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We have a true cheat code at RB. And he’s not the only guy. This is a Reggie Bush/Lendale White backfield.

OL should be better than last year and probably a top 3 unit in all of college football when Jag is back. Add that with the RB’s that is pretty significant.

WR/TE should be significantly better. Maybe not dynamic (not sure) but will be much better than last year.

If the QB situation was a known positive I’d feel like this would be a team that would easily compete for a title.

Defensively the back 7 should be about as good as there is in college football.

If the interior DL was more solidified I’d feel extremely confident it was a top 5 defense.

Even with the question marks, guys like Love, Moore, Schueler and a few others can make up for some decencies.

QB situation will get better as year goes on, just have to survive the first month.

mean it’s a bad thing

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I feel better about ATM at home.

I think we'll have a better idea of who this team is after those two games.

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For fuck's sake - STOP IT!

It is a shithole that is only sold out for the biggest games. It is orders of magnitude less imposing than, for example, opening at Kyle Field last year. Smack them early and the place will be silent.

As for this year, I am very optimistic. Our D and run game will give our new QB - whoever it is - time to develop. We have dudes all across our lineup with depth that we have not enjoyed in a very long time.

I will be disappointed with anything less than a couple of playoff wins this season.

Kelly and the lads never got off the bus, and the natives were restless.

I agree the stadium is a dump.

I assume you haven't been there then.

...the seats are old fashioned hard plastic, too close together, and there was an injured pigeon beneath our seats. That's an anecdotal incident, however I mention it because there are lots of pigeons and bird droppings as they fly around inside the top of the stadium whose roof lets them in when it is open - and then they stay.. Not a good view of the game even from the 40 yd line unless you are down near the field - bad in upper deck where I was.
The rides in and out take forever unless you tailgate. The Uber line took hours.
The surrounding Miami Gardens area is sketch. Parts are ok, and then other parts are bad.
The walk to seats first over about half a mile from drop off, then up the spiral cement staircases are too long.
We were all healthy and active, but anyone with movement challenges is inconvenienced more than other venues.

I did like the Orange Bowl Club where ND alumni had their pre game party - that was nice.

Bad assumption

It’s a fine stadium and the club for the Orange Bowl was terrific.

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Maybe you will understand it if I break it down like this:
1. First game for a new QB
2. On the road
3. Night game
4. Rabid fans that hate ND
5. New DC

I still have PTSD from 2017 and their stupid fucking turnover chain.

Guess some folks just need something to whine about.

Expect the same in Miami, and grow a pair. This program has changed.

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and that is a good thing. The media, and public opinion, has rightfully spared Freeman of the "ND is overrated" tripe that every coach prior to him since Holtz was subject to. That's a credit to his success (and having a general likeability helps). Freeman has delivered on all fronts. Winning the big games, getting to the title game in year one of the new playoff format, tearing it up on the recruiting path. There have definitely been hiccups along the way, but the general path of the program has been heading in the right direction.

With this success comes higher standards. Playoffs are the minimum goal, and this should be an annual expectation until something changes. The defense should be elite and the offense should be good enough. Internally, there's no doubt the only talk is about finishing the job and winning it all.

Last year's team was undoubtedly great in terms of the end result, but it was still frustrating and average on many occasions. I think if they can take last year's success and build upon it--become more efficient, more potent, more cut-throat--the sky is the limit assuming they stay healthy.

With a tougher schedule (it seems) this year and a new QB, it's going to be a harder road to the playoffs in my opinion. But my minimum expectation is to make the playoffs, then you just see what happens from there. I don't think this team is good enough to expect a national championship win, but that's the direction the program seems to be heading towards.

I "feel" our team is more TOGEHER psychologically.

We don't seem like a bunch of mercenaries.

Cautiously optimisitc. I'll feel better after MF names the starting QB,.

shocked if we lose the first two. I'm hoping for 1-1, and then run the table, finish 11-1.

There are LOTS of potential losses on this year's slate if we don't bring our A game every week.

Assuming that we don't get hammered by the injury bug like we did last year, this is a much more complete team compared to the 2024's roster.

Mike Denbrock has now had a full year to get his system in place, and knows what he's working with. There's no reason why the offense shouldn't be significantly better.

The defensive roster is well stocked with polished veterans. If Chris Ash is as good of a DC as I think he can be, then there shouldn't be any dropoff either.

Even if Ash isn't up to snuff, the presence of those developed veterans can mitigate things (like they did in 2002 with Kent Baer's foolish playcalling).

the defense. The offense will be fine. I always get nervous about the obligatory head scratching loss. I see 10-2 and another trip to the national title game.