The 2019 schedule is insane

[T-Boone]

I might come across for the New Mexico game then spend a few days travelling down to the Georgia game.

Lets get a bus load together for a road trip (I wont be fit to drive most days).

 

[BGIF]

I might come across for the New Mexico game then spend a few days travelling down to the Georgia game.

Lets get a bus load together for a road trip (I wont be fit to drive most days).

Lefties.

 

[NDVirginia19]

UGA should be the only game we are not favored to win. I’m not afraid of Michigan or the big house, and we are returning a lot of talent, especially if Love comes back to be a captain. I won’t be worried about a Clay Helton coached USC at home, and I think this year we saw the beginning of the end for Shaw at Stanford.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I find the best deal is always in the parking lot, haven't struck out since '93.

I can second Crusader's statement here. If I don't score face value through the public tix offering or through the lottery from my family members who are alum, I typically will just tailgate my ass off in the morning and pack up slightly early and head to the stadium to scalp. Never fails, and the closer you wait until kickoff, you'll be amazed how the asking price goes down. I rarely pay much above face, only recent time I did was 2015 USC, and the only reason I budged was because we had a big family tailgate going and I didn't feel like leaving early to scalp so I paid $20 each over face about 2 hours before the game; all in all, not bad.

So, baring an upset I think we could very likely go 10-2 at worst next season with 11-1 being very possible. I don't see us running the table again, only because the law of averages says we drop a game somewhere or likely lose to Georgia since teams just don't go undefeated in back to back years when you're playing tough teams. I would take 10-2 though, especially if we at least win against Clemson this season.

No doubt that this is another tough schedule on paper, but we all witnessed what happened to this year's schedule as the season progressed. Still don't know how anyone wouldn't be happy with 10-2, especially when you look at the attrition on the defensive side of the ball.

10 wins next year would guarantee us a minimum of 32 wins the past three years, regardless of what happens in the CFP this year. That's elite success over a three season span.

Not to mention how loaded we should be come 2020, which has been well documented.

 

[irishff1014]

UGA should be the only game we are not favored to win. I’m not afraid of Michigan or the big house, and we are returning a lot of talent, especially if Love comes back to be a captain. I won’t be worried about a Clay Helton coached USC at home, and I think this year we saw the beginning of the end for Shaw at Stanford.

I could see us being not favored at the big house due to Michigan being a good team and at their place. Georgia is going to be a very tough game especially at their house. I don't think Helton is a good coach but he is going to have a crazy offense with Kingbury as offensive coordinator. He has never had the type of players he is getting ready to work with.

But i believe that our recruiting on the defensive side of the ball and that coaches we have in place are ready for any challenge. They have really impressed me this year.

 

[stlnd01]

I could see us being not favored at the big house due to Michigan being a good team and at their place. Georgia is going to be a very tough game especially at their house. I don't think Helton is a good coach but he is going to have a crazy offense with Kingbury as offensive coordinator. He has never had the type of players he is getting ready to work with.

But i believe that our recruiting on the defensive side of the ball and that coaches we have in place are ready for any challenge. They have really impressed me this year.

We'll see about Michigan. Their defense is losing some studs, and their offense didn't really impress against the stronger teams they played. I'm sure they'll be tough, but may take a step back next year.
I'm already worried about USC's offense with that QB having another year under his belt and Kingsbury as an OC. But who knows what their defense will look like.
Agree if we play to our potential we should be favored against all but Georgia. But that's always the big "if," isn't it?

 

[Irish YJ]

It may not seem as insane as it once did, but ESPN picked ND as having the #1 (UGA) and #3 (scUM) toughest/best out of conference games in 2019.

Sucks they are both on the road...

 

[ThePiombino]

It may not seem as insane as it once did, but ESPN picked ND as having the #1 (UGA) and #3 (scUM) toughest/best out of conference games in 2019.



Sucks they are both on the road...

Michigan game at #3? Eh. The UGA game scares the shit outta me tho.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[drayer54]

Texas A&M has to go to Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and at home against Bama. ND doesn’t look so rough.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The ACC released its complete football schedule today. Here are the weekend slates that Notre Dame’s five ACC opponents will play the week before facing the Irish.<br><br>Open Date<br>Old Dominion<br>Open Date<br>Open Date<br>Open Date</p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1085640014808129536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[T-Boone]

Sign of respect/fear.

 

[RDU Irish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The ACC released its complete football schedule today. Here are the weekend slates that Notre Dame’s five ACC opponents will play the week before facing the Irish.<br><br>Open Date<br>Old Dominion<br>Open Date<br>Open Date<br>Open Date</p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1085640014808129536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Seeing how our ACC slate is Louisville, Virginia, Va Tech, Duke and BC they are kind of wasting that bye week. Should schedule it after ND to heal up.

I would be curious what percent of our opponents schedule bye weeks before us - has to be 2-3x the national average.

 

[NDRock]

Seeing how our ACC slate is Louisville, Virginia, Va Tech, Duke and BC they are kind of wasting that bye week. Should schedule it after ND to heal up.

I would be curious what percent of our opponents schedule bye weeks before us - has to be 2-3x the national average.

Would be an interesting stat. Thought I saw where most of Bama’s opponents had a bye before their matchup but have never really seen a national break down.

 

[Legacy]

Bill Connelly's S/P+ rankings for ND opponents 2019:

Georgia - 2
Michigan - 9
USC - 29
VaTech - 30
Stanford -32
Virginia - 40
Duke - 65
BC - 72
Louisville - 87
New Mexico - 115
Navy - 118
Bowling Green - 123

(ND - 12)

Ranked by % of returning starters and national ranking:
Team - Off starters - Rank -- Def starters - Rank; Total - Rank
Virginia Tech 60% 77-- 96% 1 -- 78% 11
Louisville 69% 49 -- 79% 18 -- 74% 24
Virginia 56% 90 -- 72% 38 -- 64% 55
Michigan 76% 30 -- 50% 106 --63% 68
Georgia 53% 99 -- 72% 36 -- 62% 69
Southern Cal 79% 21 -- 43% -- 118 -- 61% 79

Bowling Green 71% 43 -- 42% 120 -- 56% 98
Duke 37% 123 -- 71% 45 -- 54% 106
Stanford 45% 112 -- 63% 70 -- 54% 108
Boston College 69% 50 -- 38% 128 -- 53% 110
New Mexico 59% 80 -- 43% 117 -- 51% 115
Navy 47% 108 -- 41% 122 -- 44% 126

(Notre Dame 57% 86 -- 55% 95 -- 56% 97)

 

[Old Man Mike]

Looks like 10-2 to me; maybe 11-1 --- beating Michigan in both scenarios --- difference is a WTF game or not.

Book, Claypool, Finke, OLine and TE plus physicality enough to outscore almost everyone in ten games by just outgrinding. (our 56% in above list is a fooler --- Book, Claypool, Finke, Kmet,Hainsey, Kraemer, Eichenberg, and {legitimately} Banks = 8 "starters" rather than the six calculated.)

Defense will turn ball over due to best pass-rush in nation. ... one of the best DBackfields will take it the other way.

 

[Irish YJ]

i think we need a 2019 prediction thread a little earlier this year....

 

[zelezo vlk]

Gotta win a big bowl game this year. People are still shitting on ND due to the abysmal bowl record of the past 20 years. Gotta win a big one, get it done BK

 

[fightingirish26]

Gotta win a big bowl game this year. People are still shitting on ND due to the abysmal bowl record of the past 20 years. Gotta win a big one, get it done BK

Yeah, the Music City/Citrus Bowls were fun but there's another step to take.

Though I will say that I feel much differently about the loss to Clemson than I did about the OSU and Alabama postseason losses. Clemson was stupid good but we did alright. J Love playing the whole game would have been nice.

 

[Blazers46]

Gotta win a big bowl game this year. People are still shitting on ND due to the abysmal bowl record of the past 20 years. Gotta win a big one, get it done BK

Only if Kansas St had won out in 2012....

 

[condoms SUCk]

Gotta win a big bowl game this year. People are still shitting on ND due to the abysmal bowl record of the past 20 years. Gotta win a big one, get it done BK

Agreed. I highly doubt ND makes another playoff run (have to see how the UGA game goes) but a NYE 6 bowl w/ a win against a perceived top 1 or 2 tier team is a must have this season. Need to show continuous program progress is being made, at NYE 6 bowl win would go a looong way.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Yeah, the Music City Bowl was fun but there's another step to take.

Though I will say that I feel much differently about the loss to Clemson than I did about the OSU and Alabama postseason losses. Clemson was stupid good but we did alright. J Love playing the whole game would have been nice.

I agree. The final score was not good but it felt like we could compete with them and they might have been one of the most talented teams we have faced in a long time. We just didn't have players in the 2 deep to compete if the starter went down at several positions.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I agree. The final score was not good but it felt like we could compete with them and they might have been one of the most talented teams we have faced in a long time. We just didn't have players in the 2 deep to compete if the starter went down at several positions.

If J Love doesn't go down I doubt they score 30 pts. However, we couldn't move the ball against that ridiculous D. There are two teams on the top of CFB, then there's the rest.

That being said, a big NY6 bowl win solidifies us among the elite in "the rest" category, and is a big step in closing that gap with Bama and Clemson.

It has eluded us for far too long, and I'm sure it's #1 on BK's bucket list. Assuming we don't make the playoff, I would love to take down a team like pOSU.

 

[ACamp1900]

Agreed. I highly doubt ND makes another playoff run (have to see how the UGA game goes) but a NYE 6 bowl w/ a win against a perceived top 1 or 2 tier team is a must have this season. Need to show continuous program progress is being made, at NYE 6 bowl win would go a looong way.

oh boy...

reality is gonna really be a bitch to some of y'all....

 

[condoms SUCk]

oh boy...

reality is gonna really be a bitch to some of y'all....

What can I say, I love setting myself up for disappointment!!!

 

[ACamp1900]

What can I say, I love setting myself up for disappointment!!!

I find going to the bar knowing you may only fetch a 5 is the way to go... that way you're prepared and if you happen to pull off a stunner then hey, even better.

 

[condoms SUCk]

I find going to the bar knowing you may only fetch a 5 is the way to go... that way you're prepared and if you happen to pull off a stunner then hey, even better.

But getting ready and the lead up to go out with the mindset that you're gonna score a 8 or 9 is way more fun!!
Otherwise you're trying to figure out what your escape plan is gonna be if you do end up going home with that 4 or 5.

I would rather dream big

 

[ACamp1900]

But getting ready and the lead up to go out with the mindset that you're gonna score a 8 or 9 is way more fun!!
Otherwise you're trying to figure out what your escape plan is gonna be if you do end up going home with that 4 or 5.

I would rather dream big

I guess I've been married to Notre Dame too long....

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

oh boy...

reality is gonna really be a bitch to some of y'all....

You honestly don't think we have a roster this fall to go 11-2ish with a NY6 bowl win? Not even a shot?

It's got to happen eventually. At least we aren't chalking up this szn to be a repeat playoff birth, lol.

 

[ACamp1900]

You honestly don't think we have a roster this fall to go 11-2ish with a NY6 bowl win? Not even a shot?

It's got to happen eventually. At least we aren't chalking up this szn to be a repeat playoff birth, lol.

No, I think there is definitely a shot... I also however think attaching a 'must this year' next to something this program hasn't accomplished in over a quarter century is more likely than not asking for disappointment. Especially with a schedule that includes SC, UGA, UM, VT and Stanford just for starters.

You are right tho I suppose,... it's got to happen at some point. The list of teams that have won major bowl games since ND won the Cotton in 93/94 is crazy when you look at it... there's a reason ND not having done it in so long is such a huge sticking point with the rest of the country.

 

[ACamp1900]

Just for fun, because I'm apparently a masochist,... here's a list of random programs (excluding most of the obvious or currently relevant ones) that have won at least one major bowl game since 1994:

Kansas, BYU, Iowa, Missouri, TCU, Houston, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Louisville, Wisky, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Meat-Chicken, Nebraska, Auburn, Washington, Oregon State, Utah, Penn State, Florida, West Virginia, Maryland, Boise State, Stanford, UCF, Michigan State, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Oregon, Virginia, Colorado, UCLA, Arkansas, Miami, Texas

So yeah, I'm in full fuckin agreement, the Citrus bowl was awesome... but ND really needs to get in and win at least one of those next level bowl game. It's 20 years past the time to get frustrated over it.