ND 2013 Strength of Schedule

[Black Irish]

I am surprised that I'm the first one posting about this. Phil Steele's 2013 SOS list is out and the Irish are sitting at #13. Three of our opponents make the list and all of them have more difficult schedules, according to Steele: Oklahoma #2, Perdue #4, & Stanford #8. Notre Dame also ranks as one of the top three most difficult games on the schedule of every single team that plays the Irish this season. And, as a parting note, Alabama does not appear in the top 20. Here's the link from another ND fan site.

Notre Dame's 2013 Football Schedule Among Nation's Toughest | UHND

 

[PANDFAN]

I am surprised that I'm the first one posting about this. Phil Steele's 2013 SOS list is out and the Irish are sitting at #13. Three of our opponents make the list and all of them have more difficult schedules, according to Steele: Oklahoma #2, Perdue #4, & Stanford #8. Notre Dame also ranks as one of the top three most difficult games on the schedule of every single team that plays the Irish this season. And, as a parting note, Alabama does not appear in the top 20. Here's the link from another ND fan site.

Notre Dame's 2013 Football Schedule Among Nation's Toughest | UHND

it was posted a week or so ago..who knows where though

 

[ACamp1900]

When will we know what the 2014 schedule will look like, much of it seems up in the air...

 

[Black Irish]

it was posted a week or so ago..who knows where though

Yeah, I thought it was weird that I'd be the first one on this. I took a quick look through the ND football forum and didn't see anything. I'm more interested in the comparisons that the UHND article does, like how ND is one of the toughest games on everyone's schedule. We have some games to sweat this season, for sure, but everybody needs to sweat playing the Irish. I like that.

 

[NDhoosier]

Of course Bama is not going to be on there. Their schedule is fairly weak. They play Texas A&M and LSU, that's it.

 

[ACamp1900]

Of course Bama is not going to be on there. Their schedule is fairly weak. They play Texas A&M and LSU, that's it.

both wth bye weeks in front of them I believe.

 

[RammerJammer91]

I wish Bama would schedule more challenging games in OOC, because even though I have a favorite team, I'm a college football fan above everything else. And in no way am I defending Bama not scheduling more 6-8 win and/or Top 25 teams in the OOC, but a few things:

1.) It's not Bama's fault that VT is coming off a very poor year. I don't think many people saw that coming. They were in a BCS Bowl game just 2 years ago (2011-2012).

2.) I would GLADLY switch A&M and LSU, Bama's two toughest games, with ND's two toughest games of Stanford and Oklahoma. I'd do that any day of the week (the A&M game has me worried). One could make a strong case that Bama's two toughest games are more challenging than ND's two toughest games.

3.) Let's not act like ND's schedule is a murder's row, Stanford is a very good team, but let's look at the rest. Oklahoma is a quality team, but they likely won't be as good as they were in 2012, and they got exposed for the frauds that they were by A&M, who left 2 more TD's out there in the BCS Game. Michigan State and USC weren't anything special in 2012, Michigan was just "mehhh" and they don't appear to be a team that will set the world on fire in 2013. Arizona State is a decent team, but had only 1 quality win in 2012. There are also 3-4 teams that could win 6-7 games, nothing special, and make a lower-tier bowl game.

 

[anarin]

Ol crazy Perdue

 

[Woneone]

I wish Bama would schedule more challenging games in OOC, because even though I have a favorite team, I'm a college football fan above everything else. And in no way am I defending Bama not scheduling more 6-8 win and/or Top 25 teams in the OOC, but a few things:

1.) It's not Bama's fault that VT is coming off a very poor year. I don't think many people saw that coming. They were in a BCS Bowl game just 2 years ago (2011-2012).

2.) I would GLADLY switch A&M and LSU, Bama's two toughest games, with ND's two toughest games of Stanford and Oklahoma. I'd do that any day of the week (the A&M game has me worried). One could make a strong case that Bama's two toughest games are more challenging than ND's two toughest games.

3.) Let's not act like ND's schedule is a murder's row, Stanford is a very good team, but let's look at the rest. Oklahoma is a quality team, but they likely won't be as good as they were in 2012, and they got exposed for the frauds that they were by A&M, who left 2 more TD's out there in the BCS Game. Michigan State and USC weren't anything special in 2012, Michigan was just "mehhh" and they don't appear to be a team that will set the world on fire in 2013. Arizona State is a decent team, but had only 1 quality win in 2012. There are also 3-4 teams that could win 6-7 games, nothing special, and make a lower-tier bowl game.

I'd trade you Standford for LSU. Not so much A&M.

Although, I do think they take a step back this year, but I'm not confident enough in the prediction to actually make the trade if I had the oppertunity.

 

[RammerJammer91]

I don't know if I'd trade LSU for Stanford. I'd have to think about it. I meant it in more of a two game swap going both ways.

Example:
To Bama: @Stanford and Oklahoma
To ND: @A&M and LSU

 

[T Town Tommy]

This thread should start about November 1st. Preseason SOS assumes the teams will be good and we all know what happened last year with some highly ranked preseason teams - insert USC.

 

[NDWorld247]

I don't know if I'd trade LSU for Stanford. I'd have to think about it. I meant it in more of a two game swap going both ways.

Example:
To Bama: @Stanford and Oklahoma
To ND: @A&M and LSU

Does ND get bye weeks before each of those games?

IIRC, you participated in the Shameful Scheduling thread and it didn't turn out too well for you. Please don't rehash that discussion here.

 

[RammerJammer91]

Does ND get bye weeks before each of those games?

IIRC, you participated in the Shameful Scheduling thread and it didn't turn out too well for you. Please don't rehash that discussion here.

I didn't start anything. That wasn't my intention in that thread, nor is it in this thread. I stated my opinion and backed it up with facts. You are free to check out my past posts in that thread you are referring to if you wish.

 

[Black Irish]

I don't think Notre Dame's schedule is a murderer's row. Actually, since many of the teams the Irish are playing this year seem to have taken a step back from last season, I can see ND doing 9-10 wins without too much trouble even with the loss of major players.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

A lot of teams that we faced 2010 and 2011 have come down to earth since. Think about the QB's that we had to face those two years:

(1) Denard Robinson
(2) Kirk Cousins
(3) Matt Barkley
(4) Andrew Luck

2012 ND doesn't beat 2011 Stanford. Michigan State is still decent, but in 2010 and 2011 challenged for the Big 10 Title, nearly beating a very good Wisconsin and beat Georgia. The biggest difference (besides turnovers) between the 2011 and 2012 seasons is that many of the teams reverted more to the mean.

 

[ACamp1900]

I don't know if I'd trade LSU for Stanford. I'd have to think about it. I meant it in more of a two game swap going both ways.

Example:
To Bama: @Stanford and Oklahoma
To ND: @A&M and LSU

Bama would get the best of that if they get to keep the rest of their schedule around those two games...

I have played football (as many here have) and my experiences have lead me to fully believe it is harder to play above average or better competition week after week after week with a couple of REAL tests in there than it is to play a bunch of cream puffs with two REAL legit teams surrounded by said cream puffs that May be better than the couple of tests mentioned in the first hypothetical.

just my two cents

 

[irishpat183]

We don't play a very tough schedule. I'll go ahead and admit it.

OU is due for a fall off from last year, and as Jammer said, they got exposed in the bowl game and by ND. They weren't all that good to begin with and lost their vet QB and best threat at WR.


Stanford is really the only team that I consider a big time opponent this season..Not that i'm saying other teams won't be a suprise. And even Stanford lost their leading rusher and stud TE....

We'll see. We have our own challeges and can't really focus on opponents.

 

[irishpat183]

And there is no comparasion with A&M and LSU to Stanford and OU.

Come on guys. A&M would wax both those teams. LSU, it'd be close, but they'd also beat them both.

 

[chubler]

I agree with T Town here, we've gotta wait a while before discussing who's schedule is harder, or who's toughest 2 games are actually the toughest. The arguments can kinda be flipped: Didn't LSU lose something like 8 of their defensive starters (and most importantly 3/4 of their Dline)? A&M had some significant losses as well on D and the Oline. OU has 4 of 5 Olinemen returning, and Stanford is ranked top 5 by just about everyone. All 4 teams have major questions, especially A&M. They've got Johnny Football, so everyone assumes they're gonna be great, but we'll see just how good Johnny Football is without his all-world left tackle, and now that coordinators have had a chance to get his game figured out.

 

[Booslum31]

I think Michigan is going to be a lot better this year and should be in the conversation and you never know which MSU team will show up. I'm not sure how this "Dozer" guy from OU will hold up thru the season...big target.

 

[ulukinatme]

And there is no comparasion with A&M and LSU to Stanford and OU.

Come on guys. A&M would wax both those teams. LSU, it'd be close, but they'd also beat them both.

I dunno about A&M. They struggled and lost against two good teams, then pulled an upset against Alabama that few people thought would happen. They're kind of up and down, and if you go back to their history in the Big 12 you see nothing but consistent mediocrity. I think Sumlin is a pretty good coach, but maybe A&M caught a couple teams off guard last year. I think they're certainly a good team, and Sumlin will continue to develop them, but I think they'll have a much bigger target on their back this year. I'm also curious how Johnny's off season hijinks till affect his play on the field this year. He may knock it out of the park and be even better, but I have a feeling his production is going to be down a little from 2012.

In any case, Stanford was a Rose Bowl champion and beat some pretty good teams in the PAC 12. I think they would have been a good match for A&M last year. No idea how the two would match up this year till we get to September.

 

[irishpat183]

I dunno about A&M. They struggled and lost against two good teams, then pulled an upset against Alabama that few people thought would happen. They're kind of up and down, and if you go back to their history in the Big 12 you see nothing but consistent mediocrity. I think Sumlin is a pretty good coach, but maybe A&M caught a couple teams off guard last year. I think they're certainly a good team, and Sumlin will continue to develop them, but I think they'll have a much bigger target on their back this year. I'm also curious how Johnny's off season hijinks till affect his play on the field this year. He may knock it out of the park and be even better, but I have a feeling his production is going to be down a little from 2012.

In any case, Stanford was a Rose Bowl champion and beat some pretty good teams in the PAC 12. I think they would have been a good match for A&M last year. No idea how the two would match up this year till we get to September.

I'm actually of the opposite...I think Sumlin has always been overrated. The only year he had success down here at UofH is when he had 6th year QB, Case Keenum and played 1 team with a .500 record that year (UCLA). Sumlin is just a lucky guy...he was average over the rest of his coaching career. Now he's got Johnny Football (and don't be mistaken, he's a stud) and he'll ride that wave.

I think tye're a good team and only going to get better. I'll give Sumlin one thing, he's been kililng it recruting wise.

 

[kmoose]

And there is no comparasion with A&M and LSU to Stanford and OU.

Come on guys. A&M would wax both those teams. LSU, it'd be close, but they'd also beat them both.

I'm not sold on A&M. They gave up almost 400 yards a game, last year. And Johnny Football appears to be a train wreck happening right before our eyes. If he doesn't get his proverbial $hit together, before Fall, it could be a long season for the Aggies.