College football in 2026 is truly a war of attrition. Teams have always had to account for losing players through graduation and pursuing their dreams at the next level, but the transfer portal era has made building depth and keeping position groups stocked with talent an unenviable task. Recruiting will always be the foundational piece of any contending program, but if you want to consistently place yourself in title talks, using the transfer portal is not only an additional

In a timely boost to their defensive backfield, Notre Dame has landed Colorado transfer cornerback DJ McKinney, who officially committed to the Fighting Irish on January 12, 2026. The Irish have officially gotten their first commitment out of the Transfer Portal.

As the transfer portal window heats up in early January 2026, Notre Dame's defensive line has emerged as the program's most pressing area of need heading into the upcoming season. Significant attrition, including the retirement of veteran captain Donovan Hinish, the departure of edge rusher Joshua Burnham to Indiana, and the entry into the portal of rising interior lineman Armel Mukam , has left the Irish thin up front. Mukam, a former top-200 recruit in the 2023 class who p

Notre Dame's roster is pretty set in stone on offense due to their young talent at skill positions, but a few portal acquisitions could make the group even more special.