2025 Season Projections

[Shenexon]

I don't really have a feel for our record this year. It's as tough a schedule as we've seen in a good while, at least on paper. Six wins would probably be a success with most fans. But we've competed with strong programs before, with less inspiring & skilled coaches. I certainly won't be offended if we go 8-4 and would not bet against Fran et al. We'll have a lot of new faces but that could be a strength. Fran has made notable additions to the offense & defense. I think I'm going to be happy with line play though a number of those players weren't here last year. Otto in Grotto has prophesied great things for Angeli and I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Utah is pretty well known for prophets. We have a lot of potential and I'll be hopeful for every game's outcome. We won a lot of close games last year and don't think that was accidental. McCord was clutch but there were a lot of players and coaches participating in plays with him. I'm fulling willing to let SU 2025 break records for the number of close wins, and finish undefeated. That's the kind of guy I am.

 

[Yeti]

Y’all I just really don’t want to lose to Pitt again.

 

[Cusefan95]

I'll feel really good if we're bowl eligible before BC.

I don't care for the idea of that BC game being make or break for a bowl.

I know, I know, the bowls don't matter.

But it kinda does.

The bowl game itself is pointless and doesn’t matter. At this point they are scrimmages.

Qualifying for and making a bowl game matters a lot though.

 

[Cusefan95]

ACC preview: Road to title again figures to go through Clemson

Per ESPN's Bill Connelly, they have us an average of 4.8 wins for 2025 on a recent projection. While that seems a bit ridiculous, a lot of their points are valid and make sense. We have very little production returning on both sides of the ball and not having McCord is pretty big. Fran will certainly outplay their prediction but i'm not sure by how much.

I think at times we get so enamored with data analysis that we don’t assess the quality of the data. With all the turnover in college football, the data a guy like Connelly puts into his model is mostly low quality guesses. It sorta kinda works out because teams usually stay at the level they are at - so if he uses multiple years of data it’s going to end up close on most teams. Then he gets to tout how accurate he was at the end of the year. But we really don’t need a model to tell us Texas and Georgia are going to be good, and Maryland and Purdue will be terrible this year. What’s far more interesting is a model which can identify teams that will defy expectations (either good or bad) - I don’t think that can come from pure data for college football.

 

[Cusefan95]

This isn’t the same Notre Dame program. When we played them then, they were at their low point of the past 20 years.

Notre Dame has won 29 consecutive games against ACC opponents. And the game is being played near the end of the season, when their advantage in depth is most meaningful.

Anything is possible but of all the games we have on the schedule, IMHO, this one is the most unlikely to result in a win.

Notre Dame lost to Clemson in 2020 & 2023. I think that stat is probably 29 straight against ACC teams not named “Clemson”. I doubt we can beat ND - but there’s a legitimate reason why they signed a separate long-term deal with Clemson specifically. Beating up on an ACC mostly made of tomato cans doesn’t do much for Notre Dame - but beating Clemson matters nationally.

 

[djorange1989]

Going with 6-6. We will steal one road/neutral game (can’t make up my mind which one we will get but I cannot see it being ND or Clemson). Thinking the home loss might be Duke. Having Angeli makes me feel a bit better about the season, schedule is brutal and there are a lot of question marks (running game and the defense as a whole to name two) but Fran just has IT when he comes to keeping a team together and hungry

 

[BillSU]

The loss of Kyle, IMO, is bigger than anyone is mentioning. He was an experienced savior. We don’t have a savior this year and no one has played together yet. Too bad Angeli and Collins don’t have games they had played behind them - I think we’d be able to more accurately predict what is actually going to happen with our team with Kyle, coming from State with an almost perfect record his last season, if they had played.

So, you’re talking about the most important position on the field with no experience. We will see how that plays out vs TN. Then we’ll look at our predictions and with a pencil with an eraser on it, with one game played, change them for better or worse, 4-8, 6-6, 7-5, we’ll see.

This is a transition year and like the dude from GA said almost 9K offensive yards went out the door with our draft class. Replacing that is not going to be easy. 2026 will be a better year with people having had a year to experience SU football home and away. Have patience, we are all going to need it.

It is so important, as we all observed, to have an excellent QB under center every year.

 

[dasher]

I think we win 9.

what unit on this year's team is an upgrade over last year?

 

[Eric15]

Y’all I just really don’t want to lose to Pitt again.

Crazy to think we haven't played them in the Dome in four years.

That game this past October, which I was stupid enough to attend in person, was comically absurd.

 

[RedtheGOB]

what unit on this year's team is an upgrade over last year?

Does Coaching Staff count . One more year of experience for all of them plus new Special Teams.

 

[RedtheGOB]

The loss of Kyle, IMO, is bigger than anyone is mentioning. He was an experienced savior. We don’t have a savior this year and no one has played together yet. Too bad Angeli and Collins don’t have games they had played behind them - I think we’d be able to more accurately predict what is actually going to happen with our team with Kyle, coming from State with an almost perfect record his last season, if they had played.

So, you’re talking about the most important position on the field with no experience. We will see how that plays out vs TN. Then we’ll look at our predictions and with a pencil with an eraser on it, with one game played, change them for better or worse, 4-8, 6-6, 7-5, we’ll see.

This is a transition year and like the dude from GA said almost 9K offensive yards went out the door with our draft class. Replacing that is not going to be easy. 2026 will be a better year with people having had a year to experience SU football home and away. Have patience, we are all going to need it.

It is so important, as we all observed, to have an excellent QB under center every year.

I really am not worried about our offensive production. I have a ridiculous amount of faith in Jeff Nixon and you all should to. This is a guy getting calls from NFL teams for interviews. He will have the offense ready to go, regardless of QB or RB or all the production leaving.

Problem we have is the defense again, we gave up far too many big plays. Offense finished #20 in scoring last year, Defense was closer to 100. Against our schedule I could see our defense sliding further.

 

[AngryOtto]

I really am not worried about our offensive production. I have a ridiculous amount of faith in Jeff Nixon and you all should to. This is a guy getting calls from NFL teams for interviews. He will have the offense ready to go, regardless of QB or RB or all the production leaving.

Problem we have is the defense again, we gave up far too many big plays. Offense finished #20 in scoring last year, Defense was closer to 100. Against our schedule I could see our defense sliding further.

I actually think the D is going to be improved. One of the big issues last season was tackling. I think part of that was scheme. This is the second year in the system. Even prior to spring ball all of the staff was saying they had to improve tracking. I feel that has been a major focus in spring ball and will be through camp. Improved tackling will greatly improve our D.

 

[Idiocuse22&]

Anytime I have shared my thoughts on here they have been super optimistic. But we have what appears to be a super tough schedule, even if it plays out to be not as tough as it looks now it will still be difficult.

IDGAF. I remain optimistic.
I predict we win 10 games, anything less than that I would be surprised. Id be content with a bowl 6 wins if perhaps our QB play is disappointing. But I dont see it, double digit wins and we are off to quite a run.
Its happening!

 

[Strathless]

I actually think the D is going to be improved. One of the big issues last season was tackling. I think part of that was scheme. This is the second year in the system. Even prior to spring ball all of the staff was saying they had to improve tracking. I feel that has been a major focus in spring ball and will be through camp. Improved tackling will greatly improve our D.

I also think the defense may be stronger as a whole this year. This is especially true up front on the line. We were paper thin in the middle by the end of last season, but the additions of Thomas and Rooks at DT with Wilson and Perry returning provide a lot of depth there. Losing Watson was tough, but replacing him with two proven upperclassmen lessens the blow.

We all saw last year that Elijah Robinson’s scheme relies a lot on creating pressure with the front four rather than blitzes. I think the DT unit can rotate to stay fresh and be more consistent in generating a push up front. That will free up players on the edge such as David O and the Cal transfer Reese to get to the QB more effectively. Should that happen I think we’ll see a defense more in rhythm this year that is able to take pressure off our young and inexperienced CB group.

 

[baggerbob]

I also think the defense may be stronger as a whole this year. This is especially true up front on the line. We were paper thin in the middle by the end of last season, but the additions of Thomas and Rooks at DT with Wilson and Perry returning provide a lot of depth there. Losing Watson was tough, but replacing him with two proven upperclassmen lessens the blow.

We all saw last year that Elijah Robinson’s scheme relies a lot on creating pressure with the front four rather than blitzes. I think the DT unit can rotate to stay fresh and be more consistent in generating a push up front. That will free up players on the edge such as David O and the Cal transfer Reese to get to the QB more effectively. Should that happen I think we’ll see a defense more in rhythm this year that is able to take pressure off our young and inexperienced CB group.

Everyone keeps on about Robinson, but he lost half of his 4 rotating DT,s before the season started. On top of last lost the heart of the defense for better then half the year in Wax. Personally under the circumstances they probably over achieved.
A little luck with injuries and they would have been good.

 

[kcsu]

what unit on this year's team is an upgrade over last year?

Overall depth

 

[KaiserUEO]

Neutral vs Tennessee: WIN, shock the world baby!!
vs storz st: WIN, please...
vs Colgate WIN, love that we play them
at Clemson LOSS, reality sets in
vs Duke WIN, fluck them
at SMU LOSS, too much Texas speed
vs Pitt WIN, its time for our run
at Georgia Tech WIN, theyre not that tough
vs UNC WIN, see Ga Tech & dook and will be a mess
at Miami LOSS, payback city
at Notre Dame LOSS, not this year
vs Boston College WIN, will be close

7-2 will have the Orange in the top 15, 8-4 around #23-25.

they will once again crush whomever they get in the Bowl.

of which im hoping is not the Gator, for it will likely be head to head with the Giants.

the Sun will work.

fwiw: i like the way the bowls and the CFP sets up date-wise this year.

 

[RedtheGOB]

I actually think the D is going to be improved. One of the big issues last season was tackling. I think part of that was scheme. This is the second year in the system. Even prior to spring ball all of the staff was saying they had to improve tracking. I feel that has been a major focus in spring ball and will be through camp. Improved tackling will greatly improve our D.

Good to know and agree on the tackling.

 

[upperdeck]

Scheme and rotating bodies to deal with injuries didnt help the D at all. We need to find a DE who can get home, its been way too long.

 

[baggerbob]

Neutral vs Tennessee: WIN, shock the world baby!!
vs storz st: WIN, please...
vs Colgate WIN, love that we play them
at Clemson LOSS, reality sets in
vs Duke WIN, fluck them
at SMU LOSS, too much Texas speed
vs Pitt WIN, its time for our run
at Georgia Tech WIN, theyre not that tough
vs UNC WIN, see Ga Tech & dook and will be a mess
at Miami LOSS, payback city
at Notre Dame LOSS, not this year
vs Boston College WIN, will be close

7-2 will have the Orange in the top 15, 8-4 around #23-25.

they will once again crush whomever they get in the Bowl.

of which im hoping is not the Gator, for it will likely be head to head with the Giants.

the Sun will work.

fwiw: i like the way the bowls and the CFP sets up date-wise this year.

Except SMU has less speed then we do by that time Jones, and James should be fully involved in our offense. Their is no team who will be able to defend their speed and stop Willis as our main running back.
I really expect Nixon to find a way to utilize James in various ways this year.

 

[shu 49]

what unit on this year's team is an upgrade over last year?

Oline and dline bye a litte bit.

 

[shu 49]

I really am not worried about our offensive production. I have a ridiculous amount of faith in Jeff Nixon and you all should to. This is a guy getting calls from NFL teams for interviews. He will have the offense ready to go, regardless of QB or RB or all the production leaving.

Problem we have is the defense again, we gave up far too many big plays. Offense finished #20 in scoring last year, Defense was closer to 100. Against our schedule I could see our defense sliding further.

I really think this year we need to be more aggressive on defense. We are a bitbigger in middle and jopefully we are shedding blockers and not holding them up. Our run defense has to be improved upfront bye getting los tackles. When we are a true attack team, we will be trying to move the los backwords. This year if we have same d style we will be a 6-6 team and if we improve a lot could be 9-3. Great teams have great D.

 

[DomeHolmes]

Oline and dline bye a litte bit.

I think yes, these are both going to be slightly improved.

Also we only had our best linebacker for half the year. And the returning ones (plus Barron) played in his place, and have another year of experience, and we got another good one in the portal. Linebacker could be a little better than last year overall.

Corners might be better.

The only three things that I think for sure we can’t replace are:

QB, TE production, and Lequint’s blocking. (And possibly their leadership too). But can their replacements come close?

 

[shu 49]

I think yes, these are both going to be slightly improved.

Also we only had our best linebacker for half the year. And the returning ones (plus Barron) played in his place, and have another year of experience, and we got another good one in the portal. Linebacker could be a little better than last year overall.

Corners might be better.

The only three things that I think for sure we can’t replace are:

QB, TE production, and Lequint’s blocking. (And possibly their leadership too). But can their replacements come close?

Im a willis fan and he had a great teacher in Allen and as a frosh he fumbled once. Runs hard too and also Bryant is lb u were talking about and i agree with that as they should be a touch better. Our defense as a whole needs improving from last year and if we do that we could be ok ya know.

 

[ECE '76]