Early Season Checkpoint: What Have we Learned About the 2026 Notre Dame Football Team?
The Fighting Irish have all their season goals intact with a 4-0 record for the first time in Marcus Freeman's tenure as head coach. With the first third of games now under their belt, let's take a look at a few things we've learned.
Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
CJ Carr is as Good as Advertised
Coming into the season, CJ Carr had higher expectations than anyone else on this team, and maybe the entire country. Through four games, Carr has lived up to the hype. He hasn't done it with video game-like stats, an iconic play, or any true standout moment. Instead, he has impressed many with a calm, cool, and collected approach to the game that has the Fighting Irish in the driver's seat. Carr is a prototypical pocket passer who shows true control over the entire offense. He seems more confident in making checks at the line of scrimmage and poised to take exactly what the defense is giving him. Last year, there were times where he tried to force the big play, which usually landed him in trouble. Now, he seemingly always makes the right decision, knowing when to check it down and when to cut it loose. All of those good decisions have led him to a 70% completion percentage, 963 yards, nine touchdowns, and only one interception. If Carr continues to play like this, Notre Dame should feel good about their chances every game they play this season, but with the schedule about to stiffen, his best will likely be needed.
The Run Game is Still a Work-in-Progress
After losing Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, it is no surprise that the run game is not what it was last season. Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. appeared to be a seamless transition at the position, especially with the offensive line returning. While it has not been atrocious, the rushing attack has left something to be desired through four weeks. To start, it has lacked the consistent ability to provide chunk plays for this offense. It was not until this most recent game against Purdue that the Notre Dame run game provided a run of 20 yards or more. Second, it has not been an efficient way to gain yards, averaging just over four yards per carry. Before Purdue, that number was below four. Against the Boilermakers, this group had its best game of the early campaign, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. This is a hopeful sign for the Irish that the run game is continuing to improve as the season wears on. While the passsing attack has been good, Notre Dame will need the rushing attack to pick up some steam if they plan to reach preseason expectations. National Championship teams are almost always some of the best running teams in the country; if that is the case for the Irish, they have a lot of work to do.
The Notre Dame Defense is as Good as it Gets
Freeman has made defense a staple of his teams at Notre Dame during his tenure. While some of this may be his philosophy or tactics, it also reflects the elite-level talent he has been able to recruit. Looking at this defense, they are talented everywhere, and it shows up on the field. As the only defense in the country to allow fewer than 200 yards per game, Chris Ash's unit has smothered teams through four games. While the secondary has been lights out, it's the defensive line that has been dictating the terms of these first four games. Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray have both been excellent additions through the portal, adding real size and strength in the middle of the defensive line. On the edge, Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young, and freshman Rodney Dunham have been wreaking havoc on opposing QB's, accounting for 6.5 sacks between the three of them. The start of this season has been a revelation for Young, who is finally living up to the hype and the legacy of his father, Bryant Young. In total, this defensive line has accounted for 13 sacks and has held every run game in check.
On the back end, the secondary has been just as good. Led by superstar corner Leonard Moore, the Irish secondary is currently giving up just 89 passing yards per game, which is second-best in the country. They have also recorded three interceptions, all three coming against their strongest opponents thus far. DJ McKinney was responsible for the first pick of the season against Wisconsin, taking it back for a touchdown in the season opener. As a transfer, he has bolstered an already strong cornerback group that contains Moore, Christian Gray, and Michigan transfer Jayden Sanders. Starting safety Adon Shuler has looked the best he has in a Notre Dame uniform, as he continues to be a physical presence capable of creating turnovers. Next to him, Brauntae Johnson, Luke Talich, and Joey O'Brien have all been strong options at safety, marking it as one of the deepest positions on this team.
All of this before even mentioning how good the Notre Dame linebackers have been this season. Drayk Bowen continues to be the leader in the middle of the field who seems to be everywhere. The return of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has been a huge plus for this entire defense. When healthy, he is one of the best linebackers in the country, and in his return against Rice, he made it apparent from the jump.
Depth may be this Team's Superpower
In an era of college football where the depth of teams is being tested now more than ever, Freeman seems to have made it a strength of his team. As mentioned before, the defense has a ton of depth at almost every position. This makes them incredibly tough to beat for an entire game. Ash's group is able to make subs and changes without almost any talent drop-off. The safety position is a perfect example of the depth this defense has. To start the year, Brauntae Johnson, one of the best safeties in the country, went down with an ankle sprain. Talich was next on the depth chart and immediately picked up where Johnson left off. Against Michigan State, Talich was one of the best players on the field, recording a sack and an interception. Unfortunately for Talich, he was injured in that game, giving five-star freshman O'Brien his first chance at starting against Purdue. In his first real game of playing time, O'Brien shined in his snaps. He was a presence all over the field, recording five tackles and a half sack. Even on their third string, Notre Dame has viable and even strong options to use at their disposal.
On the other side of the ball, the offense has quality depth as well. At running back, there are a lot of options for Notre Dame to look to. Of course, there is Williams and James Jr., who have been sharing the backfield. While it has not been exactly perfect, the duo does have the talent and skill set to be effective. Behind them, freshman Jonaz Walton has begun to show flashes in recent weeks. In his last competition, Walton broke loose for a 44-yard run, marking the longest of any Notre Dame player this year.
Overall, Notre Dame seems comfortable with the backups at almost every position. This gives them flexibility to make changes in the event of injuries or if a player is not performing well. Depth like this is what could separate Notre Dame late in the season and in the playoffs. It is a testament to the recruiting and culture Freeman has built over his five years at Notre Dame.
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