Season 33: The Pressure Cooker
Article By: Season 33: The Pressure Cooker
P4 Edition
Monday we gave you big fish, small pond. Today we put on our best Discovery channel voice and go swimming with the sharks. Big name coaches, insanely talented rosters, and season goals that would make even Steve Spurrier a little shy about popping off at the mouth.
The S33 draft saw an unprecedented number of schools retain their head coach from Season 32 and on top of that the P4 teams were drafted much quicker than before. Those two facts lead you to believe we could have the single biggest consolidation of coaching talent into the top end of the P4 than we have had at any time in NDL history.
Combine all of that with the updated goal requirements and you get a recipe for stress, entertainment, and inevitable turnover at the highest levels. Who will meet their goals? Who will be left watching their rivals go dancing in the CFP? And maybe most important of all who will be back in the G5 trying to rebuild their legacy in Season 34?
Atlantic Coast Conference
The ACC boasts 4 teams with a 9+ win goal. If all 4 manage to win that much the CFP committee will have a very difficult task in choosing who's in and who's out. While Clemson stands alone as the most talented the conference will play host to a ton of user talent.
Clemson Tigers
Win 10 games and make the CFP
Key ACC Matchups:
Week 3 @ Georgia Tech
Week 8 vs SMU
Week 10 vs Duke
The Tigers enter S33 with perhaps the deepest roster in the country. With that talent comes expectation and the schedule gods looked on them favorably giving them their two toughest conference tests at home. It remains to be seen if anyone can fill the 400+ carry shoes of Phil Mafah.
Duke Blue Devils
Win 10 Games and finish top 3 in ACC
Key ACC Matchups:
Week 4 vs NC State
Week 8 vs Georgia Tech
Week 10 @ Clemson
The Blue Devils get what is likely the most favorable schedule of the four ACC contenders. Duke won't have to see Miami, FSU, or SMU this season but the home games against NC State and Georgia Tech should not be overlooked. The Wolfpack had a great run in S32 and though it ended on a sour note they've shown they can punch above their weight. Tulane transfer QB Darian Mensah will determine how far Duke can go.
Miami Hurricanes
Win 9.5 Games and make the ACC Championship
Key ACC Matchups:
Week 6 @ Florida State
Week 10 @ SMU
Week 14 @ Pittsburgh
Coach CNasty being in a position to take the lead role at his beloved Hurricanes was one of the feel good stories of the S33 draft. His reward? A 9.5 win goal, a demand to make the ACC title game, and 3 of the toughest road games the conference will see all season. All while breaking in Georgia QB transfer Carson Beck. The late season matchup at Pitt could prove to be one of the games to watch of the season if things break right for both teams along the way.
SMU Mustangs
Win 9 games and finish top 3 in the ACC
Key ACC Matchups:
Week 8 @ Clemson
Week 10 vs Miami
Week 11 @ Boston College
S33 sees the return of coach BlockM to Dallas as he hopes to continue to build on past success with the Ponies. The week 8 trip to Clemson could determine whether or not the tough tests back to back in Week 10 and 11 matter. It's no secret BlockM is a more than capable user but will there be enough talent on the roster to contend with the likes of Miami, Clemson, and Duke? All 4 can't finish top 3.
Big Ten Conference
The Big 10 season will be an absolute gauntlet matched likely only by the SEC. There's 5 teams with a demand placed on them to win 9+ games and all 5 have a bonus goal of finishing top 4 or higher. Additionally with the coaching additions the conference made in the middle of the pack teams there will be plenty of land mines for the top end to step on.
Indiana Hoosiers
Win 9 games and finish top 4 in the BIG 10
Key Big 10 Matchups:
Week 4 vs Illinois
Week 7 @ Oregon
Week 11 @ Penn State
The talent of Coach Phoneybadge can't be overlooked but trips to Oregon and Penn State are incredibly tough asks of this Indiana roster. That's not to mention the mid season matchups with teams like Michigan State and Wisconsin who have very capable coaches that could prove to be stumbling blocks.
Michigan Wolverines
Win 9.5 Games and finish top 4 in the Big 10
Key Big 10 matchups:
Week 7 @ USC
Week 9 @ Michigan State
Week 14 vs Ohio State
After a down year in S32 Coach phreakk has seen his seat get a bit warmer with stiffer demands placed on him by the fan base. Mid-season trips to LA and East Lansing will be difficult tests after a very difficult OOC schedule. They do get the benefit of seeing Ohio State at home but that's a bit like saying "Yeah but I get to fight the bear in my living room"...It's still a bear.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Win 10 games and qualify for the CFP
Key Big 10 matchups:
Week 7 @ Illinois
Week 10 vs Penn State
Week 14 @ Michigan
Demands, expectation, talent. Coach Dcanaday is no stranger to any of these things after his most recent stint at Alabama. The stakes haven't changed a bit and in fact may have ratcheted up a tick with his move to Ohio State. The fan base for the school is rabid in the NDL and there's no shortage of people hoping to see the Buckeyes fail so they can get their shot. Week 10 will be the big one to watch.
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Oregon Ducks
Win 10 games and finish top 2 in the Big 10
Key Big 10 matchups:
Week 5 @ Penn State
Week 7 vs Indiana
Week 14 @ Washington
After a heartbreaking loss in the CFP Final to LSU there's absolutely no time to rest and think back on the good times. The Ducks early trip to Happy Valley will set the tone for the entire season. Get over that hurdle and we could once again see the duck uniform combos gracing the CFP. Stumble and one of the best coaches in the NDL might go from playing for all the marbles to a year in the G5!
Penn State Nittany Lions
Win 10 games and qualify for the CFP
Key Big 10 matchups:
Week 5 vs Oregon
Week 10 @ Ohio State
Week 11 vs Indiana
Apparently the toughest schedule of the Big 10 contenders wasn't enough as coach Niddler went out and scheduled a trip to SEC country in the OOC as they'll head to College Station in Week 2. While we all know Niddler is more than capable of pulling out a win vs any team the relentless nature of this schedule could prove to be too much. Almost every schedule block has a tough opponent. If they do manage to meet their goals the Nittany Lions will be more than deserving of that CFP birth.
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 is the perfect representation of the talent consolidation theory at work. There are MANY teams with high level coaches in the Big 12 that have a sub 7 win goal. Any one of them could win this conference but, there's just 2 schools that have placed those kind of demands on their coaches in writing. For the benefit of all the NDL the schedule gods have seen fit to have them meet in Week 8 and we can't wait to watch.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Win 10 games and play in the Big 12 Championship
Key Big 12 Matchups:
Week 4 @ Baylor
Week 8 vs Texas Tech
Week 13 @ Colorado
Week 14 @ Arizona
We could have put 4 other games on this list but went with these 3 due to level of opponent coaching talent and other factors. In the case of Arizona we all know ratings go out the window in rivalry games and coach Keg could have something up his sleeve for that season finale. That said it will be the two trips to the Republic of Texas that determine the fate of the Sun Devils. If coach pat is sober in Week 4 we could see Arizona State take an early hit to their goals and that Week 8 matchup with Wildes will be absolute must see TV
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Win 10 games and play in the Big 12 Championship
Key Big 12 Matchups:
Week 8 @ Arizona State
Week 10 @ Kansas State
Week 13 vs UCF
Week 14 @ West Virginia
After a fantastic 10-3 season last year Coach Wildes has seen his roster boom with massive upgrades in nearly every position. Anybody overlooking this coach and this team as major contenders for the CFP are doing so at their own risk. There are some very difficult road games ahead for the Red Raiders but if they can navigate them they match up perfectly well with any other P4 contender.
Southeastern Conference
Welcome to the jungle. While the Big 10 will also have it's share of casualties this IMO will be the NDL version of Gettysburg. Not just because of the talent at the top but the team and coaching talent throught the league. LSU and Tennessee have 2 of the best coaches in the league and sub 9 win goals. Conference play in the SEC is like crossing a land mine blindfolded. Any one of the top teams could find themselves on the road late in the season against a team more than capable of beating them. We will reserve any prediction for the top 4 but safe to say whoever does come through this gauntlet will be a favorite in the CFP.
[center]Alabama Crimson Tide
Win 10 games and qualifyf for the CFP
Key SEC Matchups:
Week 5 @ Georgia
Week 8 vs Tennessee
Week 11 vs LSU
Week 12 vs Oklahoma
Coach Smitty moves within conference taking over Bama after a stint with Ole Miss. There's no denying his level as a coach in the NDL. The question will be can he handle the pressure? It's one thing to be the talented underdog sniping off the big teams but, now with the SEC even more loaded than it was can you play bully on the block with one of the best teams in the country? We will find out very early with that trip to UGA in block 3!
Georgia Bulldogs
Win 10 games and Qualify for the CFP
Key SEC Matchups:
Week 3 @ Tennessee
Week 5 vs Alabama
Week 10 @ Florida
Week 12 vs Texas
This legitimately may be the most difficult schedule I've seen for S33. While Georgia does get the blessing of Bama and Texas at home there's still trips to Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, and Georgia Tech (sneaky talented) on the docket to contend with. In the 12 games Georgia will play you could argue only 2 are games you would expect Georgia to romp handily. Coach Andy is right at the top in terms of skill but this may be too big of a mountain for any user.
Texas Longhorns
Win 10 games and Qualify for the CFP
Key SEC Matchups:
Week 6 @ Florida
Week 7 vs Oklahoma
Week 12 @ Georgia
Week 14 vs Texas A&M
When you win a natty at a place like Kansas your reputation tends to precede you. Coach Jiggy remains in the mix at the very top of the list of the best coaches in NDL. This season the schedule in conference looks quite favorable getting OU and TAMU at home while avoiding Tennessee, Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss. There is a sneaky trap game vs Arkansas sandwiched between the massive Georgia and TAMU contests which may be one to watch.
Texas A&M Aggies
Win 10 games and Qualify for the CFP
Key SEC Matchups:
Week 7 vs Florida
Week 9 @ LSU
Week 12 vs South Carolina
Week 14 @ Texas
As coach 6ft embarks on his 4th season as coach of the Aggies it's safe to say matching last years 4-8 won't suffice to maintain his role. There are favorble things on the schedule like getting Florida and South Carolina at home but also trips to Arkansas then LSU back to back before a trip to Missouri which could all prove to be difficult games. To add to that the entire schedule will be played with the looming road game finale with rival Texas hanging over the heads of Aggies fans all season.
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