2025 College Football Season

[Bash Riprock]

13 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, Arkansas, NC State, Boston College, Navy, Pitt, Syracuse, Stanford

All good/solid programs....but would not call any of them a recent powerhouse.  

[Bash Riprock]

18 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.

According to ESPN, IU's strenth of schedule (SOS) is very similar to Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Michigan, USC.  Their SOS is stronger than Ohio State, Texas Tech, Miami, Utah, Georgia Tech.  

Old Dominion, one of those cupcakes as you call them, actually has a much better football power index currently than Northern Illinois had at the end of last year....the same team that took down the Irish.  

There is no doubt that Notre Dame started off the year with 2 outstanding programs...but their SOS levels out during year as the quality of most of their opponents were "meh".  That is why their overall SOS is very similar to IU.  

I am not picking on Notre Dame...I have no problem with their schedule.  I do get frustated when Finebaum and some others poke at IU's schedule, when their SOS is pretty much the same as the programs I mentioned above, that doesn't seem to get the same finger point.  I think this is mainly because they are "the new kids on the block".

[temptation]

12 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

According to ESPN, IU's strenth of schedule (SOS) is very similar to Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Michigan, USC.  Their SOS is stronger than Ohio State, Texas Tech, Miami, Utah, Georgia Tech.  

Old Dominion, one of those cupcakes as you call them, actually has a much better football power index currently than Northern Illinois had at the end of last year....the same team that took down the Irish.  

There is no doubt that Notre Dame started off the year with 2 outstanding programs...but their SOS levels out during year as the quality of most of their opponents were "meh".  That is why their overall SOS is very similar to IU.  

I am not picking on Notre Dame...I have no problem with their schedule.  I do get frustated when Finebaum and some others poke at IU's schedule, when their SOS is pretty much the same as the programs I mentioned above, that doesn't seem to get the same finger point.  I think this is mainly because they are "the new kids on the block".

Specifically to the Finebaum part, the SEC's annual November FCS weekend prior to rivalry week is an embarassment.

He has no leg to stand upon.

[gonzoron]

15 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

had three cupcake games to begin the season

And Notre Dame had at least 3 in the middle of the season. 

[Coach Nowlin]

I think a team that isn't being talked about enough is Texas AM 

They are my pick to win the National Championship 

[Bobref]

7 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

I think a team that isn't being talked about enough is Texas AM 

They are my pick to win the National Championship 

Be nice for ND to meet up with them again in the playoffs. But, assuming the Irish get in, the real matchup I want to see is Texas Tech. Their coach has a big mouth for a guy from a conference that hasn’t been relevant in quite awhile.

[PDB26]

2 hours ago, temptation said:

Specifically to the Finebaum part, the SEC's annual November FCS weekend prior to rivalry week is an embarassment.

He has no leg to stand upon.

Of all the dubious scheduling practices, this one is the worst.

[Bash Riprock]

37 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

I think a team that isn't being talked about enough is Texas AM 

They are my pick to win the National Championship 

They could....they have some talent.  And they are rolling.

I do think their QB (incredible athlete) can be rattled.  Also, defensivelty, they don't "wow" me.  Ranked 23rd currently for Team D by the NCAA stats.  Give up on avg 317 yds/game and over 5 yds/play.  I know that's been against some strong competition.  But its over 100 yds/game more than OSU.  

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

[Coach Nowlin]

QB makes the difference in my world and for my fincancial investment 🙂 

 

[temptation]

58 minutes ago, Bobref said:

Be nice for ND to meet up with them again in the playoffs. But, assuming the Irish get in, the real matchup I want to see is Texas Tech. Their coach has a big mouth for a guy from a conference that hasn’t been relevant in quite awhile.

A Notre Dame fan talking arrogantly about relevance will never not be hysterical to me.

Edited November 11, 2025 by temptation

[Bobref]

5 minutes ago, temptation said:

A Notre Dame fan talking arrogantly about relevance will never not be hysterical to me.

I live to entertain you.

[temptation]

1 hour ago, Bobref said:

I live to entertain you.

You usually do a pretty great job.

[Bobref]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

You usually do a pretty great job.

Thanks for the compliment. But in all honesty, you’re pretty easily entertained. 😂🤣

[23andCounting]

4 hours ago, temptation said:

A Notre Dame fan talking arrogantly about relevance will never not be hysterical to me.

C'mon Temp. Say it with me, because there's only one. 

N.....O.....T.....R.....E

D.....A.....M.....E

[23andCounting]

Notre Dame:

4th most valuable football program

8th best football program according to Yahoo Sports

#4 according to thetoptens.com

#11 most beloved according to thequickreport.com

#2 program of all time according to themost10.com

#4 according program according to pasionfutbol.com

#11 most relevant program according to thespun.com (Michigan came in at #20)

#3 most winningest program

But The Temp says they're not relevant and compares them to Texas Tech? You're very isolated in your opinion.

@temptation

[temptation]

56 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

C'mon Temp. Say it with me, because there's only one. 

N.....O.....T.....R.....E

D.....A.....M.....E

Eh, at least 5 high schools nationwide.

43 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Notre Dame:

4th most valuable football program

8th best football program according to Yahoo Sports

#4 according to thetoptens.com

#11 most beloved according to thequickreport.com

#2 program of all time according to themost10.com

#4 according program according to pasionfutbol.com

#11 most relevant program according to thespun.com (Michigan came in at #20)

#3 most winningest program

But The Temp says they're not relevant and compares them to Texas Tech? You're very isolated in your opinion.

@temptation

Never compared em to Texas Tech.

Where do Nebraska, Penn State and Tennessee fall on your lists above?

They also boast about consecutive sellouts and other nonsense in order to claim relevance, despite having not accomplished squat in three decades.

Titles = relevance 

Edited November 11, 2025 by temptation

[Bobref]

31 minutes ago, temptation said:

Titles = relevance 

So, you’re the arbiter of what’s relevant, and what’s not? I knew you reminded me of someone.

“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less".

     — Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass

[temptation]

15 minutes ago, Bobref said:

So, you’re the arbiter of what’s relevant, and what’s not? I knew you reminded me of someone.

“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less".

     — Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass

The goal of the sport is championships, no?

Notre Dame doesn’t win conference championships.

For years, they didn’t win meaningful bowl games.

Trophy case pretty dusty in South Bend.

You measure relevance by fandom and ratings, I measure it by meaningful wins in the iPhone era.

Sorry, but if your most recent championship came before the invention of the internet, I can’t consider you relevant.

Edited November 11, 2025 by temptation

[Bobref]

11 minutes ago, temptation said:

Sorry, but if your most recent championship came before the invention of the internet, I can’t consider you relevant.

(Sigh) Somehow, we will soldier on despite your disdain.

[temptation]

12 minutes ago, Bobref said:

(Sigh) Somehow, we will soldier on despite your disdain.

Or you could win a championship and shut me up.

[Coach Nowlin]

Though when IU fans who have shown to you their legitimate contender from here on out with Coach Cig, and mention their successes as it relates to Michigan, you chastise them for being rent free and all that, wouldn't that be something in the same ilk ?     Trying to shut you up?    Curious on the distinction difference here? 

 

[temptation]

9 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Though when IU fans who have shown to you their legitimate contender from here on out with Coach Cig, and mention their successes as it relates to Michigan, you chastise them for being rent free and all that, wouldn't that be something in the same ilk ?     Trying to shut you up?    Curious on the distinction difference here? 

 

Successes as in plural?

IU’s 20-15 win over the worst Michigan team in over a decade counts as ONE.

Gave em credit.  Told em I was wrong on Cig.  Not sure what else you want.

The main difference between IU football fans and Notre Dame football fans is the level of delusion.

All 5 people on this board who knew Indiana University had a football team prior to last year know that they are in the midst of their best run in school history and it will never get any better than this.  Let em soak it up.

Notre Dame fans convince themselves every off season that “this is the year.”

Exhibit A:  @Bobref’s anointing of “The Chosen One.”

He was right though I’ve gotta give him credit.  The kid did win a national championship…just did it in lacrosse instead of football.

Edited November 11, 2025 by temptation

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

The goal of the sport is championships, no?

Notre Dame doesn’t win conference championships.

For years, they didn’t win meaningful bowl games.

Trophy case pretty dusty in South Bend.

You measure relevance by fandom and ratings, I measure it by meaningful wins in the iPhone era.

Sorry, but if your most recent championship came before the invention of the internet, I can’t consider you relevant.

Past 10 seasons: 

Team A: One national championship. No other ten win seasons. 

Team B: No championship. Eight ten win seasons. 

Just so I'm understanding this correctly. By your logic, Team A is more relevant? 

And stop with the nonsense of mentioning Tennessee and Nebraska in the same breath as Notre Dame. Though you've given the Irish a lot of credit this season, that's just a Notre Dame hater mentality. 

[temptation]

1 hour ago, 23andCounting said:

Past 10 seasons: 

Team A: One national championship. No other ten win seasons. 

Team B: No championship. Eight ten win seasons. 

Just so I'm understanding this correctly. By your logic, Team A is more relevant? 

And stop with the nonsense of mentioning Tennessee and Nebraska in the same breath as Notre Dame. Though you've given the Irish a lot of credit this season, that's just a Notre Dame hater mentality. 

Who you referencing here as team A?

Edited November 12, 2025 by temptation

[23andCounting]

13 minutes ago, temptation said:

Who you referencing here as team A?

It's just a hypothetical. 

I guess something comes to mind. Is Auburn more relevant than Notre Dame since they had a title in 2010?