OT- Notre Dame 2012 = Ohio State 2002
Nothing is worse than seeing one of your rivals win, except when they keep winning and aren't THAT good. Don't get me wrong, OSU 2002 and Notre Dame 2012 are solid teams with great defenses, but both are eerily similar in their ability to win so many close games and never appearing to be dominant.
Just like OSU 2002, Notre Dame is having one of those magical years where every call, turnover, break, big play, and general karma seems to be going in their favor. While their defense is stellar and overall team is solid, nobody would believe that they are the best team in the country....but they keep winning, and that is all that matters.
At this point, who knows what will happen. OSU lucked into the 2002 championship game and beat a much better Miami team. It would suck if Notre Dame did the same and knocked off an Alabama, LSU, or Oregon.
We played both Alabama and Notre Dame, andwith some degree of certainty can acknowledge that Alabama is in a different class. That being said, ND is one big win (USC) away from a date in the national title game, and at that point anything can happen. Really annoying when a rival has a magical year....Even more annoying when you know they arent't that good. Shit, had Denard not turned the ball over 5 times, we would have beat that team.
October 28th, 2012 at 3:20 AM ^
Don't forget about them, as of right now they've got a far better resume than ND does. I hope they win out and keep ND out of the title game. Plus, every time USC loses it hurts ND's strength of schedule, so I'm glad RichRod knocked them off today.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:18 AM ^
that if both ND and Kansas State go undefeated, the latter will go to the MNCG, I have a bridge to sell you. If ND goes undefeated they are in.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:44 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
I am not familiar enough with the BCS formula to run numbers, but assuming Alabama remains undefeated and #1, while both ND and K-State win out, I'm not sure that ND being ranked one step higher (#2 vs #3) would overcome computers that have historically been in love with the Big 12. Remember when Oklahoma could lose its conference championship game and still be far and away the top BCS team? There have been significant changes to the formula since then, but I think the Big 12 bump still exists.
October 28th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 7:11 AM ^
Wait... KSU has the better resume? Really?
Notre Dame
Navy (5-3)
Purdue (3-4)
Michigan State (5-4)
Michigan (5-3)
Miami (4-4)
Stanford (6-2) (ranked)
BYU (5-4)
Oklahoma (5-2) (ranked)
Kansas State
Missouri State (n/a)
Miami (4-4)
North Texas (3-5)
Oklahoma (5-2) (ranked)
Kansas (1-7)
Iowa State (5-3)
West Virginia (5-2) (ranked)
Texas Tech (6-2) (likely ranked)
Oregon
Arkansas State (n/a)
Fresno State (6-3)
Tennessee Tech (n/a)
Arizona (5-3) (likely ranked)
Washington State (2-6)
Washington (4-4)
Arizona State (5-3)
Colorado (1-7)
We just dismantled a top10 team in their house.. Give us some credit guys.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:41 AM ^
To hell with Notre Dame.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^
KSU dismantled the same team, and looked much better doing it. And they may wind up doing it again in the Big12 Championship game.
That will matter.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:48 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
If you're talking about Oklahoma, KState did NOT dismantle them...it was a close game, decided in part by key turnovers by OU. It's hard to argue one team beat OU "better" than the other, because both thems beat OU at home.
Of course, what you say at the end is very true.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
Kansas State basically lucked into a close win thanks to some crucial turnovers by Oklahoma at big moments... won by 5 points. ND just dismantled Oklahoma and won convincingly by 3 scores.
You obviuosly did not watch the Kansas State vs. Oklahoma game.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
Okay, Kansas State definitely didn't dismantle Oklahoma but they also didn't luck into a win. Oklahoma only had one turnover in the second half, the end of the 3rd quarter.
Personally, I was surprised how well Notre Dame's offense played against Oklahoma, I don't think anyone expected over 400 yards of offense to be put up by them. As for Notre Dame dismantling Oklahoma? The score was tied with 5 minutes to go in the game, hardly "dismantling" despite the final score of 30-13.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:38 PM ^
They allowed OU to rush for 16 yards. 184 less than season average. They allowed OU to score 13 points. 30 less than season average.... Errr. Yah.
October 29th, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
Trolling, because facts don't matter.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
KSU won 24-19...
October 28th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
Oregon's SOS ranking 50 (sagarin)
Oregon's remaining schedule:
@ USC (6-2)
@ Cal (3-6)
Stanford (6-2)
@ OSU (6-1)
ND's SOS ranking 20 (sagarin)
ND's remaining schedule:
Pitt (4-4)
@ Boston College (2-6)
Wake Forest (4-4)
@ USC (6-2)
Oregon's remaining schedule W-L is 21-11
ND's remaining schedule W-L is 16-16
October 28th, 2012 at 3:30 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
That game would be a total joke. Alabama by atleast 35
October 28th, 2012 at 3:30 AM ^
Just woke up, and I logged in specifically to say: WORST SPORTS DAY EVER. That is all.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:59 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 9:26 AM ^
Love "Quad of Fuck". Hate your total disregard of paragraphs.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:36 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 3:52 AM ^
Fuck everything.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:22 AM ^
I'm extremely interested in how the coaches are going to spin this mess of a game. There are so many questions:
Did Rawls kick a small child or something to piss somebody off? I can't see any reasons he doesn't get more touches especially when Fitz isn't performing well. Maybe it's not Fitz's fault, but at least TRY.
We played Gardner last year at QB multiple times--even with Denard also on the field. What happened to that? Has the coaching staff said "No, you're a WR now, no snaps for you lol" or completely revamped the playbook (which to me seems like a couple of pages at times) to where Gardner would be lost? I have no problem with Bellomy coming in, but when the dude goes 0/10 with a couple of picks to start, you have to think "Hmm, I don't think this is working. Don't we have another scholarship QB on the roster?"
Frankly, I believe Borges has no clue how to use Denard, and is trying to force him to run plays Borges is more familiar with, while at the same time trying to minimize Denard's mistakes. The result: obvious runs and short passes. I was pleased at the deep ball appearing a couple times today, but holy WR drops Batman. Our offense as a whole just looks completely illprepared to play against a team we don't have a massive talent advantage over. This is sickening.
I understand it's not fair to raid the Ann Arbor Torch and Pitchfork co. until Borges has had QBs progress through his system, but shit son, you have to make do with what you have.
Fuck it, I'm going back to the kitty thread. /kitty
October 28th, 2012 at 8:25 AM ^
a very fortunate year and the ball just bounced our way.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:28 AM ^
Just beginning?
Did you not watch the last 2 minutes of UTL? That was not a replicatable process.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
Those fortunate breaks are part of football. Some games you get them others you don't. But what's sickening is ND is getting those same breaks we did last year.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:40 AM ^
Wouldn't it be magical to have Notre Dame go undefeated and still manage to not get to the national championship? I don't want Notre Dame to ever win either but if they are going to have a perfect year at least let them get heartbroken with no national championship.
If Alabama beats LSU (and they should) they are a near lock to make it to the SEC championship game with Georgia who is also a near lock with the easiest schedule in the last 4 games and possibly the easiest overall schedule for an SEC team I've seen in the last 5 years. Bama should crush them.
Kansas State caught a gigantic break that Oklahoma State and TCU's quarterbacks are out for the rest of the year! Would have been better games if not for that. Baylor should be no problem so that leaves a matchup with Texas at home to get to the championship game.
Oregon is my most likely candidate of these three to lose having to play at USC, Stanford, and at Oregon State along with a likely rematch against USC in the Pac 12 championship for a team that's current best win is over a 3 loss Arizona State team.
Second question is does Notre Dame deserve to leapfrog any of these teams to get to the championship game assuming they go undefeated? They would have signature wins over Stanford, Oklahoma, and USC which look really good and wins against teams that are unfortunately looking worse over time including Michigan State, Michigan (unfortunately), and several other middling teams.
An undefated Alabama is not even worth talking about. They'd be in the game.
Kansas State would have wins over Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas Tech, and Texas. I don't see ND leapfrogging that resume especially since KState has the likely Heisman trophy winner.
Oregon would have wins over USC, Stanford, and Oregon State. I'd have to give it to Notre Dame if both were undefeated with 2 of these opponents in common and Notre Dame playing many more teams that will likely at least be bowl eligible by year end. However, style points (unfairly IMO) against Stanford and USC could count big time.
What would be really interesting is if Alabama lost and you have either a 1 loss Bama, LSU, or Georgia, an undefeated Kansas State, and an undefeated Notre Dame to pick from for the title game....
October 28th, 2012 at 7:26 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 7:58 AM ^
USC likely will end up with 4 losses (at least). Stanford stll has to play Oregon, Oreg St. and UCLA. They will probably lose at least 2 of those to get to four loses. Pretty good chance K-State's Texas Tech win will look alot better then either Stanford or USC. Looking at Tech's remaining schedule they could very easily have 9 or 10 wins at the end of the year. Its highly unlikely that someone in the Big12 will not end up with 9 or 10 wins (other than OK).
October 28th, 2012 at 7:35 AM ^
Style points should and do matter to some degree. Notre Dame's schedule is not as good as K-State's. K-State will have played 5 true road games to ND's 4 (one of which is at awful BC). ND's computer numbers will be in decline starting next week as there closing schedule is awful. The fact that they do not play in the last week of the season will also hurt them. Oregon's 49-0 dismantling over Arizona continues to look better and better. Until someone actually comes within 2 scores of them in my opinion they should be a solid number 2. The Ducks will also likely have 2 wins over USC see as they would likely see them in the Pac 12 title game.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:40 AM ^
some research and according to Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings.
Of the top ten teams, he has Florida with the most difficult @ # 7 SOS, Oregon St. @ # 9 SOS and ND @ #10 SOS after that it's not close. with Alabama @ # 26 SOS and K State @ # 30.
He has UM @ #22 SOS and MSU @ # 21
October 28th, 2012 at 7:07 AM ^
i found myself thinking the same thing - yet OSU seemed even luckier, at least so far. With USC looking vulnerable, ND is very close to having a shot at Alabama. And though we all think that is an impossible task for any team, a month of bowl prep can cause interesting things to happen. An ND national championship is a very real possibility.
October 28th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
Sorry but no, Notre Dame cannot and will not beat Alabama. I don't think anyone will but especially not Notre Dame in the chamionship game. Given a month to prepare for any game, Nick Saban with his current team would never lose.
October 29th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^
And you're more worried about what Kelly may come up with than Saban?
October 28th, 2012 at 7:42 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 8:17 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
I'm sure the BCS will have ND jump K-State just because they're ND and the "tough" *cough* *cough* schedule that they play
October 28th, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^
NDs current SOS is 10, KSU is 30.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:19 AM ^
It's time we admit that ND is a good football team. They have kept improving each game in some manner. Hurts me to say it but Kelly is a good coach and does recruit well. He seems to be able to coach up the players.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
Yes, unfortunately. The resurgance of ND and OSU hurts us directly. More than any other teams, we compete with those two for the recruits that we want.
Them now becomming the new "it" teams in the midwest when there were some clouds hanging over them the last couple of years is not good news for us. An undefeated Urban Meyer and a Brian Kelly in the NC game are our worst nightmares. There is still some season left to hope that does not happen.
We are close, but we still need a couple of more years to build critical mass where we can always count on competing successfully, especially on offense.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
I know it will be tougher with Kelly and Meyer but I have faith in Hoke and his staff to continue to recruit at this high level. And with Denard I think we can still run the table this year and hope we get some help with a Nebraska loss.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
I would say more indirectly. While there is some overlap, ND recruits more nationally than UM does. This is why the move to the ACC, this is why maintaining USC and Stanford is a priority.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:33 AM ^
"Nothing is worse than seeing your rivals win?"
ND could have knee-jerked and fired Kelly, but have allowed him enought time and given him enough support for his program to finally "leap." Urban Meyer is getting the full support of the program and fanbase in Columbus. Sadly, there's a lot more of your definition of "worse" on the horizon. The only bright spot is that Sparty is regressing toward the mean.
I would think twice about scheduling ND. Until there's a real playoff, and the champions of all major conferences are guaranteed a spot, the Wolverines should schedule four tomato cans and hope that conference strength gets them to the mini-playoff once in awhile. An undefeated Big Ten Champion would look pretty good for one of four mini-playoff spots.
The "majority" has spoken. Under David Brandon, the Wolverines will juxtapose 21st century marketing with 20th century football. The boosters, trustees, and a loud "majority" of the fanbase are apparently happy with that. At this point, it's obvious that there is no way to fight it.
So, I'll just have to continue to cheer for "my" team and hope that I live long enough to see another National Championship, mythical or otherwise, for the Maize and Blue. Within three years, we'll know if this is actually possible, or if Urban Meyer can combine his program's world class cheating with a 21st century offense to own the Big Ten.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:44 AM ^
A "20th Century" football team is kicking the living shit out of every other team in the SEC. You might remember them from our first game this season, unless you understandably drank yourself into oblivion in a desperate attempt to forget that night.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:57 PM ^
This guy is just taking another opporitunity to complain about the firing of RR. Whether you like it or not RR was not a good fit at Michigan with his "21st century football". And like Njia said Alabama is doing just fine with "20th century football" and looking at the foundation that Hoke has set in place we will be right up there with the elite of college football sooner rather than later. and anyone who thinks Meyer will dominate the B1G is delurious.
October 29th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^
Because the time it took Kelly to "leap" was in year 3....
October 28th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^
Yes, but they are doing it with NFL talent. They could win with leather helmets and 19th century handoffs into the line of scrimmage.
I don't think we can replicate that at Michigan, but there is always hope.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:44 AM ^
the BCS does not garentee Conference Champions a place in the play off.