2025 College Football Season

[Bash Riprock]

2 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

Again, their "games" against Indiana State and Kenesaw state negate the "strong schedule" argument.  See my remarks about IU on the IU thread.

BTW. I did a little more digging.  Northern Illinois ended up the 2024 season with a ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) of 86.  Kennesaw State this year is 93.  Not a huge difference.  We all know what happened in the NIU vs ND game last year.

Northern Illinois FPI this year is 124. 

[23andCounting]

Does it matter what IU's entire schedule looks like when they beat Oregon, Iowa, and Penn State on the road? No, it doesn't. 

Everyone from the ACC and SEC is saying that Notre Dame is where they are because of their name only. Notre Dame is where they are because they are right there with A&M and the rest of the SEC is behind. The ACC just sucks in general. They can cry all they want. Notre Dame is good enough to win the title. 

[Bash Riprock]

7 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Does it matter what IU's entire schedule looks like when they beat Oregon, Iowa, and Penn State on the road? No, it doesn't. 

Everyone from the ACC and SEC is saying that Notre Dame is where they are because of their name only. Notre Dame is where they are because they are right there with A&M and the rest of the SEC is behind. The ACC just sucks in general. They can cry all they want. Notre Dame is good enough to win the title. 

No disagreement here...just showing that according to a couple of college football indexes for SOS, IU and ND were pretty similar.

[PHJIrish]

2 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

BTW. I did a little more digging.  Northern Illinois ended up the 2024 season with a ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) of 86.  Kennesaw State this year is 93.  Not a huge difference.  We all know what happened in the NIU vs ND game last year.

Northern Illinois FPI this year is 124. 

But that was last season.  Second game for the Irish this season was Texas A&M.  Except for a missed extra point the game was even.  I have the highest respect for the IU program.  Just go to that thread to see that.  But IU had three cupcake games to begin the season.  That doesn't negate what their entire season has become, it's just a fact.

[temptation]

1 hour ago, 23andCounting said:

Does it matter what IU's entire schedule looks like when they beat Oregon, Iowa, and Penn State on the road? No, it doesn't. 

Everyone from the ACC and SEC is saying that Notre Dame is where they are because of their name only. Notre Dame is where they are because they are right there with A&M and the rest of the SEC is behind. The ACC just sucks in general. They can cry all they want. Notre Dame is good enough to win the title. 

We still counting 3-6 Penn State as a quality win?

[PHJIrish]

3 hours ago, Komets2727 said:

The entire ACC…

The Irish began this season with Miami, on the road, and Texas A&M, while IU was playing three cupcakes to begin their season.  It all evens out.  And of course, Notre Dame being independent makes scheduling a long time problem for them.  I'm a big fan of what IU has become, and don't demean anything they've accomplished, but their first three games were no challenge, and that that's a fact.

[23andCounting]

3 minutes ago, temptation said:

We still counting 3-6 Penn State as a quality win?

Of course we are. The team is loaded four and five star athletes at home in front of 109,000 fans. Playing with a renewed energy for their interim coach. That was a hell of a football team Indiana played on Saturday. 

[temptation]

3 minutes ago, PHJIrish said:

But that was last season.  Second game for the Irish this season was Texas A&M.  Except for a missed extra point the game was even.  I have the highest respect for the IU program.  Just go to that thread to see that.  But IU had three cupcake games to begin the season.  That doesn't negate what their entire season has become, it's just a fact.

I rarely find myself in the unfortunate position of defending Notre Dame or Indiana but alas, here we are.

The Irish were within razor thin margins in weeks 1-2 and if you pull the tape, I’m even on record as stating I expected them to runoff 10 in a row and make the playoff.  USC has been better than advertised and even Pitt is in the top 25 as of now.  

The ACC sucks, sure, but those are still power 4 opponents.

As for Indiana, Cignetti is right.  If you are a power 4 team hoping to make the playoff, there is absolutely no reason to challenge yourself in September in non conference games.  Take the three gimmes and hope to get to 10 wins.

Currently wishing Michigan had chosen to play Eastern Michigan instead of Oklahoma, lol.

[PHJIrish]

3 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

I was simply pointing out you left Oregon off the list.  I remember seeing IU's schedule in the off-season, hoping they would get 1 of the Oregon, Iowa, and Penn State road games.  Never dreamed they would get all 3.

While I agree IU scheduled some easy wins, so does other schools.  Ole Miss this week played The Citadel.  Yet, I didn't hear a negative word.

When I look at the ESPN College Football Power Index, I think Indiana gets the SOS thrown around unfairly.  IU's is very comparable to ND, Ole Miss, Michigan, etc.  Much better than the ACC, and overall SEC is tougher.  (see below)

https://www.espn.com/college-football/fpi/_/view/resume

This particular rating (late October) had Indiana at 24 and Notre Dame at 32.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/college-football-strength-of-schedule-2025/

Poor Purdue....now they play a tough schedule.......BTW, Kennesaw State is 7-2 and leads Conference USA with a 5-0 record. 😉 

I have great admiration for all that Coach Cignetti has accomplished at IU, a non football school until his arrival last season.  He's done wonders with the program!

[23andCounting]

4 minutes ago, PHJIrish said:

The Irish began this season with Miami, on the road, and Texas A&M, while IU was playing three cupcakes to begin their season.  It all evens out.  And of course, Notre Dame being independent makes scheduling a long time problem for them.  I'm a big fan of what IU has become, and don't demean anything they've accomplished, but their first three games were no challenge, and that that's a fact.

You don't have to justify anything. Notre Dame is good. Anyone looking at it objectively can't deny that. If they win out, they're in, period. Doesn't matter what the whiners from the ACC and SEC think. Notre Dame is probably one of the best five teams in the country. 

[PHJIrish]

4 hours ago, gonzoron said:

I disagree

Name one that hasn't been a powerhouse in the last few years!  Notre Dame's independence is unique in that they have to schedule many years in advance.  They are probably never going to join a conference in my lifetime at least.

[temptation]

2 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Of course we are. The team is loaded four and five star athletes at home in front of 109,000 fans. Playing with a renewed energy for their interim coach. That was a hell of a football team Indiana played on Saturday. 

I actually think I agree.  Just think its funny.  The advanced metrics still love PSU, particularly SP+ which is my most reliable metric.

I was recently told by a poster on here that Michigan (7-2 and controlling its own destiny) was “on the struggle bus”, lol.

Just making sure we’re consistent here.

If 7-2 with the youngest roster in the Big Ten is “on the struggle bus” what would that same poster say about the preseason’s #2 team now needing to win out just to get bowl eligible?

Also, I think Notre Dame is good but not “good enough to win it all.”

[23andCounting]

2 minutes ago, temptation said:

I actually think I agree.  Just think its funny.  The advanced metrics still love PSU, particularly SP+ which is my most reliable metric.

I was recently told by a poster on here that Michigan (7-2 and controlling its own destiny) was “on the struggle bus”, lol.

Just making sure we’re consistent here.

If 7-2 with the youngest roster in the Big Ten is “on the struggle bus” what would that same poster say about the preseason’s #2 team now needing to win out just to get bowl eligible?

I'm impressed with what Michigan has done this year. Were they even ranked in the preseason poll?

 

[PHJIrish]

3 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

You don't have to justify anything. Notre Dame is good. Anyone looking at it objectively can't deny that. If they win out, they're in, period. Doesn't matter what the whiners from the ACC and SEC think. Notre Dame is probably one of the best five teams in the country. 

At this point in time I would agree with you.  An injury problem could slow them considerably, like Carr or Love being injured.  They lost to two outstanding teams by a total of four points to begin the season.  A botched extra point cost them dearly in the A&M game.

[23andCounting]

3 minutes ago, PHJIrish said:

At this point in time I would agree with you.  An injury problem could slow them considerably, like Carr or Love being injured.  They lost to two outstanding teams by a total of four points to begin the season.  A botched extra point cost them dearly in the A&M game.

I think ND is deep enough at QB and RB to still make a push in the playoffs if there were an injury at those positions. 

[PHJIrish]

2 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

I think ND is deep enough at QB and RB to still make a push in the playoffs if there were an injury at those positions. 

Oh, they're deep for sure, but even Price and Williams aren't Love, he's special.  And Minchey is quite capable, but he's basically untested.

[temptation]

24 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

I'm impressed with what Michigan has done this year. Were they even ranked in the preseason poll?

 

Right around where they are now.

24 minutes ago, PHJIrish said:

At this point in time I would agree with you.  An injury problem could slow them considerably, like Carr or Love being injured.  They lost to two outstanding teams by a total of four points to begin the season.  A botched extra point cost them dearly in the A&M game.

Miami = outstanding?

[Komets2727]

Miami stinks, A&M is really good, USC is a top 5 Big 10 team, the rest are cupcakes for Notre Dame. Maybe Pittsburgh is decent? The ACC sucks, no way around it and ND is playing 5 games a year against that trash conference. Throw in Navy every year, Army sometimes, Purdue sometimes, it is an easy schedule. Hey, it is what it is

[23andCounting]

33 minutes ago, temptation said:

Right around where they are now.

Miami = outstanding?

Notre Dame lost to Miami because Carr was mismanaged in his first game. Plain and simple. Neutral field, now, ND wins by 10. 

[23andCounting]

Notre Dame is a two tier team in my opinion. 

Tier 1: Ohio State

Tier 2: Indiana, A&M, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ole Miss

Tier 3: Georgia, Oregon, Tech, Miami, Texas, USC

Everyone else

[temptation]

17 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Notre Dame is a two tier team in my opinion. 

Tier 1: Ohio State

Tier 2: Indiana, A&M, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ole Miss

Tier 3: Georgia, Oregon, Tech, Miami, Texas, USC

Everyone else

Indiana is just as good, if not better than Ohio State.

[23andCounting]

5 minutes ago, temptation said:

Indiana is just as good, if not better than Ohio State.

Because of coaching alone. You don't think OSU's highly rated athletes would be the difference? 

[temptation]

19 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Because of coaching alone. You don't think OSU's highly rated athletes would be the difference? 

You’re asking ME if “OSU’s highly rated athletes” scare me, lol?

I’ve heard about this for 5 years.

In a climate controlled environment like Lucas Oil, that matters sure.  So I guess you’re right.

[gonzoron]

3 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

Name one that hasn't been a powerhouse in the last few years!  Notre Dame's independence is unique in that they have to schedule many years in advance.  They are probably never going to join a conference in my lifetime at least.

Purdue, NC State, Boise State 

[Bash Riprock]

9 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

But that was last season.  Second game for the Irish this season was Texas A&M.  Except for a missed extra point the game was even.  I have the highest respect for the IU program.  Just go to that thread to see that.  But IU had three cupcake games to begin the season.  That doesn't negate what their entire season has become, it's just a fact.

Just saying if you call Kennesaw State a cupcake with their current FPI, then you must call NIU a cupcake last year. That would mean ND lost to a cupcake in 2024.