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Is 2026 our year?

Allabouttheu95 said:
O line needs to gel early and be serviceable.

Mario and staff need to learn to take care of business on a week to week basis

I think both of those happen.

The playoff is a monster though as we all learned. We desperately need a bye this year. Think that happens also
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I think since 2023, our O-line has always been solid. It wasn’t entirely terrible in 2021 with pass protection. It allowed TVD to have his one good season. So I think it’s safe to say the OL will be just fine.
 
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Hurricane23 said:
I hope we don’t end up like Texas did in 2025 after their 2024 season. They lost 4 starters on their offensive line going into the 2025 season and it showed, they couldn’t run the ball well or protect their QB, they got better late in the season, but was a big drop off. I think we have a better QB compared to what they had though
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Arch also played like *** for the first half of the season
 
Hufftwoseven said:
Let’s be honest with ourselves, our roster was much better than UL/SMU and we still lost. PROVEN, VETERAN, 1st round talent on the edges of OL and DL. Yet we still slipped up. So last year was our year as well. 2026 can still be our year and I’m not expecting 13-0 because we have a brand new offensive line, like as brand new as we’ve had since Mario arrived probably.
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While this might be true. Beck played like complete **** against Louisville. We aren’t built to play from behind so that’s why we dropped that one. SMU? ******* hoax. Disgraceful officiating. Yes we played poorly but 3-4 of some of the worst calls I’ve ever seen decided that game. I’ll die on that hill.

But if we do get into situations where we need to play from behind, I trust Mensah to be able to push the ball downfield more than Beck. I expect this offense to look a little more like 2024. Of course it won’t be Cam level, but better than last season. With the game on the line, Beck just wasn’t that kind of QB who would lead us to victory with the exception of Ole Miss but it’s worth mentioning he didn’t have to throw it to score the game winner lol
 
They way it is set up the feat is getting to the playoffs. Once you start winner take all games you never know how it’s gonna play out.

History is littered with games where the “best team” didn’t win.
 
LeanMeanOrangeGreen said:
Mensah is somewhere between a Cam Ward and D’eriq King type QB who’s far more dangerous than Beck, who’s more of a traditional pocket passer who’s extremely accurate when given time and not a big run threat. He was good, but I think Mensah can really elevate this offense.
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I don't see D'Eriq King when I watch Mensah; what makes you say that?

I do like the mental make-up of player leadership coming off a season where I believe we struggled with identity and, at times, lacked discipline. I especially like that Mensah is in the fold and healthy going into offseason conditioning and Spring practice.

I believe we have a strong chance to make the ACCCG this season and may have a better overall team than last year. That said, I am very interested to see how D. Coleman looks in the Spring; his ceiling and potential impact are sky high.
 
Our WR room is going to do a lot of damage. No offense to Beck, but having a QB that can attack all parts of the field, and weapons all over the field to hit, it's going to stress out defenses far more than what we saw last year.

My concern is this. Last year our playoff run was built mostly around bully ball. We can NOT lose that mentality and just think we can pass all over everyone. That will lead to an early playoff exit, if we make it there. We need to still be able to line up and blow teams off the line when we have to.

I fully expect us to keep that mentality, and possibly have it work even better by softening teams up with Mensah and the plethora of WR talent we have. We just can not abandon the run game just because Mensah puts up video game numbers against bad teams.

What a problem to have, right?
 
LeanMeanOrangeGreen said:
My friends, I’ve never been one to say things like “this is our year” or something of the sort, especially between 2005-2024 because I always approach each season with what some might consider “below average” expectations. I respect the super optimistic part of the fanbase but that’s just never been me. There was a long period of time where there were 3-4 actual contenders and everyone else. Those days, for now, appear to be over and I’m absolutely here for it!

BUT when I think about last year and what we accomplished and the momentum we got going into 2026, there is reason to believe this could indeed “be our year” although I still say it with caution. Why do I believe this?

- Darian Mensah is a better collegiate QB than Beck. He’s got weapons. The offensive line will still be strong and we have a great RB room. If anything we should expect more offensive production with Mensah VS Beck. Mensah is somewhere between a Cam Ward and D’eriq King type QB who’s far more dangerous than Beck, who’s more of a traditional pocket passer who’s extremely accurate when given time and not a big run threat. He was good, but I think Mensah can really elevate this offense.

- Defensively, I know we’re losing 3 potential first rounders but there’s plenty of depth on the roster to help fill those voids. As good as Bain was he was always limited by getting held. It was the only way he could be contained. We’re returning Moten and the transfer from Missouri will certainly help. Secondary loses Scott but returns plenty of key contributors from last season. While there might be a drop off with this unit, I don’t expect to see the 2024 defense trot on the field, especially with Heatherman coming back.

I imagine we’ll be ranked in the Top 8 to start the season but could very well be higher if the AP decides not to overlook us for their SEC darling programs. I’d put us at #3 to start the year. I’m not saying we’re going to go undefeated but I think this is the year we finally win the ACC because we’re just too talented at this point not to get there and this is absolutely a Natty contender. So ******* get ready folks. We’re 6 months away and I’m still excited!
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Beck was like 30-5 for his career so I’m wait and see if Mensah is a better “college quarterback “.
 
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Trav said:
QB - Elite
RB - Elite
WR - Elite
TE - Ok/Good (depending on some things)
OL - Good/Very good
DL - Very good/Elite
LB - Very Good
Secondary - Very good
STs - Good/Very good
Coaching - Very Good

Not a lot of weaknesses here. OL is the key IMO. Is Cantwell ready to go out of the box like Cici was and can we find a LT to hold it down to at least the level of Markell? Jakobe, Bain, and Messi are huge losses on defense. Cici is a massive loss on the OL. Skill positions will likely be better. There's no reason we shouldn't make another run at the 'ship sans injury disaster.
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Drinking the Kool Aid early are we? ... I'll take a chug, too. Because I roughly agree with your ratings.

Offense averages over 40 PPGs, even ND and top defenses won't hold us to under 30
QB - Elite
RB - Very good
WR - Borderline Elite
TE - Okay
OL - Very good

Defense averages under 25 PPG, even ND and top offenses won't score more than 30
DL - Elite
LB - Very good
CB - Elite
S - Very good
STs - Very good return game, good on punter and kicker
 
I mean really... Not likely... We have a chance and we have a long road. But this is what you would say also say about the more Vegas odds team ahead of us. Everyone has to run the gauntlet.
 
252cane said:
Disagree more so on the TE room. Was 40 yards away from winning it all with bauman at TE
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Let’s just say we’re indifferent because the TE had the biggest impact in putting us in a losing position and not having a suitable backup to bench the worst TE in the history UM is why I still have concerns to this day
 
Biggest factor is play calling.

With a much less experienced O Line, will they be able to play Mario ball and run block well?

Will Dawson scheme to our strengths?

Will we still have entire halfs of nothing?

I'd like to see some growth from the coaches. The playoff team was an entirely different unit than the team of the first 9 or so games.

The players need to get up for every game.

They've tasted success. I'd think they'd want to get back to it.
 
Hurricajun said:
I didn’t. And listen I know he balled at Tulane, and carried Duke, but 30-5 is a heck of a career. I hope he is truly better and that’ll mean we win #6.
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I love Beck. Will always love Beck. Led the team to a truly magical season.

He was 37-6 as a starter. The one thing that stands out in those 6 losses, he threw 11 INTs. In the 37 wins he threw 19 INTs. For all the great things he had, there was always the possibility that he would play a game where he handed it to the opponent. When your production isn't super high that's problematic.
 
hurricaneman said:
I love Beck. Will always love Beck. Led the team to a truly magical season.

He was 37-6 as a starter. The one thing that stands out in those 6 losses, he threw 11 INTs. In the 37 wins he threw 19 INTs. For all the great things he had, there was always the possibility that he would play a game where he handed it to the opponent. When your production isn't super high that's problematic.
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Agreed. Had a few beers and your name was close to mine and I had to reread to make sure I didn’t write this. My question is, do we get dukes Darian Mensah who was good, or do we get this much better version of him due to better everything around him?
 
This year we will definitely take a step up doesn’t mean we’re gonna win the championship but we’re we’re gonna do is start dominating teams and by the fourth quarter get plenty of rotation which will keep us fresh for our playoff run but also build for the future when we have non-starters have to start, but they will have plenty of game time experience which is invaluable to build a total domination
 
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