Notre Dame 2025

[temptation]

2 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

No, being the most recognized brand in the world is what makes one elite. You're only playing that card since your Wolverines won a couple of seasons ago, a very "down" year in terms of competition. 

You made a case for Notre Dame being relevant...not necesarily a synonym of elite.

(Also, a “down” year is what we’re rolling with huh?)

LOL.

The mental gymnastics are fascinating.

Thought it was “the signs?”

Edited October 9, 2025 by temptation

[Coach Nowlin]

anyone watch the HULU show? 

 

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

You made a case for Notre Dame being relevant...not necesarily a synonym of elite.

(Also, a “down” year is what we’re rolling with huh?)

LOL.

The mental gymnastics are fascinating.

Thought it was “the signs?”

I wasn't going to beat you up over the signs. Though guilty, something tells me other programs were doing the same thing. So I'm not going to play that card.

How many ten win seasons does a team need over the course of twelve years to be considered elite? Notre Dame has nine with two national championship appearances. Historically, they have eleven championships. They're the third most valuable team in the country. Second most winningest program in the country. Not really sure why I'm even wasting my time with this. 

[temptation]

12 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

I wasn't going to beat you up over the signs. Though guilty, something tells me other programs were doing the same thing. So I'm not going to play that card.

How many ten win seasons does a team need over the course of twelve years to be considered elite? Notre Dame has nine with two national championship appearances. Historically, they have eleven championships. They're the third most valuable team in the country. Second most winningest program in the country. Not really sure why I'm even wasting my time with this. 

Not gonna derail this one and get folks' panties in a bunch.

Said what I said.

[PHJIrish]

On 10/7/2025 at 10:03 AM, Impartial_Observer said:

I live in Seymour, I do all of Brownstown’s MS games. I also do all of Seymour MS’s home games. Last night I had Brownstown at Seymour, what do you make of that, and more importantly who got screwed?

Did you work the Notre Dame/NC State game today too?

[PHJIrish]

Slow first half for the Irish but they got things squared away at halftime and rolled to a nice 36-7 win.  Wish I was there today.

[23andCounting]

2 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

Slow first half for the Irish but they got things squared away at halftime and rolled to a nice 36-7 win.  Wish I was there today.

I was a nice day, for sure. Chilly in the shaded areas of the stadium, hotter than blazes in the sun. I was in the sun :(. Note to self, sit on the home side next time. 

[Bobref]

It’s Hate Week.

☘️Beyond the Echoes: The Greatest Intersectional Rivalry In College Football

The Notre Dame-USC football rivalry began in 1926 and is considered one of the fiercest in college football. The rivalry game has been played every year from 1926 to the present with the exception of 1943 to 1945 when the game was cancelled during World War II and in 2020 when the Pac-12 Conference cancelled all non-conference games in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic therefore interrupted a streak of 73 consecutive years in which the game had been played. The 2021 matchup marked the first time in series history that two consecutive games between the rivals were played in Indiana, although the games were not played in consecutive years.

The teams play for the Jeweled Shillelagh, a trophy that goes to the winning team each year. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 50–37–5 and also leads 35–30–3 since the introduction of the trophy. Despite many close games, the series has had dominant runs by both sides: USC went 12–2–2 from 1967 through 1982, Notre Dame went 11–0–1 from 1983 through 1995, and USC went 8–0 from 2002 through 2009. However, while Notre Dame and USC have played in landmark games enabling one of them to move on to a national title, the two teams have also played spoiler to each other several times.

A No. 1 undefeated Notre Dame beat No. 2 undefeated USC in the Coliseum en route to the national title in 1988. The Irish also spoiled Trojan title campaigns by giving them their first loss in the last game of the season in 1947 and 1952, as well as handing them a first loss in 1927, 1973 and 1995. The Irish also tied No. 1 ranked USC in 1968 21–21, knocking them down to No. 2 behind Ohio State, who then beat USC in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in the Rose Bowl. The Irish tied the Trojans again in 1969 14–14, the only blemish in USC's 10–0–1 season.

[Bobref]

[23andCounting]

Fourth best odds of winning the championship, trailing only Ohio State, Alabama, and Indiana. Hard to fathom some calling this a bubble team.

[Bash Riprock]

7 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

Fourth best odds of winning the championship, trailing only Ohio State, Alabama, and Indiana. Hard to fathom some calling this a bubble team.

they just have to keep winning and it will take care of itself

 

[23andCounting]

35 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

they just have to keep winning and it will take care of itself

 

Agree. If they don't make it, as much as I like Freeman, this would be a massive fail considering the amount of talent this team has. Let's be real here. They have national champion talent on this team. They never should have lost to Miami. I think the offense was mismanaged by not allowing CJ to throw the ball down field. Then of course the bobbled snap that resulted in a loss against A&M. 

[Irishman]

Interesting to see how Miami and A&M finish the season as they could impact Notre Dame's strength of schedule. There is not a win on the schedule that will move them up in the rankings at this point, so they have to depend on some other teams. A&M has a tough schedule remaining. Miami's looks manageable for them, it seems like they struggle against a couple of those teams. Va Tech last season comes to mind. 

[Bash Riprock]

23 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

Agree. If they don't make it, as much as I like Freeman, this would be a massive fail considering the amount of talent this team has. Let's be real here. They have national champion talent on this team. They never should have lost to Miami. I think the offense was mismanaged by not allowing CJ to throw the ball down field. Then of course the bobbled snap that resulted in a loss against A&M. 

They lost extremely close game to 2 strong teams...The 4th down play from A&M to win the game....I bet if they run that play 10 times, they complete that pass twice....incredible catch for the win by the TE with coverage all over him.  Those games could have went either way, and I think the committee knows that.  So if they win out, I believe they will definitely be in the playoffs.  

Do they have national champion talent on this team?  I am not sure....perhaps.  I think defensively, they may not be the team of last year....is that due to less talent? loss of Al Golden?  Not sure.  

[23andCounting]

25 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

They lost extremely close game to 2 strong teams...The 4th down play from A&M to win the game....I bet if they run that play 10 times, they complete that pass twice....incredible catch for the win by the TE with coverage all over him.  Those games could have went either way, and I think the committee knows that.  So if they win out, I believe they will definitely be in the playoffs.  

Do they have national champion talent on this team?  I am not sure....perhaps.  I think defensively, they may not be the team of last year....is that due to less talent? loss of Al Golden?  Not sure.  

Loss of Golden is certainly a factor.  

[PDB26]

2 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

They lost extremely close game to 2 strong teams...The 4th down play from A&M to win the game....I bet if they run that play 10 times, they complete that pass twice....incredible catch for the win by the TE with coverage all over him.  Those games could have went either way, and I think the committee knows that.  So if they win out, I believe they will definitely be in the playoffs.  

Do they have national champion talent on this team?  I am not sure....perhaps.  I think defensively, they may not be the team of last year....is that due to less talent? loss of Al Golden?  Not sure.  

Yes, the conversion rate on the 4th and goal play is probably <20%.

Yes, there is national champion talent on the team. 

Yes, they miss Golden—especially his pressure packages—but I’d say the defense is more talented top to bottom while being significantly younger.  
 

 

[Bobref]

2 hours ago, PDB26 said:

I’d say the defense is more talented top to bottom while being significantly younger.  

Drayk Bowen is an absolute stud. He’ll be a Butkus Finalist next year.

[23andCounting]

13 hours ago, Bobref said:

Drayk Bowen is an absolute stud. He’ll be a Butkus Finalist next year.

And with Tae Johnson in the defensive backfield, the Irish should be pretty solid. Good representation from the north. 

[Coach Nowlin]

15 hours ago, Bobref said:

Drayk Bowen is an absolute stud. He’ll be a Butkus Finalist next year.

trying running an offense where he was on the other side of the ball...... We ran at Jaylon Smith at Luers, but he was only a Frosh/Soph at the time.....  Bowen and Karlaftis at WL were NIGHTMARES in HS 

[PHJIrish]

It's sort of strange that Cathedral and Notre Dame have a bye on the same weekend.  I guess it can happen though.

[PHJIrish]

If you never watched and listened to a Marcus Freeman press conference, you should.  Even if you're not an Irish fan I believe you will be impressed by Coach Freeman at these pressers. I get them through X (Twitter) and I'm not sure how to provide a link.

 

[GOLDRUSH1985]

On 10/21/2025 at 6:27 PM, Bobref said:

Drayk Bowen is an absolute stud. He’ll be a Butkus Finalist next year.

He arrives to the ball carrier or receiver with an attitude . Very much a Butkus finalist next year . 

[Coach Nowlin]

Isn't he a JR?   Just Saying 

[PHJIrish]

Notre Dame has played its worst half of the season so far.  They're up  12-7 at halftime but have fumbled the ball on the five yard line, missed a PAT and a short field goal.  And they're playing Boston College!

[PHJIrish]

I'm having 1993 flashbacks!

A bogus facemask penalty on a 4th down really helped the Eagles, which led to a field goal.  Irish 12, BC 10 late third quarter.