General team info

[IRISHDODGER]

Now that they’ve had somewhat of a comeuppance in the new CFB landscape, I’d bet on an SEC team to win it all this year. Odds are they won’t fall short four years in a row.

 

[IrishTusker]

Now that they’ve had somewhat of a comeuppance in the new CFB landscape, I’d bet on an SEC team to win it all this year. Odds are they won’t fall short four years in a row.

Isn't that exactly what the odds predict?

 

[Irish#1]

Interesting comparison on Denbrock's passing game from Chris Wilson.

Let’s look specifically at how the best non-Love Denbrock offenses have been formed. In 2023, LSU finished No. 2 in F+ and Jayden Daniels won the Heisman. That pass distribution was first-round pick Malik Nabers (89 for 1569) (are you kidding me), first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. (68 for 1177) (and 17 touchdowns), tight end Mason Taylor (36 for 348) and the late Kyren Lacy (30 for 558). No one else had more than 14 catches.

In 2015 at Notre Dame, Denbrock dealt with a lot of injuries, including needing to turn to an inexperienced quarterback by the end of the second game. The Irish still had the No. 7 F+ offense and were also, to use a technical term, Really Fun To Watch. That reception breakdown looked like Will Fuller (62 for 1258), Chris Brown (48 for 597), Amir Carlisle (32 for 355), Torii Hunter, Jr. (28 for 363) and C.J. Prosise (26 for 308). Perhaps this is a framework the Irish could aspire to in 2026, but that would require someone to be as good as Fuller as your clear-cut alpha who is drawing multiple defensive backs on a lot of snaps and running by all of them anyway.

Denbrock made the four-team playoff with Cincinnati in 2021 with four receivers (including future Day Two NFL Draft picks Alec Pierce and Tre Tucker) and two tight ends all between 26 and 52 catches. Another potential framework, but quarterback Desmond Ridder was a rushing threat and that offense only finished 17th in F+. The Irish have to aim higher to win multiple playoff games.

A lot of time for Carr and Denbrock to sort things out, but if the running game indeed takes a step back they’ll need to settle on at least one and ideally two dudes at receiver through which to run the offense. Maybe this will be an exception to the rule but the idea of a half-dozen different wideouts kicking in a couple dozen receptions each has not traditionally been the path to an elite passing offense.

 

[Pete]

We’re getting close

 

[Pete]

 

[KPENN]

 

[calvegas04]

Fuck cowherd

 

[Irishdwarte]

Both those assholes were singing a different tune last year when ND got fucked out of the playoffs. Piss off ya cunts.

 

[ulukinatme]

Cowturd AND "I'm right once a season" Pate?!

 

[jprue24]

Cowherd was a big Clausen fan.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Cowherd was a big Clausen fan.

He tends to favor anything from California.

 

[Free Manera]

These guys have no idea what ND is doing in NIL lol. They think it's an underdog story when it's actually a sleeping giant waking up story.

 

[Pete]

 

[Classic Irish]

I was there.

 

[texbender]

I was there.

Me too. Irish rolled that day, and Bettis ran all over them.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I was near there.
Killeen, TX.

 

[ozzman]

I wasn't there but I had my Cheerios bowl ready

 

[RudyVerse]

I can't think of anything I'd change for the 2026 schedule. It's the most perfect schedule in my ND lifetime.

Love the BYE after BYU. Night away game, and have to prep for Navy and heal up for Miami. Toughest games at home after that, Miami and SMU.

Miami on the other hand will be slugging through leading up to our game. FSU, Pitt, and then away at NC (make it a night game). Beautiful schedule.

Only thing I'd change is remove Stanford permanently as that's the most boring and worthless game in existence.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

I can't think of anything I'd change for the 2026 schedule. It's the most perfect schedule in my ND lifetime.

Love the BYE after BYU. Night away game, and have to prep for Navy and heal up for Miami. Toughest games at home after that, Miami and SMU.

Miami on the other hand will be slugging through leading up to our game. FSU, Pitt, and then away at NC (make it a night game). Beautiful schedule.

Only thing I'd change is remove Stanford permanently as that's the most boring and worthless game in existence.

Agree re: Stanford. It's become such a bad matchup lately. I generally enjoy going to ND games when they play out west but have no desire to go there again.

 

[RudyVerse]

Agree re: Stanford. It's become such a bad matchup lately. I generally enjoy going to ND games when they play out west but have no desire to go there again.

Meant to post this in the “optimal schedule” thread.

 

[dublinirish]

theres no recruiting boon for the stanford game either anymore, its time to end the series

 

[rtrn2glory]

That team might've won it all in today's playoff format

 

[Irish#1]

I was near there.
Killeen, TX.

With a buzz cut?

 

[Classic Irish]

I wasn't there but I had my Cheerios bowl ready

I think you’re referring the Sugar Bowl against Florida. I was there too.

 

[ozzman]

I think you’re referring the Sugar Bowl against Florida. I was there too.

Oops yeah. That's what I get for half paying attention. I wasn't at the a&m game either.

 

[calvegas04]

Hopefully they can erase the teams memory from tonight

 

[SoIll]

Like why? What benefit/ message could SAS actually bring to the table?

 

[IrishInOntario]

Like why? What benefit/ message could SAS actually bring to the table?

"I've made a quadrillion dollars talking shit. If football doesn't work out, you can too."

 

[Huntr]

This is sickening…Bump Notre Dame. Get your ass in a conference and compete like everybody else.

Not sure why we need to have a guy that says "<Fuck> Notre Dame" come and speak to the team.

 

[irishnd31]

Not sure why we need to have a guy that says "<Fuck> Notre Dame" come and speak to the team.

Not mad at the idea of bringing in one of the clowns that was beating the "Leave ND out of the playoffs" drum loudly last January. May all the players remember those that kept them out and now, "Leave No Doubt"