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@mbryan.bsky.social
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 10h
also was stunned when @greg2126.bsky.social pointed out to me that Nolan James is leading all FBS RBs (min 50 attempts) in success rate? It hasn't been pretty, and competition will amp up, but the run game is so rarely stuffed and the efficiency just keeps getting better
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 10h
playing around with some ways to show the evolving Notre Dame running back usage and production
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
These arguments are so patronizing to the vast majority of fan bases that are not playoff or bust. It’s a participation trophy ass argument, as if an occasional 24 team playoff berth (likely to lose on the road) is world changing vs if the same reg season ends up in pop tarts bowl
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
the CFP killed “high level bowls” and is now romanticizing them and using their absence as an argument for expansion, gtfo
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Extremely “weird shit is happening” EPA splits
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
college football is too cool to ever die but a lot of stuff is pretty grim right now. the 24 team playoff sucks. a lot of the biggest voices are covering the coverage of the sport (polls, CFP rankings, ratings, hot seats, draft stock, gambling lines) versus real games / players / teams and rivalries
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
a bonus graph this week - looking at second level rushing yards + success rate on offense shows what an outlier the ND rushing attack has been so far:
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
the Purdue review is live! why the blowouts matter, diving into early down run and pass performance, and how the Irish pressure is consistently destroying opposing QBs substack.com/@spreadsheet...
substack.com
Notre Dame - Purdue Review: Derailing the Trains Early
The Irish defense suffocates the revived Boilermaker passing attack and CJ Carr and the offense continue to string scoring drives together even when things aren’t perfect
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
as much as i do NOT want to be a run / pass splits guy.... Notre Dame 1st down plays: PASS: 10.9 YPP, +0.51 EPA / play, 54.5% success rate RUN: 3.9 YPP, -0.01 EPA / play, 49.1% success rate
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
a long way to go, but with Quincy Porter officially done for the year and Mylan Graham settling in early as WR4 it puts the this portal WR cycle even more in question. maybe Micah Gilbert's breakout means it doesn't matter, but imagine if they had Gilbert + Faison + a stud portal WR?
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
10-2 with a billion points on the way
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
New Mexico is going to make Oklahoma uncomfortable this weekend, and I can't wait
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
how many SEC games are a better watch than the best B1G game? 6-7? crazy they can't figure this out
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
we live in the age of kings
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
i tried looking (including for listening on the broadcast) and couldn't find either!
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
conservative first half, trying to protect the OL and see how aggressive Wisconsin would be (not very). stuck in bad spots between getting pinned deep in own territory and bad penalty calls. want to see a few more games of WR to see if Greathouse / Graham get going, but Faison is the guy
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
ND-WISCONSIN REVIEW: -A disjointed first half turned into an old-fashioned slow cook of the Badgers -CJ Carr: efficient without opening things up downfield, with help from Faison & James after the catch -The defense takes away Joseph's legs spreadsheetsandtailgates.substack.com/p/notre-dame...
spreadsheetsandtailgates.substack.com
Notre Dame - Wisconsin Review: Slow-Cooking the Badgers
The Irish shook off some early first half struggles at Lambeau and let their talent, adjustments, and depth wear down Luke Fickell’s revamped Wisconsin squad
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
ive clowned Oregon‘s fair weather media approach (20 minute hype and trash talk when they win, silent when they lose). So only fair to give them credit for a great season preview that leans into getting over their postseason demons x.com/oregonfootba...
x.com
Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) on X
2026 Oregon Football Season Trailer "The Art of Competing" 🎙️ @AshtonJEaton x #GoDucks
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
QB development and pro transitions are kind of a crapshoot but if you are putting Lanorris Sellers and Drake Lindsey above CJ Carr I’m diagnosing you with NFL Tools Brain
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
sure but they went 12-0 and beat 5 ranked teams with a coach and coordinators that have done zero remarkable thing since, and roster than has done virtually nothing in the league
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Is there a more random title game run than TCU? the more time passes the less it makes sense
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Having a second team - or a few secondary rooting interests - to follow along with for the CFB season is awesome. Here's a guide with lots of fun options across conferences for teams to follow along with this year - maximizing entertainment value with lower stakes substack.com/@spreadsheet...
substack.com
Adopt a Program: College football teams to bring more joy to your 2026 season
A guide for watching and enjoying more football this fall with bonus programs that will bring the entertainment if you embrace them as a second (or beyond) rooting interest
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Reposted by MB
Chris W @rakesofmallow.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
☘️ new pod ☘️ It's Notre Dame Football Depth Chart Power Rankings Day with @mbryan.bsky.social and @greg2126.bsky.social. How good is this defense? Where do you rank QB? And much more. Here's the Micah Gilbert touchdown we reference. open.spotify.com/episode/6ig2...
CJ Carr throwing a touchdown to Micah Gilbert against Miami
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
appreciate you my man! the last time we stumbled into each other at an ND tailgate we went to the natty, so let's make it happen again and the boys can finish the job
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Notre Dame defense deep dive: *the early struggles and recovery that drove a top-10 defense despite a rough start *an under the radar excellent year in '25 from the run defense *the ceiling for '26 ...does not exist? but still pieces to sort out spreadsheetsandtailgates.substack.com/p/offseason-...
spreadsheetsandtailgates.substack.com
Offseason Deep Dive: Notre Dame Defense
Chris Ash's inherited a top-10 defense, stumbled out of the gate, then was excellent down the stretch. With a loaded roster of returning players, can the '26 edition leap to title-caliber?
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Spreadsheets & Tailgates offseason deep dives:
static.klipy.com
WWE Undertaker Emerges from Coffin
ALT: WWE Undertaker Emerges from Coffin
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
fall camp hot take - Notre Dame's 2nd team defense would be a top 20 unit nationally? better? Keeley/Hughes/Onye/Dunham Ausberry/Faraimo + Sneed Golden / Sanders / Zackery Talich / Long lots of options pending position battles, but good lord is there so much talent and depth
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
hypothetically, if you brought some into the stadium for a USC game and mixed it with a soft drink, you could have a really fun saturday night / possibly tough sunday. many people are saying this.
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
this is awesome Friday or Saturday am rec - Indiana Whiskey Company in downtown SB is a great little spot with tasting room and booze to pick up. Breakfast of Degenerates (maple-flavored) is smooth / dangerous / fun. Local + veteran-owned, check it out.
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Christian Gray's main character status appropriately captured here
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
He’s like two steps away from going on fanduel TV to say it’s unfair to Sorsby and anyone who bet on him to win the Heisman
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
treating the Brendan Sorsby situation like a normie treats recruiting, tuning in when it's "signing day" and skipping all the drama in between
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
After the Riley Leonard TD the first drive in Atlanta I let myself start think seriously about “what if we win” for like 3 seconds and nearly lost it
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
we really went from John Jenkins threatening to create an educational league if NIL happened and NFT leprechauns to shooting the money cannons at a top level (and in a somewhat classy, under the radar way?) What a time to be alive
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
robbed of Dave Doeren having to shake hands and kiss babies in Brazil, we can't have nice things
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
did not expect this given their respective length of stays and reasons for leaving ND, but Mike Elko over Clark Lea every day* *understanding its easier to root for Vandy than A&M, purely talking coaches here
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Double gut punch as an ND/Falcons fan to be defeated by Desmond Ridder and then have to root for him to run an NFL offense
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
The B1G, ACC, and unfortunately Pete Bevacqua are going to try to convince you 24 teams is good for the sport. Why this dilutes the stakes of the regular season, gives "access" that's false hope, and how P4 programs already are in the mix: spreadsheetsandtailgates.substack.com/p/a-24-team-...
spreadsheetsandtailgates.substack.com
A 24-Team College Football Playoff Solves a Problem That Doesn't Exist
Athletic directors and conference commissioners love the idea of expansion revenue and are selling fans false hope bigger is better for the sport
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Reposted by MB
Chris W @rakesofmallow.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
🏈 new pod 🏈 @jessicasmetana.bsky.social and @mbryan.bsky.social join for a special holiday weekend episode where we discuss so many college football programs. Sad ACC teams, SEC playoff teams trying to return, the new Pac-12, a demonic Big Ten contract + way more. open.spotify.com/episode/2B5w...
open.spotify.com
2026 College Football Offseason Respect Index
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
It’s his job not to understand but last years final regular season week is an easy example. In 24 team set up Ohio State - Michigan only matters for seeding, Indiana is locked into a bye, Oregon locked into bye or hosting, Iowa beating terrible Nebraska is only “win” sneaking a mid team into CFP
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
this will be in your inboxes soon as part of an anti-playoff expansion post, but holy shit Stanford, get it together, you're gonna distract everyone from the main point here
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
the PGA championship is the Big 12 of golf
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Due to bad planning I was at that point at a theme park following via gametracker. A devastating update somehow 10x worse once I saw the video
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Going deep on the Notre Dame passing game - the complete transformation from '24 to '25, CJ Carr's profile and opportunities to raise his game, Jordan Faison comps, and the upside / downside of a deep but blurry picture with receiving threats open.substack.com/pub/spreadsh...
open.substack.com
Offseason Deep Dive: The Notre Dame Passing Attack
CJ Carr provides the best returning starter at QB for the Irish since the Charlie Weis era - what receivers will emerge, can elite passing explosiveness continue, and where can Carr still improve?
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Pete Bevacqua advocating for 24-team playoff expansion sucks. More focus on the CFP and nothing else - bad. Is Illinois or Mizzou or NC State some random year going to feel any better about spending on football being a 20 seed and getting blown out? What are we rewarding at this point?
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
it's been a minute but the newsletter is waking up from late spring hibernation, prepare your brains for so many charts tomorrow morning
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
I have a very particular set of skills (with no real world value)
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
emotional distress not just filling out the end of the ballot but making sure i didnt forget someone
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MB @mbryan.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
I used to struggle to fill out the Top 25 Notre Dame players ballots for the annual fall countdown without dipping into a few reaches and part time guys. This year it would be no problem going 25 deep of awesome players just on defense
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