General team info

[KPENN]

I miss Notre Dame football

 

[stpeteirish]

Winter roster is up on UND.com. I don't recall they doing this so early before. Pretty much as expected as most of the exits/additions have already been documented.

Fields and Washington are not on there. I presume this is because they are still at their original schools to complete their degrees. Tosh Baker not on there, also not in the portal. Maybe just done with football?

EE frosh and transfers in have heights and weights listed. Dixon weighs 322. Strebig is 6-8 298. Matty Augustine 6-7 292. No problem getting big for those guys.

 

[NDohio]

Winter roster is up on UND.com. I don't recall they doing this so early before. Pretty much as expected as most of the exits/additions have already been documented.

Fields and Washington are not on there. I presume this is because they are still at their original schools to complete their degrees. Tosh Baker not on there, also not in the portal. Maybe just done with football?

EE frosh and transfers in have heights and weights listed. Dixon weighs 322. Strebig is 6-8 298. Matty Augustine 6-7 292. No problem getting big for those guys.

Isn't Tosh Baker out of eligibility?

 

[NDFAN2008]

Winter roster is up on UND.com. I don't recall they doing this so early before. Pretty much as expected as most of the exits/additions have already been documented.

Fields and Washington are not on there. I presume this is because they are still at their original schools to complete their degrees. Tosh Baker not on there, also not in the portal. Maybe just done with football?

EE frosh and transfers in have heights and weights listed. Dixon weighs 322. Strebig is 6-8 298. Matty Augustine 6-7 292. No problem getting big for those guys.

Onye is on there so assuming he will be back?

 

[IrishFanForever23]

Onye is on there so assuming he will be back?

No, not necessarily. Matt Freeman said he wouldn't read too much into this roster just yet.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Didn't realize Black wasn't an EE. Like Lambert, I doubt that put's him in position to be in the 2-deep rotation next year.

 

[IAIrish]

Winter roster is up on UND.com. I don't recall they doing this so early before. Pretty much as expected as most of the exits/additions have already been documented.

Fields and Washington are not on there. I presume this is because they are still at their original schools to complete their degrees. Tosh Baker not on there, also not in the portal. Maybe just done with football?

EE frosh and transfers in have heights and weights listed. Dixon weighs 322. Strebig is 6-8 298. Matty Augustine 6-7 292. No problem getting big for those guys.

Pretty standard to have it listed with ee's/ mid year transfers from what I recall

 

[dublinirish]

 

[forkbeard3777]

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread, but I wanted to bounce this question of you all. Recently, it seems like the "Notre Dame needs to join a conference" discussion points really escalated - to the point where it was obnoxious - while Freeman and ND were making their CFP run. I found it to be particularly annoying because Notre Dame being an independent isn't some new or enlightening discovery in college football. They've been playing ball for 100+years and all of a sudden you're going to slam your fist on the table and demand that Notre Dame join a conference! Nevertheless, you can argue the strength or weakness of Notre Dame's schedule till you're blue in the face.

That said, wouldn't you argue or assume that by not being in a conference, it makes the schedule that much more challenging for Notre Dame? More specifically, aside from the annual rivalries (USC and Navy), you're likely not as familiar with your opponent. LSU know what's happening (coaching, roster, scheme, etc.) with Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, etc. Michigan is keenly aware and knows how to scheme for Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State. Alabama is locked in on what's happening with LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, and so forth...

Notre Dame has some familiarity with a few schools, but playing new teams or having a gap in scheduling a team (Purdue for example), theoretically, would make it more challenging to prepare. You can certainly argue that it goes both ways (i.e., the opponent also is facing the same difficulties in preparing for Notre Dame), but routinely playing multiple teams that you haven't faced or schemed for in quite some time must be taken into consideration as challenging. Notre Dame hasn't played Miami in what...6 years? Arkansas? Have they ever played? Boise? See Arkansas. NC State is pretty sporadic I'm sure. I could be wrong, but it seems like it has been a few years since ND played BC?

I'm no football coach, but an independent that lacks familiarity with an opponent or generally isn't facing the same teams year in and year out seems very challenging in my opinion. The conference proponents (and it isn't just the "SEC...SEC...SEC" types) seem to disregard that or not take it into account at all.

 

[IrishSpartan]

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread, but I wanted to bounce this question of you all. Recently, it seems like the "Notre Dame needs to join a conference" discussion points really escalated - to the point where it was obnoxious - while Freeman and ND were making their CFP run. I found it to be particularly annoying because Notre Dame being an independent isn't some new or enlightening discovery in college football. They've been playing ball for 100+years and all of a sudden you're going to slam your fist on the table and demand that Notre Dame join a conference! Nevertheless, you can argue the strength or weakness of Notre Dame's schedule till you're blue in the face.

That said, wouldn't you argue or assume that by not being in a conference, it makes it more challenging for Notre Dame? More specifically, aside from the annual rivalries (USC and Navy), you're likely not as familiar with your opponent. LSU know what's happening (coaching, roster, scheme, etc.) with Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, etc. Michigan is keenly aware and knows how to scheme for Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State. Alabama is locked in on what's happening with LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, and so forth...

Notre Dame has some familiarity with a few schools, but playing new teams or having a gap in scheduling a team (Purdue for example), theoretically, would make it more challenging to prepare. You can certainly argue that it goes both ways (i.e., the opponent also is facing the same difficulties in preparing for Notre Dame), but routinely playing multiple teams that you haven't faced or schemed for in quite some time must be taken into consideration as challenging. Notre Dame hasn't played Miami in what...6 years? Arkansas? Have they ever played? Boise? See Arkansas. NC State is pretty sporadic I'm sure. I could be wrong, but it seems like it has been a few years since ND played BC?

I'm no football coach, but an independent that lacks familiarity with an opponent or generally isn't facing the same teams year in and year out seems very challenging in my opinion. The conference proponents (and it isn't just the "SEC...SEC...SEC" types) seem to disregard that or not take it into account at all.

there are benifits to both. Independence is the right choice especially if you make it deep into the playoffs every year. The money we made is more than anyone else by a huge margin because we do not have to share it with conference members. This is also the main reason for the media stance against us.

 

[stlnd01]

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread, but I wanted to bounce this question of you all. Recently, it seems like the "Notre Dame needs to join a conference" discussion points really escalated - to the point where it was obnoxious - while Freeman and ND were making their CFP run. I found it to be particularly annoying because Notre Dame being an independent isn't some new or enlightening discovery in college football. They've been playing ball for 100+years and all of a sudden you're going to slam your fist on the table and demand that Notre Dame join a conference! Nevertheless, you can argue the strength or weakness of Notre Dame's schedule till you're blue in the face.

That said, wouldn't you argue or assume that by not being in a conference, it makes the schedule that much more challenging for Notre Dame? More specifically, aside from the annual rivalries (USC and Navy), you're likely not as familiar with your opponent. LSU know what's happening (coaching, roster, scheme, etc.) with Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, etc. Michigan is keenly aware and knows how to scheme for Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State. Alabama is locked in on what's happening with LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, and so forth...

Notre Dame has some familiarity with a few schools, but playing new teams or having a gap in scheduling a team (Purdue for example), theoretically, would make it more challenging to prepare. You can certainly argue that it goes both ways (i.e., the opponent also is facing the same difficulties in preparing for Notre Dame), but routinely playing multiple teams that you haven't faced or schemed for in quite some time must be taken into consideration as challenging. Notre Dame hasn't played Miami in what...6 years? Arkansas? Have they ever played? Boise? See Arkansas. NC State is pretty sporadic I'm sure. I could be wrong, but it seems like it has been a few years since ND played BC?

I'm no football coach, but an independent that lacks familiarity with an opponent or generally isn't facing the same teams year in and year out seems very challenging in my opinion. The conference proponents (and it isn't just the "SEC...SEC...SEC" types) seem to disregard that or not take it into account at all.

There are a variety of pluses and minuses and I probably feel less strongly about preserving our independence than I used to (The Big Ten's West Coast move, and adding USC in particular, made me a lot more open to us joining the Big Ten).

But in general I don't think the "Notre Dame MUST join a conference" crowd thinks about it in a very sophisticated manner at all. They just see something they're unfamiliar with and they throw a little hissy fit. Kind of like a toddler. Whatever. That's a them problem, not an us problem.

To your point about familiarity, yeah, usually eight or nine of the 12 teams on our schedule are teams we didn't play the prior seasons. I'm sure that's challenging for game prep. Though as the conferences get bigger and move away from divisions that's also more true for the B1G and SEC as well.

 

[SWirishfan]

there are benifits to both. Independence is the right choice especially if you make it deep into the playoffs every year. The money we made is more than anyone else by a huge margin because we do not have to share it with conference members. This is also the main reason for the media stance against us.

Given that the whole of CFB will now be cash on barrel, I am surprised more perennial Top-12 schools are not making the move to independence, not out of any great desire but to keep as much of their earnings to themselves.

I think we booked something like $35M in CFP games and expenses without sharing it.
Next highest was OSU at $11.7M (includes sharing the whole B10 bounty of $48M amongst 18 teams)
3rd was PSU at $8.9M (includes sharing the whole B10 bounty of $48M amongst 18 teams)

Playing in the CFP Final as part of the B10 is less than an Independent team winning 2 games.
Losing the CFP paid ND $35M ($4M making CFP, $4M beating IU, $6M beating UGA, $6M beating PSU, $6M playing in Final) + $12M($3M in expenses for each round (I didnt count the home game)


Nota Bene: B10 Bounty adds from IU ($4M for making CFP), Oregon ($4M - $4M for making CFP), PSU ($14M - $4M making CFP, $4M beating SMU, $6M beating Boise St), OSU ($26M - $4M for making CFP + $4M beating Tenn + $6M beating Oregon, + $6M beating Texas, + $6M beating...us)

CFP Pay Out Info

 

[Fbolt]

That type of pragmatism will get you kicked out of Tiger Droppings Mr. Forkbeard.

There is also the concept of playing teams in a variety of leagues would be more challenging as many teams/leagues have philosophies. Run heavy, option heavy, pass heavy, pro-style. ND plays the gamut and with that, excellent experience and more challenging than playing conference teams with similar play.

 

[NDRock]

I always laugh at the people who bitch about the changes and loss of traditions in college football but also want Notre Dame to join a conference. I love that it pisses people off.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread, but I wanted to bounce this question of you all. Recently, it seems like the "Notre Dame needs to join a conference" discussion points really escalated - to the point where it was obnoxious - while Freeman and ND were making their CFP run. I found it to be particularly annoying because Notre Dame being an independent isn't some new or enlightening discovery in college football. They've been playing ball for 100+years and all of a sudden you're going to slam your fist on the table and demand that Notre Dame join a conference! Nevertheless, you can argue the strength or weakness of Notre Dame's schedule till you're blue in the face.

That said, wouldn't you argue or assume that by not being in a conference, it makes the schedule that much more challenging for Notre Dame? More specifically, aside from the annual rivalries (USC and Navy), you're likely not as familiar with your opponent. LSU know what's happening (coaching, roster, scheme, etc.) with Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, etc. Michigan is keenly aware and knows how to scheme for Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State. Alabama is locked in on what's happening with LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, and so forth...

Notre Dame has some familiarity with a few schools, but playing new teams or having a gap in scheduling a team (Purdue for example), theoretically, would make it more challenging to prepare. You can certainly argue that it goes both ways (i.e., the opponent also is facing the same difficulties in preparing for Notre Dame), but routinely playing multiple teams that you haven't faced or schemed for in quite some time must be taken into consideration as challenging. Notre Dame hasn't played Miami in what...6 years? Arkansas? Have they ever played? Boise? See Arkansas. NC State is pretty sporadic I'm sure. I could be wrong, but it seems like it has been a few years since ND played BC?

I'm no football coach, but an independent that lacks familiarity with an opponent or generally isn't facing the same teams year in and year out seems very challenging in my opinion. The conference proponents (and it isn't just the "SEC...SEC...SEC" types) seem to disregard that or not take it into account at all.

The "Notre Dame needs to join a conference" schtick is the dumbest argument in college football. Mouth breathers love to regurgitate it on social media, it's right up there with every school believing Saban or Gruden coul;d be coming to them 10 years ago. ND already plays an 8-9 game P4 schedule, which is the same as the other P4 conference teams. Most years it's a fairly strong schedule, but sometimes you can get an FSU falling off or a USC like this year and the schedule ends up lacking a bit. There were P4 teams with easier schedules, probably Indiana, but you get the point. We don't schedule FCS, so that gives us a leg up on some other teams schedule wise. Sure, we don't get a conference championship, but we don't get the BYE either, so Round 1 of the playoff effectively becomes our CCG game.

Using the above, I don't see how our independence gives us any real scheduling advantages over the average P4 team. We meet basically all the qualifications, and that's exactly why we have special bowl tie ins as well as why ND is considered a P4 team. They're even counted as a P4 team when other P4 schedules need to meet certain scheduling requirements.

There may come a time where we can't avoid being independent and we'll fully need to join a conference. USC has already talked about dropping us because their schedule is hard enough as it is apparently. Until that day comes it just makes more sense for ND to continue with business as usual. Being a national brand and playing all over the country has not only increased brand exposure, but it's helped with recruiting. Not having to share the playoff cash is a nice incentive too, although that relies on us actually making it each year as we get no shared profits like other schools get.

 

[Irish du Nord]

The "Notre Dame needs to join a conference" schtick is the dumbest argument in college football. Mouth breathers love to regurgitate it on social media, it's right up there with every school believing Saban or Gruden coul;d be coming to them 10 years ago. ND already plays an 8-9 game P4 schedules, which is the same as the other P4 conference teams. Most years it's a fairly strong schedule, but sometimes you can get an FSU falling off or a USC like this year and the schedule ends up lacking a bit. There were P4 teams with easier schedules, probably Indiana, but you get the point. We don't schedule FCS, so that gives us a leg up on some other teams schedule wise. Sure, we don't get a conference championship, but we don't get the BYE either, so Round 1 of the playoff effectively becomes our CCG game.

Using the above, I don't see how our independence gives us any real scheduling advantages over the average P4 team. We meet basically all the qualifications, and that's exactly why we have special bowl tie ins as well as why ND is considered a P4 team. They're even counted as a P4 team when other P4 schedules need to meet certain scheduling requirements.

There may come a time where we can't avoid being independent and we'll fully need to join a conference. USC has already talked about dropping us because their schedule is hard enough as it is apparently. Until that day comes it just makes more sense for ND to continue with business as usual. Being a national brand and playing all over the country has not only increased brand exposure, but it's helped with recruiting. Not having to share the playoff cash is a nice incentive too, although that relies on us actually making it each year as we get no shared profits like other schools get.

In fairness, USC didn’t say this, Lincoln Riley did. As is, I don’t think he has the sway to get that changed

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread, but I wanted to bounce this question of you all. Recently, it seems like the "Notre Dame needs to join a conference" discussion points really escalated - to the point where it was obnoxious - while Freeman and ND were making their CFP run. I found it to be particularly annoying because Notre Dame being an independent isn't some new or enlightening discovery in college football. They've been playing ball for 100+years and all of a sudden you're going to slam your fist on the table and demand that Notre Dame join a conference! Nevertheless, you can argue the strength or weakness of Notre Dame's schedule till you're blue in the face.

That said, wouldn't you argue or assume that by not being in a conference, it makes the schedule that much more challenging for Notre Dame? More specifically, aside from the annual rivalries (USC and Navy), you're likely not as familiar with your opponent. LSU know what's happening (coaching, roster, scheme, etc.) with Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, etc. Michigan is keenly aware and knows how to scheme for Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State. Alabama is locked in on what's happening with LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, and so forth...

Notre Dame has some familiarity with a few schools, but playing new teams or having a gap in scheduling a team (Purdue for example), theoretically, would make it more challenging to prepare. You can certainly argue that it goes both ways (i.e., the opponent also is facing the same difficulties in preparing for Notre Dame), but routinely playing multiple teams that you haven't faced or schemed for in quite some time must be taken into consideration as challenging. Notre Dame hasn't played Miami in what...6 years? Arkansas? Have they ever played? Boise? See Arkansas. NC State is pretty sporadic I'm sure. I could be wrong, but it seems like it has been a few years since ND played BC?

I'm no football coach, but an independent that lacks familiarity with an opponent or generally isn't facing the same teams year in and year out seems very challenging in my opinion. The conference proponents (and it isn't just the "SEC...SEC...SEC" types) seem to disregard that or not take it into account at all.

Don't forget that ND's opponents will notoriously schedule a Bye the week prior as well as make it a night game environment when they host ND.

IMO, the real reason people pound the table over this topic of scheduling and conference is because they hate how much leverage ND has in the sport.

 

[forkbeard3777]

In fairness, USC didn’t say this, Lincoln Riley did. As is, I don’t think he has the sway to get that changed

He definitely doesn't have that pull. That said, just to entertain the topic, that would be pretty damn pathetic on USC to wiggle out of that rivalry.

Just looking at their '25 schedule, they've got Missouri State, Georgia Southern, @ Purdue, Michigan State, @ Illinois, Michigan, @ Notre Dame, @ Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa, @ Oregon, and UCLA. It's largely manageable. As far as SEC schools, UF-FSU, SC-Clemson, UK-Louisville, and UGA-GT still preserve their out-of-conference rivalries. It would be a shame for USC to bow out...

 

[Irish du Nord]

He definitely doesn't have that pull. That said, just to entertain the topic, that would be pretty damn pathetic on USC to wiggle out of that rivalry.

Just looking at their '25 schedule, they've got Missouri State, Georgia Southern, @ Purdue, Michigan State, @ Illinois, Michigan, @ Notre Dame, @ Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa, @ Oregon, and UCLA. It's largely manageable. As far as SEC schools, UF-FSU, SC-Clemson, UK-Louisville, and UGA-GT still preserve their out-of-conference rivalries. It would be a shame for USC to bow out...

Two good teams on that schedule, if they're 8-4 does Riley get canned? Who does Boombox Bowden get to replace him if so?

 

[laughingirish92]

Winter roster is up on UND.com. I don't recall they doing this so early before. Pretty much as expected as most of the exits/additions have already been documented.

Fields and Washington are not on there. I presume this is because they are still at their original schools to complete their degrees. Tosh Baker not on there, also not in the portal. Maybe just done with football?

EE frosh and transfers in have heights and weights listed. Dixon weighs 322. Strebig is 6-8 298. Matty Augustine 6-7 292. No problem getting big for those guys.

yes somebody said recently on a podcast abut irish football that Fields was still completing his degree and so he couldn't be competing in spring ball but the way they talked he could be on campus though and doing his UVA classes online

 

[Pete]

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Hopefully the episode ends after the opening drive.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Nice montage of every ND TD from the ‘24-‘25 season.

 

[Irish8248]

Hopefully the episode ends after the opening drive.

Like the sopranos ending -- black screen, end credits, hit the music

 

[FWIrish4]

I encourage everyone to watch it.

What an incredible pregame speech from Freeman before the Georgia game. He’s a helluva coach and gets it.

Also, ending got me in the feels. Freeman damn near in tears at the end and you can tell how bad he wanted it. What an awesome team and season to enjoy.

 

[NDPhilly]

I still can’t believe we beat SEC champion Georgia by 13 in a playoff game. Going to take an entire offseason to sink in.

 

[KPENN]

I still can’t believe we beat SEC champion Georgia by 13 in a playoff game. Going to take an entire offseason to sink in.

And had a 10+ point lead for over half of the game

 

[ndfanatic78]

Damn I hate Fucknuts!!!!!

 

[ulukinatme]

Damn I hate Fucknuts!!!!!

We are so due for a win against those fuckers. 7 straight is ridiculous. Should have had them last year but Parker blew it. They were beatable in the championship game, just a few too many horses were injured.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

We are so due for a win against those fuckers. 7 straight is ridiculous. Should have had them last year but Parker blew it. They were beatable in the championship game, just a few too many horses were injured.

I know injuries are part of the game, but I will always wonder what could have been had we been healthy. ESPECIALLY if BenMo, Mills, and Traore had been out there. I also think Cross was really hobbled.