Is Notre Dame the team to beat next year (If Marcus Freeman returns)?

[Gerry Hamilton]

Here is the reason ND is a maybe headed into next year ...

Notre Dame is absolutely loaded with scheduled returnees on defense ...

11 of the top 13 leading tacklers are likely to return, to start. 

That doesn't include EDGE Bryce Young, starting CB Christian Gray, backup EDGE Joshua Burnham , etc...

If Drayk Bowen returns, top 5 LB's are all likely back. Multiple NFL draft picks

5 of top 6 DB's likely to return, including Leonard Moore and Shuler. S Tae Johnson. Multiple NFL draft picks in that group.

EDGE's Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young, Burnham all solid, with Traore a budding star and Young a high-NFL upside guy

Note: Eight likely returning starters from last game of the season, and majority of backups.

And on O ...

QB CJ Carr a year under his belt, and very good. Future NFL Draft pick. 

Four of five OL starters (at various points, as ND had some injuries) are likely back. In fact, they could get 8 of top 9 in program back if none portal.

Majority of WR's return. 

Lose a tremendous RB in Love, and a NFL caliber backup for sure ... and solid TE.

Note: Seven likely returning starters from last game of the season, and majority of backups.

Coming in ...
top 5 recruiting class ... very talented class on D and at RB IMO

and ND would add from portal

 

[CHorn427]

Nope. We are. 🤘

[Gerry Hamilton]

2 minutes ago, CHorn427 said:

Nope. We are. 🤘

lol

Portal will be so big for Texas, Oregon, Miami, Texas A&M and 3-4 others 

 

ND may well have the most roster continuity returning among the top ranked teams, should Marcus Freeman stay.

[LonghornLegends]

9 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Here is the reason ND is a maybe headed into next year ...

Notre Dame is absolutely loaded with scheduled returnees on defense ...

11 of the top 13 leading tacklers are likely to return, to start. 

That doesn't include EDGE Bryce Young, starting CB Christian Gray, backup EDGE Joshua Burnham , etc...

If Drayk Bowen returns, top 5 LB's are all likely back. Multiple NFL draft picks

5 of top 6 DB's likely to return, including Leonard Moore and Shuler. S Tae Johnson. Multiple NFL draft picks in that group.

EDGE's Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young, Burnham all solid, with Traore a budding star and Young a high-NFL upside guy

Note: Eight likely returning starters from last game of the season, and majority of backups.

And on O ...

QB CJ Carr a year under his belt, and very good. Future NFL Draft pick. 

Four of five OL starters (at various points, as ND had some injuries) are likely back. In fact, they could get 8 of top 9 in program back if none portal.

Majority of WR's return. 

Lose a tremendous RB in Love, and a NFL caliber backup for sure ... and solid TE.

Note: Seven likely returning starters from last game of the season, and majority of backups.

Coming in ...
top 5 recruiting class ... very talented class on D and at RB IMO

and ND would add from portal

 

All the have to do is be in the top 12 anyway they just gotta beat all their cupcakes and they’ll be in so. I can’t stand them, starting to hate them as much as BlowU and lil bros.

[CHorn427]

20 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

lol

Portal will be so big for Texas, Oregon, Miami, Texas A&M and 3-4 others 

 

ND may well have the most roster continuity returning among the top ranked teams, should Marcus Freeman stay.

Jerimiyah Love and JaDarian Price will be harder to replace than you’re suggesting. Carr isn’t that great. 
 

Notre Dame might sail through the regular season due to their easy schedule, but they will be an early exit from the playoffs due to not being battle tested. That’s my prediction.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by CHorn427

[Kevin C]

Merry Christmas OTF Family!   When I’m not crazy swamped with work or family priorities, I love taking in some Coffee & Football with Bobby, Gerry, Blake and others.   Always enjoy the perspectives and passion, even when I don’t agree.  

That said…..Of all the topics @Gerry Hamiltoncould have written on Christmas Day, this one is a real head scratcher.    Why give any attention to the classless gutless organization called Notre Dame?   When schools like Texas lean into playing the best (in conference and out of conference) risking losses will keep us out of the CFP, Notre Dame is cancelling longtime series against USC and continuing as an independent so they have 100% control over who they play each season,  they are doing everything possible to maximize the facade of their bull$41+ 10-2 record this season and going even further in seasons to come. 

Everyone on ESPN, Saban included. keeps coming to their defense this December saying ND got screwed that they deserve to be in the playoffs?    Why?   Notre Dame lost their only two games against teams currently ranked in the Top 15 (Miami and A&M) and they have a whopping 1 win against a Top 25 team (USC) whom they’ve cancelled going forward to further water down their schedule.

Be comparison, Texas beat 3 Top-15 teams (OU, A&M and Vandy), two losses to 2 of the clear top-3 programs in the country plus the bad loss to Florida.   Even as bad as Texas was at times this season, we’d likely be 12-0 or 11-1 (at worst) against ND schedule for 2025.   It’s a cupcake.  

Texas was a rollercoaster team that was maddening to watch at times but they got better on offense through the season, showed grit, made no excuses and will be 100% improved next season with stronger OL and QB play.   I love what Sark is building and believe 2026 is going to be Texas’ year to win it all (not Notre Dame), due to our choice to play the best, grow from it, build on the lessons from 2025, stronger top to bottom coaching staff with key upgrades in coaching on both sides of the ball, best QB in the country, explosive offense, dominating defense with the best edge in the country (setting new Texas record for sacks) and a fight in next years team that no one can match.

i believe Texas will be the team to beat next season (not cowardly ND) and it’s the road they’ve taken on the way to 2026 that’s prepared them for one of the toughest schedules any team will play.    Character, grit, explosiveness, QB leadership, WR length, athleticism on both sides, depth of talent, coaching, play calling…..all of this and more are reasons why the Longhorns are the team to beat.    Time for @Gerry Hamilton to rethink his Christmas morning mindset.    In the immortal words of Chris Carter on Monday Night Countdown in the day…”Come On Man!!!”

 

Hook em!! 🧡🐂🤘🏼

Edited 1 hour ago by Kevin C

[Gerry Hamilton]

Was going through teams to see who had the most portal needs @Kevin C... when I got to ND... they will very likely have the most returning starters on both sides of the ball vs. any other serious contender. 

Was definitely noteworthy

[Gerry Hamilton]

And also, how quickly ND's roster could fall apart in ways should Freeman go to the NFL. There are a lot of players that would be coveted by major programs.

[Burnt Orange Horn]

Notre Divas is a corrupt program that only plays weak schedules.  Best outcome for CFB is for the NCAA to roll back their special compensation and let them compete for the CFB like everyone else.

Remember this roster told the team captains so many players would opt out of their bowl game that Freeman whimpered and canceled it.  A real 🐔💩 program.

Edited 50 minutes ago by Burnt Orange Horn

[FatherofMinky]

Not a ND fan… not ashamed to admit my disdain for them. The MOU for the playoff is unacceptable. Frankly, I don’t believe they deserve any CFP Consideration until they join a Conference and play a Competitive Conference schedule like every other team. I don’t believe Texas or any other team should be scheduling them out-of-conference either to give them more “Strength of Schedule”…that is simply being an enabler to a Spoiled program … Here’s to Hoping Freeman jets to the NFL! Merry Christmas!🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[Here for the Wins]

I find it a bit humorous that there’s frustration allowing a 12th ranked Notre Dame into a 12 team playoff.

And as long as the committee is in charge they can always rank them 13th or worse.  Some people weren’t smart enough to realize they could manipulate the old BCS when they had the human voting component.

 

Each year is a bit different but Miami and Ole Miss schedules were comparable this year.

[SpaceCityWrangler]

 

yeah, they may go undefeated…

 

Edited 13 minutes ago by SpaceCityWrangler

[Texas fan in Georgia]

With the schedule they play they ought to be a favorite until playoff time when they get smoked.