ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2018

[KPENN]

Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs lead Way-Too-Early 2018 Top 25

2017 record: 10-3
Returning starters: Six offense, nine defense, two special teams

Key losses: RB Josh Adams, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, OT Mike McGlinchey, G Quenton Nelson, TE Durham Smythe, LB Nyles Morgan, LB Greer Martini

Outlook: The Fighting Irish bounced back from a 4-8 disaster in 2016 to win 10 games for the second time in three seasons. The Irish have been hit already by early departures for the NFL draft -- Nelson, St. Brown and Adams have declared, and tight end Alize Mack might do the same. The Irish must replace defensive coordinator Mike Elko, who left for the same position at Texas A&M.

Notre Dame figures to have a competitive quarterback battle during the offseason. Brandon Wimbush accounted for 30 total touchdowns this past season, but he struggled to throw the ball down the field, which seemed to frustrate coach Brian Kelly. Sophomore Ian Book replaced Wimbush in a 21-17 win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl and completed 14 of 19 passes for 164 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Notre Dame's schedule next season includes road games at Virginia Tech, Northwestern and USC and home games against Michigan, Stanford and Florida State.

 

[Rudy89]

Losing the O-linemen and Adams are gonna make things difficult for us next yearI think we have a similar season to 2013-2014 a few upsets a few letdowns but hopefully a year we can smile on.

 

[condoms SUCk]

I’m thinking about giving up on college football for the next few years, or at least until Saban retires.
They’re just gonna stream roll everything and everyone for the next 3-4 years. It’s so depressing.

 

[stlnd01]

21 feels a little low, like we’re being penalized for a tough schedule before we play the games. But I generally believe that the lower the expectations, the better we perform. So, fine.

 

[Blaise]

21 feels a little low, like we’re being penalized for a tough schedule before we play the games. But I generally believe that the lower the expectations, the better we perform. So, fine.

We don't have a QB.. Is either of the guys on the roster capable of leading a top 10 team without a dominant defense or offensive playmakers?

21 seems about right.. 9-3 type of season but once again.... way to early

 

[stlnd01]

We don't have a QB.. Is either of the guys on the roster capable of leading a top 10 team without a dominant defense or offensive playmakers?

21 seems about right.. 9-3 type of season but once again.... way to early

We were 9-3 this year and finished the regular season ranked, what, 15th? At 10-3, will finish about 11th.
Also, if Coney and Tillery come back (and assuming our DC doesn’t fuck things up), next year should be our best defense since 2012, and maybe in some ways better.
But, yeah, way too early.

 

[irishff1014]

Losing the O-linemen and Adams are gonna make things difficult for us next yearI think we have a similar season to 2013-2014 a few upsets a few letdowns but hopefully a year we can smile on.

The O-line i believe right now will hurt us the most. Know if Coney and Tillery both leave the defense is gonna be in a little bit of trouble.

 

[irishff1014]

Washington, Boise State, Mississippi State, Michigan State HAHAHAHA

Espn is beyond help smh.

 

[STLDomer]

ND is a top 15 team if QB situation is figured out. Unranked caliber team if status quo.

 

[RDU Irish]

Top 10 team if we play OSU or Bama schedules. Lucky to finish in the Top 25 with our meat grinder.

 

[phork]

Washington, Boise State, Mississippi State, Michigan State HAHAHAHA

Espn is beyond help smh.

Michigan St returns most of their team, including a senior RB and QB thats improved immensely over this last season. My guess is they will be a top10 team by years end.

 

[IrishTusker]

We had a once-in-a-generation O line and were still dominated by an average Miami team and an average Stanford team. So what will happen without that O line? I'm expecting 4-5 losses.

 

[snoopdog]

I think with Book running the show from the start ND finishes top 10.

If ND goes Wimbush..outside the top 25 finish.

ND WILL NOT be a running team next year. They will need a balanced attacked with accuracy from the qb essential to success.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

We had a once-in-a-generation O line and were still dominated by an average Miami team and an average Stanford team. So what will happen without that O line? I'm expecting 4-5 losses.

Ok...

 

[RDU Irish]

We had a once-in-a-generation O line and were still dominated by an average Miami team and an average Stanford team. So what will happen without that O line? I'm expecting 4-5 losses.

All three of our losses were to teams that finished in the Top 20. We went 3-3 against Top 25 finishers including absolutely destroying #12 and #15 USC and MSU. The problem is expecting to go 6-0 against Top 25 teams ... or thinking that Top 20 teams are "average".

 

[IrishTusker]

All three of our losses were to teams that finished in the Top 20. We went 3-3 against Top 25 finishers including absolutely destroying #12 and #15 USC and MSU. The problem is expecting to go 6-0 against Top 25 teams ... or thinking that Top 20 teams are "average".

I don't expect us to go 6-0 vs top 25 teams, although this year 5-1 would have been entirely realistic and doable. At the very least when we are favored we should expect a competitive game. Neither Miami nor Stanford were juggernauts. After smashing us both lost their conference title game and their bowl games.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

We had a once-in-a-generation O line and were still dominated by an average Miami team and an average Stanford team. So what will happen without that O line? I'm expecting 4-5 losses.

While I find your NDNation attitude appalling, I find your expectations almost right on. I think the schedule is difficult, I think the OL is a question mark, I think our defense is a question mark and our QB is a question mark.

All that likely equals, at minimum, 3 losses but we are so far away it's probably best to run with more optimism until we know what we have.

Plenty of things can go right or wrong.

Our recruiting has been very good and we have a large number of high quality athletes ready to fight for reps.

And it's the second year of Balis which gives me cautious optimism.

 

[ACamp1900]

All three of our losses were to teams that finished in the Top 20. We went 3-3 against Top 25 finishers including absolutely destroying #12 and #15 USC and MSU. The problem is expecting to go 6-0 against Top 25 teams ... or thinking that Top 20 teams are "average".

I'm gonna guess right now we play at least three teams that finish in the top 20 again... it'll be very difficult to win 10 games again imo.

 

[snoopdog]

next year our defence should be better

Defensive line should actually be a strength and one of the top Units in the country

Linebackers....If Coney comes back and Tranquill moves to Buck....could be better than last year

Defensive backfield should be significantly better

Offense could be nearly as good with Book

Offensive line will take a step back...but more than talented enough to be productive.

Running backs should be as good

Receivers should be better...maybe considerably better....with Book being more accurate.

SOS will probably be the same.

key game will be Michigan. Get out of the gate with a win...it could set up for a very good season.

10-2 or 9-3 is possible with a big win out of the gate.

 

[RDU Irish]

Its going to feel like crap when we start out 4-0 and start the season with a curb stomping of Michigan and then struggle to win half of the next 8 games. Potential to spiral out of control if Stanford beats us at home and we play @ Va Tech the way we played at Miami - then setting ourselves up for Pitt's annual upset of someone they have no sense beating.

Licking wounds over break at 4-3 to ship out to San Diego for Navy is easy to see that win leaving nothing in the tank for Northwestern to upset us the next week - both of those teams cracked Top 25 this year so don't tell me how "average" or crappy they are. Or we look past NW to FSU who will be chomping at the bit. Syracuse on the Yankee skating rink before heading to the opposite coast for USC..... yeah sign me up for 9-3 and happy about it.

More reasonable schedule has a exponentially higher chance of playoffs. Swap Northwestern for Western Michigan, play Syracuse at home and kick Stanford off the schedule for another Western Michigan type and we are looking at 11-1 or 10-2 being likely instead of irrationally hopeful.