Our difficult games so far are ACC games, so I don't believe we had much of a say in that. ND also was set according to the ACC agreement.
Not this year as they are considered an OOC game. That makes VMI, Ga State, uga and ND as our OCC.
It’s OOC, correct, but the ACC and ND negotiated an agreement for ND to play 5 ACC opponents every season a decade or so ago. I think who the 5 opponents are effectively cycles around. We had no say in scheduling them after we agreed to that contract back in 2013.
Side note but I'm curious if Georgia State will open up additional seats or take the tarps off the upper deck for the 2026 game. I don't see the 24k they have as sufficient space.
Given the production costs to open up the upper deck, I suspect they'll probably be okay with 24k. Even though we were States biggest basketball game of 2022-23 and effectively the grand opening of their new arena, they still only sold 4,000 tickets (granted our football game against Miami partially conflicted with that). They got 3,300 for the Southern game that season. They still only managed to sell a hair under 19,000 tickets for State/Southern football in 2022. Under 18,000 tickets for their biggest game of the season against UNC.
I think Notre Dame has significant control of their 5 ACC games. Many tend to be in neutral sites. Also after this year, the next 2 against ND are in South Bend (2027 and 2029). Our next home games against them are 2032 and 2036. Who knows on the out years if the ACC agreement with ND or the ACC is even around.
Feels way high to me.
Duke brought in 16 transfers total, 5 on defense. 10/11 starters on defense this year started at some point for dook in '23. There defense is good. Statistically a good bit better than any D we have faced so far with a YPP at 4.07. Agree with the UNC game assessment, but it's difficult to take a lot from that one. I think JMU stole UNC's soul....they're toast. Regardless, Buster and company have a real challenge here. Hopeful OUR defense has a breakout game
What makes you say duke is good? And I guess you can give Manny credit for taking care of business, but I’m not going to give somebody a lollipop for taking care of their schedule. And I’m not so sure what you can take from the unc game with it being a rivalry game, but that was by no means pretty.
But with their schedule, it's hard to determine how good their defense really is. Fair to say that had they played against our schedule, the numbers would not be near as good.
I think our chances are excellent, and the 8 1/2-point spread is about right.
No reason to be “scared.” However they have won all five of their games. Something GT has not done. This is likely a tough close game.
That's about what Sagarin says, also.
