Jan 2 | Georgia

[thekid33]

Making the playoff and winning a game was the minimal threshold of success for this year.

We did it.

Some heavy hitters in the sport didn't.

Alabama didn't do that.
Michigan didn't do that.
USC didn't do that.
None of the Florida schools did it.

I want to beat that Bulldog ass as much as anyone.

But, it's going to be a war - especially with our injuries.

If it doesn't go our way, I don't want people in here trying to gaslight us into thinking this year was a failure.

Outside voices are going to be saying it and trying to convince you.

But, don't buy into it.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

I'm not saying I don't care about beating Georgia ... I obviously very badly hope ND wins this game ... but it's legit remarkable that they have lost as many key defenders as they have to injury AND all these OL to injury and made it this far. Like ND replaced arguably the best corner in the country with a true freshman... and just keeps winning? It's pretty much house money to me at this point.

I would feel much more in your camp, if this didn't feel like ND's best chance at a National Title in almost three decades.
Obviously, 2012 we only needed to win (1) game, but Alabama was a 10 point favorite against us on a neutral, and obviously that was even flattering for us based on the final score line.

I know its just "math" but power rating systems actually have us neck and neck right now with the other top programs this season.

2025 College Football Power Index - ESPN

View the 2025 College Football power index on ESPN. The FPI is the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season.

www.espn.com

It's going to eat at me for a long time if injuries turn out to be our downfall.
It's of course a part of sports, but I've been waiting (33) years a for a shot like this, who knows with the crazy changing landscape how long we will have to wait again for things to break just right for us.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I would feel much more in your camp, if this didn't feel like ND's best chance at a National Title in almost three decades.
Obviously, 2012 we only needed to win (1) game, but Alabama was a 10 point favorite against us on a neutral, and obviously that was even flattering for us based on the final score line.

I know its just "math" but power rating systems actually have us neck and neck right now with the other top programs this season.

2025 College Football Power Index - ESPN

View the 2025 College Football power index on ESPN. The FPI is the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season.

www.espn.com

It's going to eat at me for a long time if injuries turn out to be our downfall.
It's of course a part of sports, but I've been waiting (33) years a for a shot like this, who knows with the crazy changing landscape how long we will have to wait again for things to break just right for us.

This is exactly how I feel.

 

[NDQuebec]

Making the playoff and winning a game was the minimal threshold of success for this year.

We did it.

Some heavy hitters in the sport didn't.

Alabama didn't do that.
Michigan didn't do that.
USC didn't do that.
None of the Florida schools did it.

I want to beat that Bulldog ass as much as anyone.

But, it's going to be a war - especially with our injuries.

If it doesn't go our way, I don't want people in here trying to gaslight us into thinking this year was a failure.

Outside voices are going to be saying it and trying to convince you.

But, don't buy into it.

Agree that this was the minimum threshold for success. Now that ND achieved this, we want more more more!

 

[CTIDANDREW]

The other winning teams didn't suffer any major injuries.

I hear you. Absolutely not an exact science, just like getting the (1) seed in the NFL and bye doesn't guarantee you anything.
See the Baltimore Ravens last year as the obvious case for that.

However, shortening your path to ultimate glory is almost always the best case scenario in any athletic endeavor, and I just didn't like that we gave that up at the negotiating table the first go around.

 

[EvilleIrish]

I'm not saying I don't care about beating Georgia ... I obviously very badly hope ND wins this game ... but it's legit remarkable that they have lost as many key defenders as they have to injury AND all these OL to injury and made it this far. Like ND replaced arguably the best corner in the country with a true freshman... and just keeps winning? It's pretty much house money to me at this point.

Kind of where I’m at…but man it’s hard not to think about where ND could be if fully healthy. Would they be the betting favorite at this point?

 

[IrishLax]

And the game is effectively a pick em, even with all these injuries factored in. Wild stuff.

Yeah this is equally wild... imagine rewinding to two years ago and saying "hey ND will be in a playoff game against Georgia where they will have lost 3 starting OL, their All-American CB, 3 best DEs, an NFL caliber DT, atop linebacker, and had about a dozen other injuries... and the game will be a coin flip." Sounds completely delusional.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

You haven’t mentioned this once yet

You’re right, he’s mentioned it 50 times.

 

[china423]

 

[EvilleIrish]

Mills out for the playoffs

 

[CoachB]

Major ouch! Can Charles play D tackle? lol

 

[IrishTusker]

Kind of where I’m at…but man it’s hard not to think about where ND could be if fully healthy. Would they be the betting favorite at this point?

To beat UGA? Maybe. I doubt ND would be the betting favorite to win it all, though.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Damn, that sucks.

 

[Kingbish01]

Mills being out is so bad for the defense, I'm actually considering saving the money now. Who is the next man in??

 

[notredomer23]

Mills being out is so bad for the defense, I'm actually considering saving the money now. Who is the next man in??

Gabe Rubio

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

LB and DBs gonna have to play out of their skulls. Offense needs to control the clock and be efficient. Oof

 

[Giddyup]

Give Onye some money to stop being a pussy and play.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

Give Onye some money to stop being a pussy and play.

This one is by far most frustrating.

 

[IrishTusker]

Look at the number of Broncos players on IR in 2018-22, and then now. It's hard not to notice patterns. And if injuries are all luck, pay someone who has better luck.

 

[notredomer23]

Mills is a huge loss, no way around it. But I suspect many that feel ND doesn't stand a chance now are the same ones that have said time and time again that Mills is overrated and not good. Just look at his thread.

It's a big loss. ND's had a lot of big losses this year and they've somehow gotten better. I trust Golden to put the boys in the position to succeed.

 

[MacIrish75]

Sevillano and/or Mukam better be ready to play 30 defensive snaps…

 

[gregm83]

3 DT rotation. Better keep the defense off the field and no long drives.

 

[KMac151993]

This is a huge loss...the same as them losing Beck. Let's see which team adapts.

Rubio better nut up.

Can we bring back Kurt Hinish?

 

[Irish du Nord]

Clemson beat us and Bama without Dexter Lawrence, right?

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

We still have Young right? He isn’t hurt?

 

[WildMan1]

Rubio & Sevillano need to take this opportunity & run with it.

I actually think Sean will.. and might serve as the clog in the middle we need.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Ugh. This sucks. Mills was such an impact in the middle, both against the run and the pass.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I suspect that our DL will come to play. When one of your brothers goes down, the focus and effort goes up. That game that Cross went down, Mills wasn't doing much of anything. Cross goes down and Mills played like a man possessed.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Hopefully Cross can play more than last week too.

 

[MacIrish75]

Ty Chan played DL in high school. He’s buried on the OL depth chart. He’s got the measurables…