The Great Wall of Mirabal

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Better or worse roster in 2026 than 2024 with Ward?

Better roster than 2024 but Ward was a game changer so he made up for it. If we had Ward on this roster I would say 11-1 or 12-0

W/L is always hard to predict, but with Mensah, this is a better overall team than the 2024 team with Ward, remember there is an offense AND a defense.

Methinks you’re trying too hard fan20, don’t overthink it.
 
This will be a bit of a rebuilding year, not only for the offensive line but for the team in general. When you lose basically your entire offensive line, two first-round defensive linemen, and two of the best defensive backs in the country, you’re going to take a step back. I would say 9-3/10-2 is most likely. We have better skill players this year but our trenches are just not as good.
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The Defense obviously loses high-end talents in Bain, Mesidor, and Scott. There is no one-for-one replacement for any of them. Jakobe Thomas is a big loss foe his experience and leadership.

The DBs may take a bit of a step back but should still be good.

The DL, while losing that top end, is arguably deeper than 2025. That will offset some pain.

LB should be deeper and morw talented than '25.

It's Heatherman's 2nd go-round. The Defense should be excellent.

Special teams look to be upgraded with our new kicking tandem.

Offensive line will be the biggest unknown. Skill positions on offense are very, very good.
 
W/L is always hard to predict, but with Mensah, this is a better overall team than the 2024 team with Ward, remember there is an offense AND a defense.

Methinks you’re trying too hard fan20, don’t overthink it.
I just think anytime you lose almost your entire trenches it's really going to be difficult to have elite level success the following season
 
I just think anytime you lose almost your entire trenches it's really going to be difficult to have elite level success the following season

You’re still overthinking it. Read the post right above yours. Dline will still be a strength. Oline won’t be as good as last year, but should end up being the best line in the ACC. Also, check the schedule and opponents.
 
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I loved Bain, Mesi, Scott, Thomas and Wes. But this defense will be just as good. We have Top 50 recruits at DE — Wilson, Lightfoot, Lowe and Blount. We have the best DTs in the ACC and a top 5 nationally in Moten, Scott and Davis (Blount there too on passing downs). We have three legit players fighting for the nickel spot, 4 for the two CB spots and 2 for the second S spot. Chase was taking more and more of Wes’ and Popo’s snaps late last season, so we essentially have our two starting LBs returning. This team is going to keep opponents to less than 20 ppg.

On offense, we have a QB who led the ACC is ypg at Duke and is only slightly less dynamic than Ward while being more accurate. He has a 6 guys who would start and be featured at any other program in Toney. Cooper, Moore, Jacobs, Vaugh, Upshaw … and I’d argue Wingo won’t be denied playing time because he’s just that good. Our RB room is deepest in nation and best at the physical style we like to run. And while we turned over our OL. We essentially have three guys who were considered starting caliber last season (Samson, McCoy and Rodrigues) with highly touted Buchanan, all world rookie Jackson as our starters. This offense is putting up 40 ppg.

Zero concerns. The only question marks across the team are at TE and Kicker.

Net net this team is equipped to make a deep CFP run.
 
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