So, looking over the depth charts for the championship game (all coots just got very jealous, since they never play in those), I came up with these tidbits: Number of players that are underclassmen (freshmen or sophomore)
Clemson offense, 16 with three starters ND offense, 13 with 2 starters
Clemson Defense, 23 with 7 starters ND Defense, 14 with 2 starters
It has been like this with just about every game for the last several years! This is what leads to the kind of teams we have been having the decade or so.
It also has to be very demoralizing to other teams to know that we keep reloading, so the next year it will be the same!
This is how ND has to win. Strong offensive lines, developed upper class, and disciplined play. It’s produced two undefeated regular seasons and 6 total losses in the last (almost) four seasons. Zero losses to teams outside of the top 20. Only Bama can say that other part with us.
Clemson, Ohio State, and Alabama are going to be loaded with more talent, including players that can leave early for the NFL. Just a matter of how it rolls. Whether ND can actually beat one of those teams at full strength (or in a miracle, all three of them) is yet to be seen, but this is how we would have to do it. I do like that Clemson is becoming an ally/healthy rivalry for Notre Dame. It can only push us to get better. It’s like playing USC with Pete Carroll, except we have a more disciplined team now than Weis did.