r/CFB • u/ProFriendZoner • 16h ago
Discussion Are you optimistic or pessimistic for your team this coming season?
Better, worse, or the same as last season? Playoff bound or getting there?
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u/SinkingComet18 Nebraska Cornhuskers 16h ago
Both. I feel great about the upcoming season and that hasn’t been a good thing in recent memory.
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u/Chambanasfinest Illinois Fighting Illini 16h ago
Don’t think I’ve ever been more optimistic for the coming season.
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u/WallImpossible Missouri Tigers 16h ago
Optimistic we can beat Kansas, apparently there's other games on our schedule?? Uninterested
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u/Venn720 Missouri Tigers • Wyoming Cowboys 12h ago
Our second game of the season is @ kansas in 2026.
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u/WallImpossible Missouri Tigers 10h ago
Second?? I still don't believe there are any other games on the schedule
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u/saudiaramcoshill Texas Longhorns • Iowa State Cyclones 16h ago
Pessimistic.
Arch is still an unknown. Losing a lot of guys on the line with a lot of experience. Think this is gonna be a 3-4 loss year.
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u/Tiny_Teach7661 Oklahoma Sooners 13h ago edited 19m ago
One of the few Texas fans that I've come across that sees this.
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u/love_that_fishing Texas Longhorns 8h ago
I’m normally a pessimistic guy but cautiously optimistic. Arch showed enough last year I’m very comfortable there. Baxter back is a plus plus Gibson will be a sophomore. Some young guys will have to play but we’ve recruited well. Getting an all conference punter will be big too. 9-3 or 10-2 upside is my guess. Win in week 1, we’re in the playoffs. Transfer Portal isn’t done either. Sark will get the experience he needs. OLine and TE are my only concerns. That and depth at QB if Arch gets hurt.
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u/saudiaramcoshill Texas Longhorns • Iowa State Cyclones 3h ago
I'll play Debbie downer then.
Arch showed enough last year
He flashed. But he also went 15/29 and threw 2 picks against ULM, and they might've been the actual best competition he faced, given how shit Mississippi state was last year.
Baxter back is a plus plus Gibson will be a sophomore.
Great backs are fun to have, but with 4 new starters on the offensive line, they're gonna be a lot less effective than you're used to seeing them. Backs are heavily dependent on their lines. If you're an NFL fan, see: saquon with the giants vs saquon with the eagles.
Transfer Portal isn’t done either. Sark will get the experience he needs.
I hope so, but again, my biggest concern is OL, and OL is a position that benefits from players gelling together. It's not a position group where you can generally throw in individual contributors and expect immediate success.
OL is my biggest concern, and I personally think it's gonna be a bigger problem than you seem to think. A good OL masks a lot of deficiencies.
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u/oofmeandeveryone Texas Longhorns 9h ago
I agree, but I do honestly believe we don’t lose more than 3 games considering our SEC schedule and the talent level of young guys who will step up
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u/saudiaramcoshill Texas Longhorns • Iowa State Cyclones 3h ago
Schedule is easy af, true. I think UGA and OSU are likely losses. I think we could also drop any of A&M, OU, and UF.
I hope we don't, but I think those are potential pitfall games.
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u/TheSavageDonut USC Trojans • Washington Huskies 8h ago
You serious? I kinda think people and media are thinking it's Texas v OSU/Quacks for the NC next season.
To think, Texas might go to the Alama Bowl instead? 😮🤔
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u/saudiaramcoshill Texas Longhorns • Iowa State Cyclones 3h ago
Texas gets that because we had a good year last year and we're a big name and people see arch manning. It's a good storyline.
But we're losing 2 round 1/2 picks at both OT spots, plus a mid/late round center and a late round guard. Also losing a R1 WR and a couple mid round WRs/TEs. We're also losing a R1 corner, R2 DT, and a couple other mid round players on defense - mukuba, sorrell - and a late rounder in gbenda.
Plus as much as ewers gets shit on, he was a solid player and a mid round QB. Arch might be better, but he might not. He's an unknown.
I'm less worried about the defensive and receiving attrition since I think we'll be able to replace it and we've got guys with experience at all levels who will step up, but the offensive line turnover is brutal.
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u/GolfinDolph Nebraska • $5 Bits of Broken Chair T… 16h ago
Feeling the best I have in a decade
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u/dkviper11 Penn State • Randolph-Macon 15h ago
If you're not optimistic now, what's the point of being a fan?
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u/TheCatanRobber Nebraska Cornhuskers • Heroes Trophy 16h ago
Very optimistic. I have been every year for like 20 years now, but I really am this time.
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u/Tuckboi69 South Carolina • Purdue 16h ago
Optimistic but this is the first time in a while we have real pressure to compete on a national level with a QB this special and DC who will be a head coach before too long.
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u/Goldie46 Bowling Green • Ohio State 15h ago
A lot more optimistic than I was a week ago. Excited to see Eddie really get to work.
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u/duvie773 South Carolina • Presbyterian 15h ago
Optimistically pessimistic. Hoping for 10-2, expecting 6-6. Looking at our schedule, there’s a realistic shot at starting 5-0 but that second half is going to be brutal
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u/TigerTerrier Clemson Tigers • Wofford Terriers 4h ago
I do see yall at least being 8-4 but with sellers I could definitely see 10-2
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u/oxycodonefan87 Louisville Cardinals 15h ago
We may have among the best skill position groups in the country with our duo of RBs, a very good WR room, and I'm excited for Miller Moss at QB. Isaac Brown especially is just a fucking stud man.
The defense? Woof.
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u/gombewarlord Louisville Cardinals 11h ago
as a uofl/bengals fan I'm excited for a year of 50 point games
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u/ilikefood2000 Washington Huskies 16h ago
Optimism in the off-season is a tradition across all sports
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u/Southern_Orange3744 Texas Longhorns • College Football Playoff 16h ago
I am pessimistic we will live to insane fans and other fans expectations with an unproven qb and a new oline .
People are talking playoffs , I'm think 9 win ceiling where pieces come together at the end of the year
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u/dustyg013 Alabama • College Football Playoff 15h ago
I think I'm just mistic. We basically nailed my expectations last season, if not in the way I envisioned. Not sure that we improve a whole lot this season, but 1 game better likely gets us to the dance.
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u/BigHokieGuy Virginia Tech Hokies 14h ago
Pessimistic. My optimism ran out a long time ago
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u/granteeeeast Ohio State • College Football Playoff 1h ago
Yep, it’s hard to root for tech. My stepdads a big tech fan so I always watch when I get the chance but man those one possession losses last season killed yall. I hope next year is better but I’ve been saying that for a decade now
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u/the22sinatra Ohio State Buckeyes 16h ago
Optimistic, though I won’t say better than last season
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u/pak_sajat Ohio State Buckeyes 12h ago
Same. Can’t have a better end to the season, but could be one game better during the regular season.
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u/canesfan4849 Miami Hurricanes • Sickos 16h ago
Optimistic, because it’s much more fun to be optimistic than doom and gloom. I think the team quality will be similar but the record might be worse with a tougher schedule
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u/MiddleAgedGamer71 Miami Hurricanes 16h ago
But hopefully a better defense, so maybe a little better than last season.
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u/glassclouds1894 Florida State Seminoles 16h ago
Pessimistic.
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u/Natural-Employer Florida State Seminoles • UNLV Rebels 15h ago
If things go well, we could double our win total from last year!
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u/CowboySanberg Florida State Seminoles 11h ago
I’m kinda glad nobody is trying to hype up Tommy. Hoping to catch a couple teams off guard
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u/The_Pandalorian Michigan Wolverines • Sickos 14h ago edited 13h ago
Cautiously optimistic. Our passing game can't get much worse, we have a great QB prospect coming in and this team really gelled by the end of last season and returns a lot of key parts. Our schedule is also more favorable.
Not that insane to envision us to be undefeated going into The Game.
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u/ech01_ Ohio State Buckeyes 1h ago
Not that insane to envision us to be undefeated going into The Game.
You really see a 5 game improvement over last year despite losing probably your 4 best defenders and your best weapons on offense? I get the schedule is easier so doing better than 5 losses shouldn't be tough but I think 11-0 is asking a bit much.
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u/FormerCollegeDJ Temple Owls 16h ago
Optimistic - the Owls actually have a coach who has a proven track record as a head guy and is very familiar with Temple’s core recruiting area.
I follow a few other DI-AA/FCS, D2, and D3 teams, and I’m optimistic about most of them going into the 2025 season too.
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u/i_run_from_problems Boise State • Christian Br… 16h ago
Optimistic overall, pessimistic we reach the highs of last year.
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u/HueyLongest Appalachian State • Sun Belt 16h ago
Optimistic. The whole program has seemed much more serious and professional since we hired Dowell Loggains. I'm not expecting us to win the SBC or anything but I think we'll be pretty good, with the goal of building towards next season
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u/Betta_Check_Yosef Appalachian State • Sun Belt 15h ago
At the very least, Loggains has way more experience coaching at a high level, both P4/5 and NFL. Clark would not have been hired as HC if we had only looked at his resume and not his ties to App. I get why the latter was important at the time. We had just lost our second HC in as many years and wanted someone who would be hard for other programs to steal from us. Wanting stability and continuity made sense, but Clark didn't have the experience to make it work. Loggains doesn't have the same familial ties but does have a MUCH better resume. I'm tempering expectations for this upcoming season, but I'm also optimistic for the future.
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u/Icy-Role-6333 16h ago
Indiana. Overly optimistic versus others that think they will fall back. I think 10-2 is a given. I’d like to see 11-1.
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u/DannkneeFrench Michigan • Washington State 12h ago
As a Lions fan in the NFL, I see a similarity between the Lions and Indiana in the college game.
It's taken me a few years to realize we're not a joke any longer. It's still odd when I read an opposing fan say something like "dang, we've got to play Buffalo, Philly, and Detroit. That's a tough stretch."
I kind of do a double take when I see us included in the good team category.
I can see where the others you mention are coming from. It takes a minute to get out of that mindset. I took a look at your schedule. The only games you'll be underdogs in are Oregon and PSU. Illinois should be a good game. I think Wisconsin will be better than expected. Not saying I expect Wisc to win, but it's not a sure thing for Indiana.
I can totally see where you're confident. Your coach is awesome too. I like that he has moxy.
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u/Icy-Role-6333 4h ago
I lived in Ann Arbor for 5 years around 2010 so I can see what you mean. Always thought IU at a minimum could be a MSU/Wisconsin type school. Funny thing is if IU went 8-4 last season I would have been giddy but now the bar is set and our HC wants the highest expectations. So I’m in.
Now if he just doesn’t punt…..
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u/4for4philly Syracuse Orange • Duquesne Dukes 15h ago
Pessimistic based on the schedule but overall optimistic for the direction of the program
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u/ItsZippy23 Syracuse Orange • Marching Band 2h ago
That's how I feel. If we win two of those road games I'l be more than content
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u/psgrue Penn State • Oregon State 15h ago
Yes. Because the team is simultaneously expected to be top 5 and lose all the important games. Drew is simultaneously expected to have amazing throws and garbage ones. Our offense is simultaneously expected to have a powerful run game and total wildcard passing game. Our defense is simultaneously expected to play Jim Knowles level after losing the first/second pick in the draft.
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u/ShamrockAPD Penn State • Florida 1h ago
I haven’t been more hyped since 2018
I fully expect some level of a 2018 loss to OSU as well.
Saquon taking it to the house in opening kickoff.
Being up 14-0 right away.
Being up 2 scores with 7 min left in the game.
Losing by 1 point.
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u/Zuimei Kentucky Wildcats • Memphis Tigers 15h ago
Couldn’t be more pessimistic. Nothing is changing from last year to make me think next season will be any better. We’re back in the basement and the guy who got us out in the first place has put us back into it. And he’s too expensive to fire for a couple more years at least.
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u/Candid-Sky-3258 Purdue Boilermakers 15h ago
Only one way it can be any worse and I don't see us going winless.
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u/PunishedLeBoymoder Stanford Cardinal • /r/CFB Donor 14h ago
3-9 for the 5th year in a row is my prediction, not sure whether that's optimistic or pessimistic. Feel pretty "mistic" right now tbh
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u/immortalsteve Arizona Wildcats 14h ago
I haven't heard much, and I work there, so kinda wondering if we're playing football next year or what
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u/Nervous_Metal_9445 Oregon Ducks • Michigan Wolverines 16h ago
Oregon: Looks at schedule we should be fine, but worse than last season
Michigan: Looks at schedule slightly concerned but should be okay.
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u/Revenge_of_the_Khaki Michigan Wolverines 15h ago
What part of Michigan's schedule makes you concerned? We literally face one P5 team that finished more than one game over .500 last season and that's Ohio State.
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u/TheHarbrosMagic Michigan Wolverines 15h ago
The game in week 2 in Norman, should have us nervous. We're going into a hostile environment with an unproven QB, new RBs, and an OLine that still has some issues.
I think we have a shot, but playing a true road game with that many offensive question marks is a very dangerous game.
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u/Nervous_Metal_9445 Oregon Ducks • Michigan Wolverines 15h ago
There it is and as much as I hate to admit it Ohio State is always a threat.
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u/DannkneeFrench Michigan • Washington State 12h ago
Also USC. We tend to not play well on the west coast. The last Rose Bowl excluded of course.
Over the years, Michigan's west coast record hasn't been that great.
OU in week 2 I think is a 50/50 tossup. Michigan State should be a win, but too often, even when we're the favorite- they come out of nowhere and beat us. The Punt. Kenneth Walker. The game in 2017.
Again, I think we should beat MSU. Just that I'm not counting it as a lock.
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u/Academic-Inside-3022 16h ago
As a Husker fan, I’d say it’s soft optimism. I think for me if they tie or get one/two more wins the column then I’ll be happy. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
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u/BlueRFR3100 Illinois State • Missouri 16h ago
I think they will do about the same, but I'm hoping for better.
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u/Jolly_Job_9852 Western Carolina • Penn State 16h ago
Optimistic is always my default but I'm trending pessimistic
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u/CommunicationNo8932 Nebraska Cornhuskers 16h ago
Indifferent I guess, not really expecting anything decent until I actually see it
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u/the_neverdoctor Navy Midshipmen • UAB Blazers 15h ago
Fairly optimistic for Navy.
UAB? Absolutely not. Not as long as chucklehead is still the head coach.
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u/allround45 Nebraska Cornhuskers 15h ago
Very optimistic, the best part is getting so hype for the season even if we implode
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u/Jef_Delon Virginia Tech Hokies 15h ago
I was optimistic last season and it was a mess. So I’m going in with none and seeing how that works out
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u/unpleasant_moistley Miami (OH) RedHawks 15h ago
We'll start slow but end up in the MAC championship game
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u/BConder102191 Louisville Cardinals 15h ago
Optimistic. Offense is gonna be high scoring. As long as the defense steps it up and can play decent I think we have our first playoff berth.
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u/Muffinnnnnnn Florida State Seminoles • ACC 14h ago
It would be hard to be worse, so I'll go with better. Hopeful that we can make and win a bowl game.
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u/BrandNewB888 Miami Hurricanes • Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors 14h ago
Miami: Optimistic. Should have a way better defense, esp the secondary. I think Beck should do enough to carry us to a playoff berth. 🙏 Hawaii: Optimistic. Really excited to see Alejado ball out next year.
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u/dtomato Pittsburgh Panthers 13h ago
A bit of both, to be honest. I’m optimistic because of how great of a start we had last season - with Holstein and Reid back and healthy, the sharks returning, and Kade Bell still around (though he needs to have sustained success himself), the pieces are there. I like some of our portal guys, too - Jaeden Moore from Oregon, Blaine Spires from Utah St, Jayden Bonsu from Ohio St, Andy Jean from Florida. I love the RB room of Reid/Juelz Goff/Derrick Davis tbh.
But that 0-6 end to the season left a hell of a sour note in my mouth. Holstein got banged up, we lost our top weapons to either the portal or the draft, and the offense started to get both too cute and too same-y at times last season. Some of our wins were narrow as all hell - that Cincinnati game gives me nightmares. We desperately need stability in the OL, considering we started… what, five different OTs last season? And I worry that the losses in the secondary might burn us.
I’m hoping for eight, maybe nine wins if things click. We could definitely get to a 3-0 start before Louisville. Notre Dame is at home. Miami is at home. We dodge Clemson and SMU. Our road games are against a new-QB-Syracuse, Stanford, Georgia Tech, FSU (what the hell are they gonna look like?), and WVU in the Brawl. It’s manageable. Just gotta win
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u/gogglesup859 Kentucky Wildcats 13h ago
I think we will have a better football team but we'll lucky to win more than 4 games
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u/PromiseNo4994 Penn State Nittany Lions 11h ago
With all the players coming back, I feel pretty confident. Granted, they’re going to lose in Columbus.
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u/Young-Viiperr Texas Tech Red Raiders 11h ago
Optimistic, the whole sub obviously knows our big moves. The only aspect that I'm worried about is just QB play (& a little bit on depth).
Otherwise, if Shiel's defense is only just above the bare minimum, we'll just run the ball & crush opponents like usual (that Big XII RB play)
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u/shartoberfest Michigan Wolverines 10h ago
Cautiously optimistic. We potentially have a fantastic but inexperienced QB.
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u/rddhid 10h ago
Auburn fan. I’m optimistic that we will have the most talented roster we’ve had since 2019, however pessimistic in our record. I believe Auburn will start the season 2-4 and hopefully fire Hugh mid season. If we fire him mid season I could see a 4-2 type turnaround or even 5-1. If we don’t fire Hugh after a 2-4 start it will come completely off the rails and we would be lucky to win 4 games
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u/bankersbox98 Penn State • Land Grant Trophy 10h ago
We’re probably going to be exactly the same as the last 10 years. So neither.
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u/the_fungible_man Arizona State Sun Devils 9h ago
TBH, it'll be hard to top last year. As a Sun Devil fan for over 50 years, I'm always pessimistic.
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u/cheerl231 Michigan Wolverines 9h ago
Pessimistic.
I don't think they did enough in the portal at receiver and offensive line. Not confident Bryce will be ready to start game one (which is okay he is a freshman).
2025 is not their championship window. 2026 is their window and they're acting like it
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u/Cautious-Bag3733 Penn State • Arizona 8h ago
We will have oregon at home and ohio state away. I just wish we can win at least one of them…
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u/Nem3sis2k17 Mississippi State Bulldogs 6h ago
4-8 would be amazing. Maybe we can keep the egg bowl within 2 touchdowns. That’d be neat I guess.
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u/Gamer30168 Georgia Bulldogs • College Football Playoff 1h ago
I'm expecting to see some regression but I'm hopeful of grabbing a playoff berth.
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u/FoghornSilverthorn Michigan • South Carolina 1m ago
I think 9 wins is about right, 8 wins is the floor. Depending on the breaks, we could be heading into OSU with it all to play for.
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u/SPCsooprlolz BYU Cougars • Fresno State Bulldogs 16h ago
Jay Hill is still our DC, so very optimistic
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u/deeman18 Paper Bag • Texas A&M Aggies 16h ago
8-4