I see a likely loss at OSU out of the gate and then two toss up games vs Clemson and USC. We should be favored in every other game, and I would predict the same wins/loss/toss ups even had Kelly stayed. 

Looking forward to that match up vs BYU in Vegas for a little vacation. 

North Carolina away could be tough, depends on who replaces Howell. Mack Brown is a good coach and he has NC trending positive I think.

Just now, EddieAngel said:

North Carolina away could be tough, depends on who replaces Howell. Mack Brown is a good coach and he has NC trending positive I think.

They massively underperformed this year.

8-4

losses: OSU, BYU, Clemson, USC

Edited January 2, 20223 yr by ELDER06

19 minutes ago, ELDER06 said:

8-4

losses: OSU, BYU, Clemson, USC

So if ND does better than 8-4 you will eat crow on Freeman?   

4 minutes ago, zemaniak said:

So if ND does better than 8-4 you will eat crow on Freeman?   

No. Only way I do that is if they beat OSU

13 minutes ago, ELDER06 said:

No. Only way I do that is if they beat OSU

Lol. Of course. 

29 minutes ago, zemaniak said:

Lol. Of course. 

Bc they should be able to win every other game. Kelly would. 

9 minutes ago, ELDER06 said:

Bc they should be able to win every other game. Kelly would. 

If you’re using that logic then I think you could put Clemson in OSU’s class. Look at their track record. The recruit as good or better than ND and have a top QB coming in. 
 

USC on the road should be tough but we need to win. Riley will have them competing at a high level in 2-3 years. 

13 minutes ago, ELDER06 said:

Bc they should be able to win every other game. Kelly would. 

You mean 1st year Kelly?  8-5 Kelly who got beat by Tulsa and Navy? Or maybe 2011 Kelly, also 8-5?

or are you gonna cherrypick the latter years Kelly (of course you will)

Hope you’re not a lawyer by trade, you’d get killed by any well prepared attorney

17 minutes ago, ndomer4 said:

If you’re using that logic then I think you could put Clemson in OSU’s class. Look at their track record. The recruit as good or better than ND and have a top QB coming in. 
 

USC on the road should be tough but we need to win. Riley will have them competing at a high level in 2-3 years. 

Clemson is trending down. I’m much more worried about being on the road at USC to end the yr

Y'all are going to freak out when ND beats Ohio State next year.

It is a tough schedule on paper (but we said something similar about this year's schedule). OSU has had slow starts in the past. If we do lose to OSU, it should still be a close game. OSU is easily the best team on the schedule and we will be the underdogs for sure, maybe a double digit underdog.

Clemson is a big question mark, but I doubt they will be the Clemson before this year. They had a generational QB, 1st round RB, and 4 1st round DLinemen on the same team, and a stud Oline. The Oline has been terrible, DJ has been a mixed bag, their RBs are still elite, but the Dline is not as good. I think it should be a good game and I think ND should be favored

BYU will be tough on a neutral field

I dont think USC will turn it around in one year.

 

4 hours ago, Tailgate Approved said:

Y'all are going to freak out when ND beats Ohio State next year.

I love the enthusiasm. If it happens then I may stop doubting this coaching hire. 

My biggest concern if I was Freeman is USC every year. Kelly benefited from a historically bad USC. If Riley bring them back and beats Freeman every year, despite the watered down schedules Swarbrick will try to manage, he’s not going to have the leeway Kelly got 

Friends, we don't need to doubt this team. The rest of the world does that enough. It may help dull the pain of a loss to keep expectations low, but it robs you of the fun of imagining what may be with a win.

I choose confidence. The results will come as they may, but I will have a great time believing the Irish are going to win every time they play.

4 hours ago, Tailgate Approved said:

Friends, we don't need to doubt this team. The rest of the world does that enough. It may help dull the pain of a loss to keep expectations low, but it robs you of the fun of imagining what may be with a win.

I choose confidence. The results will come as they may, but I will have a great time believing the Irish are going to win every time they play.

Most of us believe we CAN win every game next year. But that is why this is a discussion board. We talk about football and what we think about the games. OSU is a daunting opponent, especially at home.

3 minutes ago, NDhoosier said:

Most of us believe we CAN win every game next year. But that is why this is a discussion board. We talk about football and what we think about the games. OSU is a daunting opponent, especially at home.

No doubt. It's the toughest game on paper, and we will certainly be underdogs (with good reason).

ND is a very good team with a few (perhaps glaring, at times) weaknesses. Because we look so closely, I think those weaknesses get amplified in our heads and overwhelm the strengths of the team.

My point was not to shut down the discussion, but rather to add a positive outlook to it. ND are very good, and I'm happy about that. There's room for improvement, and I look forward to watching them implement those fixes.

7 minutes ago, Tailgate Approved said:

No doubt. It's the toughest game on paper, and we will certainly be underdogs (with good reason).

ND is a very good team with a few (perhaps glaring, at times) weaknesses. Because we look so closely, I think those weaknesses get amplified in our heads and overwhelm the strengths of the team.

My point was not to shut down the discussion, but rather to add a positive outlook to it. ND are very good, and I'm happy about that. There's room for improvement, and I look forward to watching them implement those fixes.

I am all for positivity my man, we need more optimists on this board. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said.

Clemson game looking better and better next season.

Quote

Dabo Swinney is losing another member of his Clemson coaching staff.

Sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday that defensive line coach Todd Bates is following Brent Venables to Oklahoma to be the Sooners' co-defensive coordinator. Venables, Clemson's longtime defensive coordinator, left last month for the Oklahoma head-coaching job.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32986538/clemson-tigers-defensive-line-coach-todd-bates-following-brent-venables-oklahoma-sooners-sources-say

7 hours ago, NYGoldenDomer said:

Clemson game looking better and better next season.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32986538/clemson-tigers-defensive-line-coach-todd-bates-following-brent-venables-oklahoma-sooners-sources-say

I really like Dabo, but he’s fixin to get passed by in college football if he’s not gonna get with the transfer portal program.

Clemson does it the right way. They graduate their players and they have the platform to accept high caliber incoming transfers.