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Let this Loss push the team to unfinished business in 2026. If we get Mensah, we're contenders again

filmcane said:
Regarding next season's run at the playoffs - as the schedule is currently shaped, it looks like we have 2 real challenges, both are on the road, and if we go at least 1-1 and win the rest, we should be in the ACC game. Those road games are Clemson and ND. I like our chances against Clemson, but ND is gonna be super tough. The ND game is later in the season, so hopefully this crew will have settled in to the identity of whatever the team is in 2026.
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Don't even have to beat ND--just win the **** ACC and get a bye.
 
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Firesite said:
Im going to be honest. It would take a huge effort for us to come back to the Natty again. I'd be happy with winning the ACC for once and making the playoffs.
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I think that's partly why I'm on the floor.

We ran an absolute gauntlet. Texas A&M at their place. The most talented team in the nation, OSU, and then a talented team playing inspired football to spite their ex-HC, Ole Miss - and then you lose to Indiana by shooting yourselves in the foot.

I think that was our moment. We blew it.
 
Hope I’m wrong. A lot of things went our way to reach this point, including staying relatively healthy in the playoffs. Felt like a team of destiny from almost not making the dance to having a chance at it all at home. We lose a lot of leadership and experience. I don’t think we’ll replicate the DL, it was just special this year with Bain and Mesidor. And Agent Zero, there’s no one else like him on this roster or in the portal. Not to mention the holes we still have to plug (WR, TE, LB, etc). The NIL era with this playoff format is just different. I don’t feel like it’s 99.
 
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caneworld said:
A good TE will be a game changer.... the worst single position on this team all year.
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I know I am in the minority here but I don't care for the position unless you have an elite TE (in recent years, Njoku, Arroyo). Just use a WR or OL because either of those can do the one job required by them, where a mediocre TE can't do either. He doesn't create a mismatch, can't block well, etc. I just think it's a relic unless you have a game changer.
 
OldhamA said:
I think that's partly why I'm on the floor.

We ran an absolute gauntlet. Texas A&M at their place. The most talented team in the nation, OSU, and then a talented team playing inspired football to spite their ex-HC, Ole Miss - and then you lose to Indiana by shooting yourselves in the foot.

I think that was our moment. We blew it.
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These young men put their heart and soul into this post-season. They went toe to toe with some monsters....
 
Handsome Squidbum said:
I know I am in the minority here but I don't care for the position unless you have an elite TE (in recent years, Njoku, Arroyo). Just use a WR or OL because either of those can do the one job required by them, where a mediocre TE can't do either. He doesn't create a mismatch, can't block well, etc. I just think it's a relic unless you have a game changer.
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Alright, Mike Martz.
 
You guys know how college football rosters work.

Next year we won’t be as good at DE, Nickel, RT and RG, and safety (Thomas)
But if everyone else returns, we could be better at DT (another year for Moten and Scott), WR (young guys developing, freshmen and transfers), QB (Mensah obviously).
Safety could be similar if Bryce continues to improve
RB would be the same or better if Fletcher, Brown and Pringle are all back, and throw in Mallory (I assume Lyle is gone)

OL will be interesting because we lose 3-4 starters (kind of like 2001), so we must take a step back, but if Seaton comes, Cantwell is ready and some of the guys in the pipeline keep getting better, the drop off may not be dramatic because Mirabal can really coach.

All that to say some positions will be worse, some will be better, but we are in REALLY GOOD HANDS in Mario. So the overall product will continue to be strong.

One last thing. I can guarantee 10000% that no one is more upset and will be working harder in about 6 hours than Mario Cristobal. This is unfinished business to him and he will not rest.
Expect calls in the next few hours to Seaton, Wilson and Mensah.
 
OldhamA said:
I think that's partly why I'm on the floor.

We ran an absolute gauntlet. Texas A&M at their place. The most talented team in the nation, OSU, and then a talented team playing inspired football to spite their ex-HC, Ole Miss - and then you lose to Indiana by shooting yourselves in the foot.

I think that was our moment. We blew it.
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Refs were generally fair this game. Miami's lack of discipline cost us again. I don't know how we can go from playing a near perfect game againt Ohio St to just playing dumb against Ole **** and Indy. I honestly think the Miami players felt the Ohio St game was a bigger game than this one, so they were absolutely locked and focused in that one- the players knew any critical mistakes against OSU would cost them the game. This game had the bonehead mistakes that killed us.
 
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AtlAtty said:
You guys know how college football rosters work.

Next year we won’t be as good at DE, Nickel, RT and RG, and safety (Thomas)
But if everyone else returns, we could be better at DT (another year for Moten and Scott), WR (young guys developing, freshmen and transfers), QB (Mensah obviously).
Safety could be similar if Bryce continues to improve
RB would be the same or better if Fletcher, Brown and Pringle are all back, and throw in Mallory (I assume Lyle is gone)

OL will be interesting because we lose 3-4 starters (kind of like 2001), so we must take a step back, but if Seaton comes, Cantwell is ready and some of the guys in the pipeline keep getting better, the drop off may not be dramatic because Mirabal can really coach.

All that to say some positions will be worse, some will be better, but we are in REALLY GOOD HANDS in Mario. So the overall product will continue to be strong.

One last thing. I can guarantee 10000% that no one is more upset and will be working harder in about 6 hours than Mario Cristobal. This is unfinished business to him and he will not rest.
Expect calls in the next few hours to Seaton, Wilson and Mensah.
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We will be better at CB and LB too with some development. The team will be different. It will still be loaded with talent. Malachi Toney is going to take a leap.
 
AtlAtty said:
You guys know how college football rosters work.

Next year we won’t be as good at DE, Nickel, RT and RG, and safety (Thomas)
But if everyone else returns, we could be better at DT (another year for Moten and Scott), WR (young guys developing, freshmen and transfers), QB (Mensah obviously).
Safety could be similar if Bryce continues to improve
RB would be the same or better if Fletcher, Brown and Pringle are all back, and throw in Mallory (I assume Lyle is gone)

OL will be interesting because we lose 3-4 starters (kind of like 2001), so we must take a step back, but if Seaton comes, Cantwell is ready and some of the guys in the pipeline keep getting better, the drop off may not be dramatic because Mirabal can really coach.

All that to say some positions will be worse, some will be better, but we are in REALLY GOOD HANDS in Mario. So the overall product will continue to be strong.

One last thing. I can guarantee 10000% that no one is more upset and will be working harder in about 6 hours than Mario Cristobal. This is unfinished business to him and he will not rest.
Expect calls in the next few hours to Seaton, Wilson and Mensah.
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Miami should win the ACC with Mensah at QB even with all the roster changes. I believe that gets us a very favorable path to the championship game again.
 
Handsome Squidbum said:
Refs were generally fair this game. Miami's lack of discipline cost us again. I don't know how we can go from playing a near perfect game againt Ohio St to just playing dumb against Ole **** and Indy. I honestly think the Miami players felt the Ohio St game was a bigger game than this one, so they were absolutely locked and focused in that one- the players knew any critical mistakes against OSU would cost them the game. This game had the bonehead mistakes that killed us.
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We made some undisciplined mistakes but I don’t think the game was officiated evenly.
 
Handsome Squidbum said:
Miami should win the ACC with Mensah at QB even with all the roster changes. I believe that gets us a very favorable path to the championship game again.
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If the playoff format remains the same, I would prefer a first round bye regardless of what the history has been.
4 games against really good team is brutal.
 
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I know it's the night of our team losing the natty, and I suppose some of tht sting is feeding into this idea that tonight was the one and only shot we have of winning a natty, but I really don't think so, Mario has built this thing to be sustainable and at a high level. Assuming Heatherman doesn't get poached this offseason, I could see our D being slightly less dominant int he pass rush department, but really solid everywhere else.

I know keep saying, "If Mensah comes here" because although I believe he is coming based on some insiders, as the old saying goes "It ain't done till it's done." BUT, if he comes here, we will have an explosive offense again that attacks the entire field. That combination and the burning in the guts of the players that return, I could see us right back in this game next year.
 
AtlAtty said:
If the playoff format remains the same, I would prefer a first round bye regardless of what the history has been.
4 games against really good team is brutal.
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In the 16 team playoff does a conference winner get a bye?
 
OldhamA said:
I think that's partly why I'm on the floor.

We ran an absolute gauntlet. Texas A&M at their place. The most talented team in the nation, OSU, and then a talented team playing inspired football to spite their ex-HC, Ole Miss - and then you lose to Indiana by shooting yourselves in the foot.

I think that was our moment. We blew it.
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I love it when you guys say **** I be thinking, but dont want to say out loud. lol

I would say we missed it rather than we blew it tho. Other teams are putting up big cash in the portal...it's only going to get harder imo.
 
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