23andCounting

I was honestly 50/50 on the OSU/Miami game. When I made those predictions, I was solely going off of a level playing field. I'm not so sure this round is a level playing field. I just think the team with the tune-up game has the advantage. At the end of the day, anyone who didn't think Miami had a chance against Ohio State just wasn't paying attention in my opinion. I cite Vegas regularly, and they saw something in having OSU as a 9pt favorite. Maybe I was just lucky in my prediction, but they've been playing lights out lately. Wouldn't surprise me if they ended up the national champions. I don't think they will be, but it wouldn't surprise me one iota. The Notre Dame thing really pissed them off, and they are playing with a chip on their shoulder.

@Bash Riprock The same gut feeling I had with Miami beating Ohio State. Thinking more and more about how the extra week off affects teams. This is really a tough game to predict. Would IU be a 6 point favorite if they were 11-2? They are merely inches from having that record.

Hope you're right, just have a bad feeling. Alabama's tune-up game last week is a MAJOR advantage. What other sport tells you to take a four week vacation before the playoffs start while giving your opponent a warm-up game?

Miami has played pissed ever since the first week of the CFPS show. Not a fan of the bye week. Having a tune-up game is a major advantage. Indiana could suffer the same fate. The NCAA gives you a 4 week vacation than says "perform." Oh yeah, and "the team you're playing had a warmup game a week ago." Just something else to shake your head at I guess. The NCAA has turned into a total train wreck. Time to move on to the NFL. Disclaimer: Didn't care one way or another who won, just point out the flaws in the system.

Alabama is going to win this game. Great season for the Hoosiers though.

Attention maybe? New guy on campus? New experience? New pool of girls? Switching schools is fun? Not really in college for the academics anyway? Or am I off base? Just seems like an immature game these kids are playing. Do coaches feel like they are on pins and needles? God forbid if you say the wrong thing to a player, they'll just get up and leave.

Ahhh..........I get it, as any Notre Dame fan would. I just think they are better than what some are giving them credit for. Their first ding is that they are in the ACC. Their second ding was some less than impressive games mid-season. But they've been playing on fire ever since the first playoff rankings came out. Needless to say it bothered them to be ranked behind the Irish. They have something to prove.

On one hand, I think you are probably right. But................if they let their guard down, even for a little bit, this Miami team with a chip on their shoulder is more than capable of taking them out. I'd be more than happy to take Miami to cover the spread in this one.

ESPN is so in bed with the SEC it's sickening. They post that article as the Big Ten is embarrassing them in the post season (so far).

I guess ESPN felt the timing was right to post this: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/43076623/college-football-conferences-best-bowl-game-records

What's your beef with Miami?

Miami over Ohio State At the minimum, take them to cover the 9.5 point spread.

Lol, well, I just don't see it as a competitive game. Wish I were wrong.

If one isn't bitter, than they aren't a true Notre Dame fan. Probably the best shot ND has had since 1993 to win the title and they were wrongly jumped by FIVE SEC teams. Hell, the best conference in the country only had three. ESPN. Hard for me to let it go when you keep reeling me in. And sorry, I'd trust a committee from the GID over the one we currently have. No outside influence.

Ranking the SAC non-conference games. 1. Roncalli at Dwenger 2. Adams Central at Luers 3. Andrean at Luers 4. East Noble at Snider 5. Hamilton Southeastern at Carroll 6. Noblesville at Homestead 7. Carroll at Center Grove 8. Dwenger at St Francis de Sales (Glass Bowl Stadium) 9. Snider at Warsaw 10. North Side at West Noble 11. South Side at SB St. Joe 12. Marion at South Side 13. Warsaw at Northrop 14. North Side at New Haven 15. Indy Scecina at Concordia 16. Westfield at Homestead 17. Concordia at Eastbrook 18. Wayne at Leo

I think this statement is more about you looking for someone to banter with in the absence of Temptation.

Sorry, there are lots of fans out there who can assess which are the better teams just as a former coach can. It's not hard to determine whether Team A is better or Team B. The casual fan can do that just by watching. If you don't think that a committee here on the GID is just as capable as the committee chosen for this year's CFPS, then yeah, I'd say naive. But that's not what this is even about. It's about ESPN owning the CFPS.

I think real Notre Dame football fans had a sense that this year's team was better somewhere between weeks five and eleven. The "slight" didn't make them better or worse. The committee decides who gets in and who doesn't. That doesn't make them any smarter than the casual fan. You're naive if you don't think ESPN put some pressure on them. Agree regarding 2026. I think they get in with one loss as long and they win out impressively. But if that one loss makes them a 10th or 11th ranked team, I'm sure the committee will find a way to make the Irish #13 when it counts. All bets are off after the sham that took place this year. No credibility to the committee whatsoever after what transpired. As someone else stated, their should be only one CFPS show, at the end of the season when it counts. What they did to the Notre Dame coaches and players (who gives a shit about the fans) was just plain cruel.

He's another Tom Brady in my opinion. Craves the attention. If you're going to commit, stick with it. Everything about college football is turning sad except for what @Irishman notated with IU. But does the cute little IU story make it right? Thank God for high school athletics..............for now.

So how important is it to be "battle tested" at the college ranks vs that of high school? People close to Notre Dame feel that this year's team is better than last year's team. Including myself.

Not sure strength of schedule means a whole lot. Was Notre Dames SOS bad last year? All they did was go into the playoffs and beat IU, Georgia, and Penn State.

Maybe more about the attention?

Notre Dame's schedule for 2026 is looking pretty pitiful. To their defense though, Wisconsin and Michigan State were pretty good football teams back when they scheduled them. It could very well be that Miami is the only ranked team on their schedule. Maybe BYU. They have Miami at home, so an undefeated season looks probable. They might be able to afford one slip up. Two losses with that schedule would be a 100% no.

Doesn't sound like there was ever a deal, just hearsay. Not sure to be honest. Haven't been following. Just hoping some of these teams on Notre Dame's schedule have an up season.

Anyone doubting Indiana right now isn't of sound mind.