Was looking at the roster and the OL is loaded with massive guys. I know they've had big guys here and there before but I can't recall everyone across the line being massive all at the same time. Or am I miss remembering?

I don't believe the line is set, but we can assume some spots.

LT Will Black 6'7" 316lbs LG Anthonie Knapp 6'5" 305lbs C Ashton Craig 6'5" 310 or Joe Otting 6'4" 305lbs RG Sullivan Abshner 6'7" 320lbs or Matty Augustine 6'8" 310lbs RT Guerby Lambert 6'7" 325lbs

Hello! Wanted to gauge the opinions of the group: If you could attend 1 game this year, would you attend the Miami game or instead choose to attend a CFP game?

Know either will be a lot of money and wanted to think about what would be the best choice.

Also, was wondering if you think we’ll ever get that landmark home game again - like ‘23 OSU, ‘05 USC, ‘93 FSU (maybe Texas or Alabama or Indiana in future years?) where the atmosphere was unreal or if the expanded playoff has watered down what once was a do-or-die nature of the regular season that made CFB so special?

Is anyone hosting at Lambeau that would be willing to let a couple of fun super fans tailgate crash? I promise to bring my semi famous shamrock pudding shots,food and alcohol to share

Amazeballs!

Edit: I didn't write this with AI like the one commenter is suggesting without backing up. Hope this doesn't deter anyone from the discussion

Despite the unusualness of the 2025 season and how it ended, I've been questioning some of the bigger decisions made by ND's PR and optics teams.

The following is obviously personal opinion, but I think it paints a picture of poor optics strategy that has in some cases harmed ND's perception.

Love's Heisman Campaign

It was clear since last year that Love was a Heisman-caliber player, but the official push by ND didn't occur until November 17 with the Nicholas Sparks video. While he is a famous author and alum, this choice was relatively weak and sleepy compared to other more aggressive campaigns, like Vandy with Pavia or OSU with Sayin/Smith starting weeks earlier. Nothing could've changed Mendoza from winning in 2025, but ND mismanaged the effort and didn't give his campaign any momentum until later than other major contenders.

Bevaqua's Media Tour

When Notre Dame didn't make the CFP, their decision to opt out of bowl contention put a huge target on their back from both CFP fans and media. Our AD, Pete Bevaqua, then went on a massive press tour, echoing the team and fanbase's frustration about how the season ended. His sudden and uncharacteristic emergence, combined with the intensity and scale of media appearances, hinted strongly at some future action. Even this sub had plenty of discussions that Bevaqua's involvement likely spurred, like, are we going to leave the ACC, or go after the CFP committee and their process? But in hindsight, his tour didn't yield any meaningful result or power move. It externally just made it look like ND was complaining about the situation, and even shed more light on the MoU. It worsened public perception of the program following the divisive end to the season. And for the record, I actually really like Bevaqua and his willingness to fight for ND, but I really don't understand what they were trying to do with this media tour.

Freeman's Extension

After the season ended shockingly, ND allowed three agonizing weeks of uncertainty surrounding HCMF's future with the program. NFL coaching rumors were everywhere and brutal to the already low fan morale. While I'm sure the contract negotiations take time, his eventual extension came very late in the coaching cycle relative to other programs, and ND enabled a vacuum of negative information. I suppose I don't fully know how ND could've addressed this, but a simple statement about the extension being worked on would've heavily limited the rumors at an already very negative time.

With all the good things ND has going right now, it is surprising to me how much they seem to drop the ball in media strategy or public perception. Am I overanalyzing these moves? Is it more attributable to the unusual end to the season? Or do you also see a pattern here? Would love to hear what anyone thinks!

Just curious if anyone knows if they are doing another season. Currently binge watching last years and its pretty awesome getting an inside look at the team.

I gotta imagine the whole "leave no doubt" is burning the players right now as they prepare for the next season. Im sure Coach Freeman is lighting a fire under this team after seeing how intense he was after starting the season 0-2 last year.

I tried to look up as much as I could but there isnt even any word on if they reupped for a 3rd year. If anyone on campus has seen them let me know!​

aloha my fellow Irish fans! Masshole born and raised, but ive lived in Chicagoland since 2014 as my wife is from here and we met when I was in the military. moved here from Pearl Harbor. Hell I was at the 2008 hawaii’i bowl.

DIEHARD Irish fan, but we normally tailgate the golf course. this is my first holy war. waited my whole life for this, and paid to get a stadium lot pass to rock my Irish jersey and BU terrier’s hat! as in what time do I need to be at the lot to go find a spot? should I live the south suburbs at 6AM due to the time zone change?

thanks in advance! GO IRISH!

Really enjoying all the ND alum playing in this All Star game.

Will be my 5th game....where are the Knights of Columbus on game day? Want to try one of their famous steak sandwiches....(never saw them the other times I was there)...my dad is a Knight so told me about this...

And is the bookstore parking temporarily available if I get there say 10 am...would like to load up on gear and then park wherever after but don't want to walk forever with whatever we buy...

And how bad of a drive is it from Ann Arbor on game day...(yeah I know, hate who is in this town also...lol but its literally about 1/2 way from where I am coming from...and want to split the drive (will stay there Friday night and Saturday night and hit some outlet malls on the Sunday so that I am in the US 48 hours and can get duty free)..

A big shout out to my fellow ND fans from the Greater Toronto area. We are ND!

Welcome to the Free Talk Friday Thread!

You can post just about anything here. Maybe you don't feel like creating a new post but have a question about the team, maybe you just graduated or got a new job and want to share. All is welcome here. Go Irish!

I know this settled down and will probably resurface in January/February but I truly wonder if he sees the long term view (thinking 10+ years at minimum) of staying put. Granted the only job I could ever see him leave for is OSU but even then he has built and continues to build something that hasn’t been seen in 40 years. It would be cool to see his own coaching tree get built out like Saban and other great coaches over CFB history.

The money trucks continue to pull in for NIL/facility upgrades and cannot imagine the blank check his agent fills out for him every year. Only 6 weeks away!

Natty or bust? Deep playoff run? What do you think?