to Aggie-land well before Riley Leonard had really been broken in with this offense. Weather the storm early, grind it out, step on their throats in the second half. They can't contain Love forever.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I dont think this game will be close. ND by 3 TDs.

This is quite bold. On one of the Hit & Hustle pods during the last couple months, Greg and Jamie both agreed that they see it as a W for the Irish, but even they weren't "win by 3 TDs" bullish. They were thinking something like 10 points

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Unless the line dominates from the opening whistle, I see a tight battle where our overall talent pulls away in the second half.
Love and Price would need to go off in the first half to blow them out because the game plan will be mistake free and very conservative.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I know some SEC fanbases/Clemson outdo them for the "man, these guys are completely delusional" crown, but I can tell you that Miami fans are 1000% in the Top 5 of delusional fanbases. I was listening to a podcast my wife was playing on a road trip, and it's actually astounding. Every year, they have "potential first round picks" all over the field. Never happens.

Listening to non-Miami sites, their LT is a legit 1st rounder. ND & Miami arguably have the best two OL in the nation.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Miami delusion is some of the strongest there is around. They lost against every ranked team they played last year, and lost 3 of their last 4. That team was severely overrated. I think they'll be better this year, and I'm sure we'll get their best shot of 2025 because it's Game 1 and their hopes will be up, but I think we're more talented, battle tested, and experienced.

Funny, one post was touting their WRs above, and I just saw this:

“From the sounds of it…” What source exactly? Has Miami opened all their practices to the media? ND sure hasn’t which is why the ND beat is careful to respond too positively or negatively based on a few reps seen in person.

 

[NDPhilly]

I actually agree that they are a fringe top 10 team, the talent is there and they have an experienced QB whose upside is 1st round pick.

It really all comes down to the defense. They’ve recruited and portaled well enough that it’s tough to believe they won’t be at least average there, but who knows.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

On paper their DL is superior to ours, and we our OL is banged up.

 

[Plankton]

Would anyone take Mario Cristobal in a head coaching matchup against Marcus Freeman? This is where Notre Dame has the biggest advantage.

 

[SWirishfan]

I actually agree that they are a fringe top 10 team, the talent is there and they have an experienced QB whose upside is 1st round pick.

It really all comes down to the defense. They’ve recruited and portaled well enough that it’s tough to believe they won’t be at least average there, but who knows.

All depends on how those transfers gel. First game is tough for a mercenary team, especially with the damn near wholesale turnover of the WR room.

 

[NDPhilly]

I would feel A LOT better about this game with a healthy Jagusah. Right now I think it’s pretty much a toss up.

If I had to do a Season prediction rn it would be 11-1 with a loss here.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

On paper their DL is superior to ours, and we our OL is banged up.

TBF we have ONE guy hurt with plenty of depth. We aren't better without Jagusah but that's not going to swing the game to Miami's favor in and of itself.

 

[greyhammer90]

I would feel A LOT better about this game with a healthy Jagusah. Right now I think it’s pretty much a toss up.

If I had to do a Season prediction rn it would be 11-1 with a loss here.

I think Miami is a 70% win. I have quite a bit of faith in Freeman in a big time game. Now that means we lose to them 3/10 times, so we could get unlucky and could live in a 3/10 timeline.

I'm much more worried about A&M, particularly if the Miami game goes well. If Freeman has had one achilles heel, its that he's struggled to not have the team smell their own farts after early success.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I think Miami is a 70% win. I have quite a bit of faith in Freeman in a big time game. Now that means we lose to them 3/10 times, so we could get unlucky and could live in a 3/10 timeline.

I'm much more worried about A&M, particularly if the Miami game goes well. If Freeman has had one achilles heel, its that he's struggled to not have the team smell their own farts after early success.

Personally, I think having A&M after Miami is a good thing. They aren't going to overlook an SEC opponent in week 2, especially after how close of a game it was last year, like they did Marshal and UNI in years prior. I'd be more worried about them overlooking a Purdue squad in week 3 if they were 2-0. Those are the trap games that have been MF's Achilles' heel.

But I believe that lesson has been learned.

 

[arrowryan]

I would feel A LOT better about this game with a healthy Jagusah. Right now I think it’s pretty much a toss up.

If I had to do a Season prediction rn it would be 11-1 with a loss here.

While having Jausah would be ideal, returning 4/5 starters still accounts for something.

There’s certainly a way Miami can win, but I think Notre Dame has so much going its way heading into this one.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Personally, I think having A&M after Miami is a good thing. They aren't going to overlook an SEC opponent in week 2, especially after how close of a game it was last year, like they did Marshal and UNI in years prior. I'd be more worried about them overlooking a Purdue squad in week 3 if they were 2-0. Those are the trap games that have been MF's Achilles' heel.

But I believe that lesson has been learned.

Well good news! They don't play A&M Week 2, but Week 3 instead because there's a BYE right after the Miami game. That should hopefully allow the team to gather themselves and focus on the Aggies.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I would feel A LOT better about this game with a healthy Jagusah. Right now I think it’s pretty much a toss up.

If I had to do a Season prediction rn it would be 11-1 with a loss here.

This isn't a game we can lose and expect to be turning the corner as an elite program. I'm not guaranteeing anything but I also would be extremely disappointed with a poor showing and another loss to them

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

This ND roster is a thoroughbred horse, everything is built just right to crush the competition. Miami is a cobbled together team trying to pose like a thoroughbred.

ND becomes title favorites (maybe co-favorites with Texas) after this game.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Listening to non-Miami sites, their LT is a legit 1st rounder. ND & Miami arguably have the best two OL in the nation.

It's the right tackle that's the stud - Mauigoa. The left tackle is Markel Bell, who will be replacing Jalen Rivers, who was picked by the Bengals in the fifth round.

Their OL will be really good. I've said it here a few times, but it'll probably be the best OL ND faces next season, and they have a good stable of backs. But they are replacing basically their entire WR room, which could be a problem for them on Aug. 31.

 

[Katzenboyer]

On paper their DL is superior to ours, and we our OL is banged up.

"Banged up" because of one guy? Jagusah is great but he played in all of two games last season. Let's not overreact.

And no, their DL is not superior to ours. It has the recruiting rankings, and Bain is a gamewrecker (but actually wasn't nearly the dominant force last year that he was as a freshman), but the rest is just hope that the five-stars they've recruited (including Justin Scott) actually hit.

Miami's DL is not on the same level as the A&M team ND faced to start last year.

 

[pumpdog20]

This being in Miami is the only reason I'm hesitant. Just been a nightmare for us to play them there.

 

[IrishLax]

This isn't a game we can lose and expect to be turning the corner as an elite program. I'm not guaranteeing anything but I also would be extremely disappointed with a poor showing and another loss to them

If this game was later in the season or at home I feel like ND wins by 14+. Not a knock on Miami... who is a legit Top 10 team with a ton of NFL talent on both sides of the ball... but the path to ND losing this game is basically:
1. Jitters on defense giving up a few big plays
2. QB mistakes killing drives or leading to bad turnovers

Miami brought in tons of players in the transfer portal and is counting on an overhauled secondary to take their defense from ass (67th in the country last year) to solidly in the top 25. Their new DC had a much less talented Minnesota defense ranked in the top 10. They are completely committed to the transfer portal adding four 4-star DB transfers among eight total 4-star transfers (for comparison, ND only added 2 total players rated as 4-star transfers).

So brand new secondary supposedly full of NFL players + $4M QB + two new highly rated WR transfers + a top rated OL... on paper, Miami is as good as anyone. This game is pretty much a litmus test on whether you are better off trying to develop talent how ND does or simply go shopping for "best available" players each year. They are likely starting 6-7 transfers on defense, and best case scenario for them they pull off an Indiana style 11-1 season with a team full of plug & play guys.

 

[IrishLax]

This being in Miami is the only reason I'm hesitant. Just been a nightmare for us to play them there.

It's wild that this game is happening how it is seeing as they bailed on the return trip here. We're playing in South Florida in August at night when they owed us a trip to South Bend... would've been a really soft 2025 schedule without this game, but still the circumstances are a bummer.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Well good news! They don't play A&M Week 2, but Week 3 instead because there's a BYE right after the Miami game. That should hopefully allow the team to gather themselves and focus on the Aggies.

Meant game 2 but thanks for the correction! Will be huge to have some rest after South Beach, for sure.