Irish up to #13, the biggest game of the remaining games on the schedule coming up Saturday night in South Bend. USC. Irish have opened as the favorite, but my fear is the USC offense vs the maybe suddenly very good ND defense, are we better or have we played weaker competition. But this game is key to getting to the playoffs.
The Irish at #13 in the AP poll and with 6 games left, if we somehow win out and get to 10-2 we will be a top 10 team. Now we need to look good winning, not just barely getting by with a bunch of close games. I don't think we'll be able to get higher than #10 though. But it all starts with beating USC, lose there and it's the Holiday Bowl.
During the broadcast they mentioned that Jordan Faison's little brother is the #1 lacrosse player in the country and was committed to come and play at Notre Dame. Also that he's considering walking on in football as his brother did before him. Well he's coming early. Dylan Faison intends to graduate high school early and play with the Notre Dame men's lacrosse team this spring. Faison confirmed his intention to IL on Thursday evening. In a rare move, the nation's No.1 player in the Class of 2026 will now be reclassifying up a grade and essentially start with the 2025 class sans a fall semester. Faison now expects to graduate in December from St. Andrew's (Fla.) before heading to Notre Dame in the spring — where he could make an impact right away for the Irish.
Watched the SC-M game yesterday. The Trogs looked pretty good. Their D is much improved and they have a real stud WR. We'll know how much our D has improved after next week's game. Our DBs were beaten badly a number of times yesterday but the NCS QB kept overthrowing them. (Written on 10/12. Forgot to post)
Starting center, Ashton Craig, who left the game vs NCState with an leg injury is now out for the season with an ACL tear. Joe Otting, a junior, subbed in and had a good game. Sullivan Absher, also a Jr, was our center in the Spring but he's 6'8" a bit tall to say the least for a center. Not sure if he'll step in vs USC or if we'll go with Otting. That Otting was first off the bench seems to say he's the next man up. I assume Absher will backup Otting and also continue at RG behind Guerby Lambert. USC lost it's #1 and #2 RB's and they won't be back for ND, but the 3rd string guy , King Miller, ran for about 150 yds on a pretty good UM defense. So they will still be a challenge on offense given that and they have outstanding WR's/TE. As good or better than A&M.
fWIW on Mel Kipers first big board. Love is #2 overall and #1RB, Price is #3 at RB. Rairdon #5 TE and Traore is the #8 Outside LB
Kiper said that he approached Ernie Accorsi, then-assistant general manager of the Baltimore Colts, with draft reports while still a student in high school. Accorsi told him that there was a market for draft information and suggested that Kiper convert his analysis into a business.[7][8] The original contract he signed with ESPN in 1984 was for $400.