Representing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Pod Poll is none other than the 4 Horsemen Podcast. Their ballot ranked as the 47th most irregular at 25.9 points on the Irregularity Index, well below the median. Today we’ll hear, in detail, the reasoning and analysis behind one of the most meticulous ballots in the poll.
In this article we’ll individually discuss every power conference then jump into Notre Dame football in particular at the end of the article.
The 4 Horsemen’s Ballot:
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- USC
- Michigan
- Notre Dame
- Penn State
- Florida State
- Utah
- LSU
- Oregon
- Washington
- Clemson
- TCU
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
- Texas Tech
- Oregon State
- Wisconsin
- Texas
- Kansas State
- UCLA
- Tulane
- Iowa
- Ole Miss
The SEC
First, let’s talk Alabama. The Horsemen placed Alabama at second ahead of Ohio State, Michigan, and USC. After what Alabama fans consider a down year, Saban is rather kean on turning back to being the perennial favorite for the national championship. But there are some question marks around the Crimson Tide. Foremost among these is the loss of Bryce Young. Very few teams can easily recover from losing a Heisman caliber quarterback. The 4 Horsemen explained their decision saying,”I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think Alabama is being underrated in college football. First, Nick Saban has proven time and time again that he can bounce back after a “disappointing” season. Second, I think too much is being made of Alabama’s QB situation. The Tide have won National Championships with a first time QB. The talent is there.”
But in Alabama’s way stands a goliath: Coach Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs. They strive to replace the walk-on star Stetson Bennet. But many Georgia believers are eager to point out the sheer depth UGA has throughout, especially in their quarterback room staffed by four and five stars,”Georgia is a tough matchup for anyone these days, but the Bulldogs also have some uncertainty at QB. While the Dawgs are deservingly the #1 team, I could see Alabama winning the SEC again.”
One question that we had an obligation to ask our Notre Dame representative while discussing the SEC was where they see Brian Kelly’s LSU team heading. When asked about whether or not the Tigers can compete at the highest level against the likes of Nick Saban’s Alabama and Smart’s Georgia, the former BK followers responded,”Brian Kelly, a fam-uh-lee man, is a very good program builder who brought Notre Dame back to being a top 10 program. His issue getting over the hump had to do, partially, with not recruiting at the level required at ND. I don’t think it’s controversial to say that recruiting is harder at Notre Dame and thus requires more work. Does that mean he can’t recruit at LSU? Nope, LSU can absolutely bring in elite talent regardless of Kelly. So can he succeed in the SEC? Sure. But do I see him overcoming Alabama and Georgia at the top? No, I don’t. There’s too long of a history of failing on the biggest stage and not having the team prepared for big games. I hope that doesn’t sound salty because I am genuinely not upset he left for LSU. Both sides needed to move on to reach new heights.”
The Big 10
Another notable pick from the Horsemen comes with Ohio State at number three, ahead of USC and Michigan. Ohio State, similar to Alabama, is losing its Heisman caliber quarterback. Ryan Day has lost two straight to Michigan including a pummeling in 2022,”Ohio State is a big question mark going into this season. The loss of Stroud could be a big impact… or maybe it won’t be. The Buckeyes have been a premier team in college football year-after-year. Are there signs of faltering? Yes. And the fear of it within their fanbase is palpable. But I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. Also, I don’t think any team played Georgia as close as Ohio State did last season.” This last does hold some validity, Georgia went down to the wire against Ohio State and eked by with a victory in the CFP Semifinal. Ohio State has proven that not only can they fight with the big dogs, they are undeniably one of them.
For Ohio State to stay past Michigan, the Wolverines need to show some weakness. But where does their weakness lie? We asked what the future held for Harbaugh and his Michigan squad in 2023,”They fold their football program. But perhaps I’m being a *bit* optimistic. If only the universe was that kind and just. People love to hate Notre Dame, but people just HATE michigan. Our rivals respect us and like playing us, their rivals wish they didn’t exist. In terms of an on-field analysis, michigan is returning a strong team and has a very easy schedule until they meet Penn State and Ohio State. They will have a loss but I could see them winning the conference again. But let’s not forget – they lost to a team in the semifinal who proceeded to lose to Georgia by 58 points. Would michigan have played Georgia closer? Maybe. But michigan has the same problems Notre Dame has had in recent playoff years: a good-but-not-elite QB and they can’t matchup athlete-for-athlete on the outside. That problem will persist. While michigan can and has beaten Ohio State, I argue Ohio State is and has been more likely to win a National Championship.”
No Big 10 discussion can take place without recognizing the sheer power of the three titans of the West. Penn State is poised with a veteran squad to finally make their mark. James Franklin’s teams have been met with disappointing seasons across the board as they’ve found themselves unable to break out and beat the titans of the Big 10. What is going to unfold in the gauntlet trio of PSU-tOSU-UM? We asked who comes out on top,”The Big Ten West is pretty crazy, especially with Penn State knocking on the door. I’ve been a big fan of Drew Allar and I think his play could be the biggest factor in this. OSU can’t seem to beat this version of michigan, and the wolverines have yet another pathetically easy schedule until November. I think Penn State beats michigan in Happy Valley, but I am not too convinced they will beat the Buckeyes in Columbus. But then the Buckeyes play in Ann Arbor and I don’t like that matchup for them at all. I can easily see them all going 1-1 against each other. I will be absolutely rooting for Penn State, though… which really says something about the other two.” The question remains: Is 2023 the year of the Nittany Lion? Can they take down this Michigan squad with a returning quarterback and quite possibly one of the best running back rooms in modern history? Or will the Wolverines pound their way through the Big 10 again and find themselves vying for their place in the sun.
Amid a strong Big 10, where does everyone else fall? We asked if the Badgers will be able to hold their own enough to keep their spot on the Horsemen’s ballot once games start being played,”Wisconsin is going to be a very interesting team to watch. Luke Fickell is a good coach and can get them back to the top of the conference. Will it be this year? I don’t think so. Maybe the new offensive system lights the Big Ten up, but my money would be on an adjustment period.”
One big 10 team ready to make its grand reentrance into the conference’s upper echelons is Nebraska. But how quickly will it take and is Rhule the right man for the job?”It’s funny because on Twitter we built a minor Notre Dame-Nebraska alliance because of all the disrespect the blue blood Cornhuskers were getting. Can they turn it around? Absolutely, especially with Matt Rhule there. But Nebraska isn’t a great state at producing football players so they’re at such a recruiting disadvantage, which is absolutely critical these days. Will Rhule turn them into National Champions? Probably not. But I have faith that they can compete for the Big Ten in a few seasons.”
The ACC
Coming in at number eight on the Horsemen’s ballot are the Florida State Seminoles. In the past few seasons, Clemson’s grip on the ACC has begun to falter. The ACC seemingly only has room for one at the top, and the Tigers have left their throne up for grabs. The Seminoles are happy to fill the void and their rising star looks unstoppable in their quest to regain their spot at the top. But Dabo isn’t to be taken lightly. It is undeniable that he is one of the best coaches in the sport and it is extremely possible that he has a few more tricks up his sleeve,”Florida State made real signs of improvement last year but I do think they’re getting a bit overhyped because of it. Clemson is still very much a top level football team and the Seminoles won’t just steamroll through them. I can see that being the rematch for the ACC Championship game. But then again, I’ve seen “good” preseason FSU go 5-7, which has been a frustrating aspect of Notre Dame being affiliated with the ACC.”
One ACC dark horse which received votes in the Pod Poll, including a second place ranking which we covered in an article on April 21 from The Loyal Sons, is the Pittsburgh Panthers under coach Pat Narduzzi. Coach Narduzzi has begun rebuilding a previously faltering Pitt program which was riddled with uncertainty and inconsistency. Narduzzi has righted the ship and brought the Panthers twenty wins in a two season span. So we asked if Pitt stands a chance in their undeniably hardest game of the year against Notre Dame,”Pitt tends to give Notre Dame hell when we play. I still think about those games in 2012 and 2013, both of which Pitt arguably deserved to win. I think Jurkovec is a good QB but I think it’s unlikely they beat ND in South Bend. The Irish will be coming off a bye week after playing usc. The one thing Pitt may have going for it is ND’s schedule. Notre Dame travels to Clemson the following week and that could be on the team’s mind. Anything can happen in college football, but Notre Dame is going 12-0 baby.”
The PAC 12
Coming in at number four on the ballot is USC. Returning their Heisman winning quarterback and continuing to strengthen their roster through the portal, they seem poised to push themselves into the playoff. But a lineup of Utah, Oregon, and Washington stand in their way. Husky fans will tell you that this is their year, that Washington has a once in a lifetime shot to win it all with this squad. Oregon sits just behind them in the Pod Poll ready to make their own run for the PAC-12 championship or more. But you can’t overlook the back to back champions in the Utes, who seem intent on never letting the Trojans beat them before running to the Big 10. This is widely seen as possibly the strongest PAC 12 in recent memory, and the Horsemen sum this up well,”How hilarious is it that the one year the Pac-12 finally became competitive in the CFP era is the last year usc and UCLA will be in the conference? We ranked the trojans high because they’re returning the Heisman winner. But they’re not going to steamroll the conference, either. Oregon and Washington both have elite QBs – a critical aspect of winning at the highest level these days – and Utah is built to beat usc. As good as they are, and despite all that NIL money, usc is still Charmin Extra-Soft and a defensive mess. They are going to have some losses on that schedule, especially with back-to-back weeks of Notre Dame and Utah followed later by Washington and Oregon. What a perfect goodbye gift from the conference for those backstabbers.” USC has possibly one of the toughest schedules in the country despite their best efforts. Marcus Freeman’s Irish are ready to do big things and a once in a lifetime lineup of PAC 12 powerhouses have one game at the front of their minds already.
The Big 12
One conference which appears to also be at a high point in its strength is the Big 12, who go into the off season with five ranked teams and an unclear outcome. The 4 Horsemen ranked the Big 12 rather low, however, but the Horsemen don’t perceive they’re low on the Big 12, in fact, quite the opposite,”To be fair, we ranked 4 of them in the top 25. We’re relatively high on Texas Tech, we respect TCU and what K-State did last season, and Texas has a lot of talent even though I’m not high on the QBs. The Big 12 is solid with a high level of parity, but there isn’t a single team there that would scare me. If Oklahoma can figure it out, they have the talent to make a run. Your guess is as good as mine on who wins it. I’ll ride with the Red Raiders, though.”
Notre Dame & The State of The Sport
One question nationwide is who has the best running back room. Michigan claims it with Corum and Edwards, Ole Miss fans seem intent on making their case, and Penn State has a strong claim to the throne. But the Horsemen bring a different perspective,”Notre Dame. No, I’m not joking. No disrespect to anyone, including Penn State’s great RB room, but nobody has the depth of Notre Dame. michigan might have the best 1-2 punch, but I’ll take Notre Dame’s room over anyone’s. Tyree (444 yards, 3 TDs in 2022) has been moved to slot WR and could theoretically move back into a loaded room with big Audric Estime (920 yards, 11 TDs), Logan Diggs (820 yards, 4 TDs), Jadarian Price (who was arguably the best RB last Spring as a true freshman before suffering a season-ending injury), Gi’Bran Payne, and one of the best RBs in the 2023 class, Jeremiyah Love.”
As per tradition we asked what the Horsemen see 2023 holding for their home team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish especially in the face of a season which includes games against (4) Ohio State, (5) USC, and (11) Clemson,”As Notre Dame propagandists, the answer is 12-0. On a balance, you would predict 10-2 or 11-1 since 2 of those 3 big games are at home. Last year ND led OSU for essentially 3 quarters in Columbus with a first-time starting QB. Now the Buckeyes have to come to South Bend with a new QB against Sam Hartman, one of the best QBs in the country. Ohio State is great (you have to say that or else angry, rabid Ohioans will take it personally and yell at you), but I like Notre Dame here. Likewise, ND held their own against usc in LA and came up short. With better QB play and home field advantage, a place where usc hasn’t won since 2011, I like my Irish again. Defensive play will be key this season and could determine both games. Lastly, it’s Clemson away. Notre Dame obliterated Clemson last year in South Bend. While I expect the Tigers to be better this season offensively, it is still a time of transition for them. Going to Death Valley is tough but in a neutral field I would like ND easily. 3-0 is plausible here.”
One issue coming to the forefront of college football is that of the ACC’s future. Florida State and Clemson are looking at their options and the conference is woefully unprepared to stand as a power conference without its only two dynastic teams. But tied into this all is a Notre Dame program tied into the ACC through affiliation. If the ACC does get torn apart, what’s next for the Irish?”That’s a good question. A home for non-football sports and a pathway to the CFP are key for Notre Dame’s independence. I believe they would try to find a similar ACC-type deal as an affiliate member of a conference. Should they pursue an affiliation with the Big Ten? For sure. The issue is the Big Ten, though, because, well, let’s just say there’s some egos involved that want to force ND as a full member or give them nothing… despite ND Hockey already being in the Big Ten. I think an affiliate deal with the Big Ten where football is independent but plays 5-6 Big Ten teams annually is ideal. I just don’t know if the Big Ten could look beyond and see the obvious financial benefits it brings all members (and helps them get more money on their next TV deal). I believe ND and the Big 12 had talks before the Irish signed with the ACC, so perhaps that would be what’s next. The SEC definitely wants Notre Dame as a full member, but perhaps more realistically for them, they want to keep Notre Dame away from the imperialistic clutch of the Big Ten. So would they offer ND an affiliation deal to prevent the Big Ten from getting us? I’m not sure. In the end, I am confident Notre Dame would find an affiliation somewhere. Why? 1) too much money; and 2) the only thing worse than not having Notre Dame in your conference is if Notre Dame joins another conference. That alone will preserve our independence and give us leverage if we want to eventually join one in football. I’ll rank my order of preference here: 1) Affiliation with the Big Ten; 2) ACC stays together and we keep our affiliation with them; 3) Affiliation elsewhere; 4) Join a conference in football.”
Notre Dame fans are almost universally on board with Marcus Freeman and what he’s already seemingly building in just his second year as head coach of the Irish. So we asked what the Horsemen see in the young coach,”Marcus Freeman was universally the fan’s choice when Brian Kelly left. Why? Because from his first interviews, it was clear that he “got it”. He is a Notre Dame man through and through (sorry Buckeyes). His recruiting as Defensive Coordinator was felt instantaneously and he hired a strong recruiting staff as the head coach. He has ND recruiting at a way higher level, which is what is needed to get over the hump and win a National Championship. Is he a good head football coach? I believe so. But we won’t know until he proves it on the field. The losses last season to Marshall and Stanford were horrible. But the way the team was prepared for the big games against OSU, Clemson, and usc was very encouraging. He was also dealt a very tough situation with the starting QB getting injured in game 2. People forget ND beat 4 teams that were ranked in the top 25 at the time of the matchup. Now, with Sam Hartman and a guaranteed improved offense, let’s see how he fares this season. It’s a very tough schedule but it is winnable. We are more than happy to be patient with him and to give him time because we know that his potential as a coach is sky high. The way the Irish bounced back against South Carolina in the Gator Bowl showed considerable improvement from the Fiesta Bowl meltdown (which we don’t blame on him at all).”
Closing
A big thank you to the 4 Horsemen Podcast again for participating in the Pod Poll and in this interview. And thank you to you, the reader, for keeping this project alive. I can’t do this without someone to do it all for and you guys have really made this all worth it. Go check out the Pod Poll on Twitter for article notifications, news about the poll, and to talk some football.
Go drop by and give the Horsemen a follow and a listen and keep your eyes on the PodPollCast for a future episode starring none other than the 4 Horsemen back again for more college football talk! The PodPollCast will be your home for college athletics news, predictions, and interviews with podcasts from across the NCAA.
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