No. 22 Notre Dame had their best game of the season, as they went into a hectic SEC environment, and exited with a 56-13 victory. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame put together a complete performance on both sides of the ball in their dismantling of the Arkansas Razorbacks, which impressed head coach Marcus Freeman. "The ability to handle success is always a challenge, and the ability to handle criticism is always a challenge. I'm proud of both sides of the ball." The Irish finished today's game with 642 total yards, while putting up 56 points. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock called a beautiful game, as Notre Dame put up 42 points in the first half to sink the Razorbacks. CJ Carr was masterful in this game, showing extreme poise and accuracy under pressure. Carr finished the game 22/30 for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Carr's 354 yards are the most passing yards in a single game for a Notre Dame quarterback since Jack Coan in 2021. "(Carr's) one of those rare individuals." Jordan Faison has improved week-in and week-out, and today, Faison was the Irish's lead receiver with seven receptions for 89 yards. Malachi Fields and Jaden Greathouse were reliable options as well, and captain Will Pauling recorded his first touchdown catch of the season. Carr was extremely complimentary of his wide receiver unit. "Everywhere I look there's someone who can win one on one." Even with Carr's performance, the Notre Dame running backs continued to steal the show. Jeremiyah Love built upon his dominant Junior year, with four total touchdowns, two coming on the ground and the other two through the air. Love ended the game with 127 total yards and dazzled with his elusiveness and athleticism. Jadarian Price followed up his four-touchdown outing against Purdue with two touchdowns of his own. Price's 35-yard touchdown right before half was the knockout blow that ended any hope for the Razorbacks, and he finished with 121 total yards. Aneyas Williams also made the most of his opportunity as he added a 17-yard touchdown that furthered the rout in Fayetteville. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football?   Subscribe  to Tribune+ While the Fighting Irish defense did struggle early, they made enough key plays to halt Arkansas drives, especially within the red zone. Without Leonard Moore, Mike Mickens' secondary unit delivered their most impressive performance to date, holding star quarterback Taylen Green to 207 yards, on 17/32 throwing. It is evident that the younger players in the secondary are getting more and more comfortable as the season goes on. Tae Johnson looks to have certified star potential, and Mark Zackery IV is making tremendous strides as a true freshman. The return of Devonta Smith was impactful, and Christian Gray did a great job anchoring down the boundary. Luke Talich even recorded a late-game interception. The defensive line did struggle against the run early on, but improved as the game went along. Boubacar Traore played more instinctively, along with Gabriel Rubio who has cemented himself as the best player in the middle of the defensive line. The defense also pitched a shutout in the second half against the Razorbacks as Chris Ash showed some improvements. As a whole, this game felt eerily similar to the Purdue game from the 2024 season. The Irish have started to find their stride and if they can continue to elevate every week, Notre Dame is in a good position to run the table. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame heads west of the Mississippi for a first-time matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Irish are 50-27 overall against SEC teams and 20-9 in true road games against the conference. Notre Dame comes into their fourth regular-season game with notable concerns on the defensive side of the ball. The Irish defense has allowed 98 points in its first three games in 2025, which ranks as the 2nd-worst in program history through the first three games of the season since 2007 (102 points). It gets worse for the defense, though. Of 136 teams, Notre Dame ranks 118th in scoring defense (32.7 ppg), 101st in total defense (399 ypg), and 132nd in passing defense (289 ypg). Our staff at The Irish Tribune gives you their pre-game analysis, predictions, and simply what Notre Dame needs to do to walk out of Fayetteville with a win and put the Irish at .500 on the season. Let's go! The Analysis From the top with Max Uretsky, Analyst at The Irish Tribune I think there will be a lot of plays to be made in the middle of the field against an Arkansas defense that, on film, struggles with second-level coverage and losing assignments in Zone. The Notre Dame offense has enough firepower through the air and on the ground to go over the 30+ point mark again. On the defensive side of things, it's all about week-to-week progression. It's unlikely they can come out and look dominant against a dangerous Arkansas offense, but if they are able to limit the damage QB Taylen Green does with his legs, they should get some chances to take advantage of his inconsistency in the passing game and force a couple of key turnovers. I expect the aggressiveness in the front-seven to be turned up a notch in order to limit how long the secondary is being asked to cover on the backend. Max's Prediction: 34-29 Notre Dame. Gold talk from Brenden Duffy, Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer In a game featuring two teams with their backs against the wall for different reasons, I expect a shootout with thriving offenses going against struggling defenses. As told by my score prediction, Notre Dame’s offense should continue to roll with big days from Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price on the ground against an Arkansas front that has not done a good job bringing down ball carriers. The Irish win after Razorbacks QB Taylen Green makes a late mistake, thanks to a much-needed clutch play from the defense. The Irish passing offense should continue to roll under CJ Carr. It would be a nice day to get Jaden Greathouse going, considering we are nearly a quarter of the way through the season. Either way, Carr and his weapons should get loose against Arkansas linebackers, safeties, and starting CB Kani Walker, who have had major lapses in coverage. The Razorbacks’ best defensive position group is their edge group, led by Quincy Rhodes Jr. Anthonie Knapp and Aamil Wagner will need to have solid performances to keep Carr upright throughout the game. Use code "IrishTribune20"  to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Special Offer: Get a full year of Tribune+ ($49.99 value) for just $1 when you buy a TMPR Sports officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Email proof of purchase here and receive your exclusive discount and enjoy a full year of Tribune+ for $1 and your new Notre Dame pickleball paddle! While Arkansas is certainly a step up from Purdue in almost every aspect, it is hard not to talk about the run game after last week. The Razorbacks’ run defense is better than their 157.5 yards per game allowed. In general, it is a solid group; however, Love and Price still outclass this defense and should be in line for another pair of good outings. The Arkansas offense is scary and dangerous. QB Taylen Green’s dual-threat abilities help set up an explosive passing game. This contest could very likely be determined in the trenches. The Razorbacks’ offensive line has allowed just three sacks this season, but if you can get pressure on Green, you will be set up for success. Green is just 8/24 with two interceptions when under pressure, meaning the Irish pass rush needs to have a better showing than they did two weeks ago against Marcel Reed and Texas A&M. The Irish pass rush showed some life last week, even showing adjustments, including more exotic blitz packages, but this will need to continue against a much more talented Arkansas line. The Razorbacks are among the top in the country in explosive plays, and it is really hard to imagine this Notre Dame defense stopping these big-time plays. Leonard Moore needs to play, even if he is not at 100%, otherwise, Arkansas WRs O’Mega Blake and Jalen Brown will run free all day. Most of Green’s passing success has come between the numbers, something Purdue was able to do against the Irish last week. This should be another emphasis for Chris Ash and the defense. Marcus Freeman said he does not want to play a spy this week. While the logic is sound, I fear he may have no choice at a certain point. Not that it had much of an impact against Reed and A&M, but Green’s 90 rush yards per game are going to be an issue unless the defense somehow drastically improved over the past week. Green is quick, elusive, tough, more experienced than Reed, and will have the benefit of a home crowd. Razorbacks RB Mike Washington will likely have one or two big gains. It will be interesting to see how he responds after costing Arkansas a win at Memphis last week. Brenden's Prediction: 48-40 Notre Dame. Predictions & Insights From Connor Regan, Associate Editor, First & Gold Podcast Co-Host Arkansas is similar to Notre Dame this year: a high-powered, high-scoring offense and a subpar defense with blatant holes. This one will be a shootout for most of the game until the Irish offense makes the difference late. Arkansas has enough talent to keep up with Notre Dame in this one, but its defense will ultimately not be able to contain CJ Carr, Jeremiyah Love, and Jadarian Price. If Chris Ash and Notre Dame's defense can improve just a bit over their last performance, it should be enough to take care of the Razorbacks. Connor's Prediction: 41-30 Notre Dame. From Bruce Straughan, Insider for The Irish Tribune Notre Dame has been a very up-and-down team this year, with spurts of greatness and spurts of deficiency mostly on the defensive side of the ball. The offense has had no trouble scoring, and I fully expect that to continue against Arkansas. The problem here, which has been the problem all season, is the defense and its inability to stop the opposing offenses. Notre Dame will now face a 2-2 Arkansas team with both losses coming from two very good teams in (17) Ole Miss and Memphis. Notre Dame has given up 1,211 total yards of offense in just 3 games. I do believe Notre Dame will win this game and cover the spread (-3.5), but I see it being a high-scoring game, and I really like the over (63.5) here. I believe this game comes down to whoever has the ball on the final possession, as neither team has been able to consistently stop the opposing team's offense. Bruce's Prediction: 35-31 Notre Dame. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ Thoughts from Clayton Stohler, Co-Host of the First & Gold Podcast Who's really calling the shots on defense moving forward? Is Chris Ash the DC, or is he wearing the headset merely to be able to regurgitate the plays to Drayk Bowen that he's told to call? Saturday will go a long way in providing the answers to those ever-pressing questions. No, the defense isn't going to look like a finished product on Saturday. There will be drifts in zone coverage by Mark Zachary. There's sure to be more than one rep where the collective defensive line attacks Arkansas's O-line squarely in the chest, offering little to no 4-man pressure. Tae Tae Johnson might make a mistake. Madden Faraimo might have a missed run fit. Dallas Golden might get burnt. But it's not about the unfortunate hand this talented young defense might draw anymore. It's about how they respond. And for every mistake that gets made on Saturday by this borderline humiliated defense, there will be signs of a real shift. Aggressive 4 man fronts, pressure being brought in the double digits...turnovers, havoc, passion, exhalation, and imminent celebration. Back are the Marcus Freeman fist pumps that feel like they mean something. Back are the ravenous team celebrations that remind us of the few shreds of wholesomeness this sport, in this "league", has. A breath of life breathed into a defense gasping for air will be felt by all sides of the ball, and all fans that have been ruminating in existential displeasure since that fateful day at Hardrock. Who else hasn't slept right this entire season? Fear not- you will rest deeply and soundly knowing for a fact that after this game, your gut was right. Chris Ash is only Notre Dame's defensive coordinator by name. Marcus Freeman is really calling the shots. With Mike Mickens waiting closely for his day to come next year...or sooner. Clayton's Prediction: 38-24 Notre Dame. Finally, from Liam Farrell, Associate Editor, Senior Football Writer Mike Denbrock and CJ Carr will have the Irish offense picking up exactly where they left off against Purdue from a week ago. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will continue to be electric in the Irish's rushing attack as they will combine for four touchdowns in this game. On the defensive side of the ball, Chris Ash and the Notre Dame defense will continue to struggle and get exploited by one of the nation's best quarterbacks, Taylen Greene. Greene will provide two touchdowns in the air along with two on the ground, and the Irish will be trailing at halftime. Much like against Purdue last week, Notre Dame will find answers in the second half through more exotic blitz packages and will force the talented quarterback into a late-game interception that turns the tide in favor of Notre Dame. The Irish will leave Fayetteville bruised, but still fighting another week to continue their playoff aspirations. I see Notre Dame vs Arkansas coming out in the Irish's favor. Liam's Prediction: 42-38 Notre Dame. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LucciAntonini  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Marcus Freeman and No. 22 Notre Dame are looking for more consistency on the defensive side of the football, while replicating their extreme efficiency on offense. Photo by Arkansas Athletics As Notre Dame enters their fourth matchup of the season, the Fighting Irish are looking at a must-win game in the heart of SEC territory. The Arkansas Razorbacks are entering this game with a 2-2 record and are in a very similar boat to the Fighting Irish. In the Razorbacks' two losses, they have lost by a combined seven points, one of which was in heartbreaking fashion to Memphis, and the other a six-point loss on the road against Ole Miss. Let's look at the three biggest keys in the game. Limiting Taylen Green In their first four games, Arkansas is averaging 43.5 points per game and are led by their superstar quarterback Taylen Green. Green is the team's leading passer and rusher, accumulating 1,191 yards throwing while adding 360 yards on the ground. The biggest area where Green terrorizes defense is through his improvisation skills outside the pocket. Green has been masterful on extended plays this season, as the lengthy quarterback does an excellent job of keeping his eyes downfield when the original play breaks down. However, Green has had his fair share of issues trying to force balls into tight situations. This season, Green has already thrown four interceptions, which has been a lingering issue, as in the 2024 season, he threw nine. While he is extremely talented, if the Irish could force at least one turnover this game, it could be the difference maker in a potential shootout. Quieting The Home Crowd Arkansas transfer, Ty Ty Washington, stated that the environment in Fayetteville, Ark. will be "hectic", but added "if you really shut them out quick, it will be done. The fan base will be quiet, and everybody will go home." Knowing this, a fast start is imperative, especially if this will be a battle between offenses. Being able to capitalize on every possession will be key, and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will certainly continue to lean on his two superstar running backs. This will be the Irish's first away game since their season-opener, and it should be interesting to see how much different of a game Denbrock calls for his first-year quarterback, CJ Carr. Carr's development from week one has been astronomical, and it should be interesting to see the juxtaposition in play calling from Denbrock, compared to his ultra-conservative nature against Miami. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Making Arkansas One Dimensional The Arkansas offensive unit has been explosive this year, averaging 43.5 ppg while being extremely efficient on 3rd down as well, converting 61.91% of the time. However, the kryptonite of the Razorbacks offense is forcing them to be one-dimensional. Last week in the second half against Purdue, the Irish completely stagnated the Boilermakers' attempt in running the ball. Arkansas has an extremely-talented running back room as well, which is led by Senior Mike Washington Jr. Washington is a big, physical back standing 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, and is exceptional at getting north-to-south. If the Irish can stop the run early, Sam Pittman and the Arkansas offense are very quick to abandon the run and will live with the game resting on the shoulders of their veteran quarterback. Making Arkansas one-dimensional will certainly be a big task, especially for the linebacking unit for the Fighting Irish. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has been phenomenal and the most underrated player this season for the Fighting Irish, while Madden Faraimo has played beyond his true freshman year during his limited snaps as well. This game could be won on the defensive line of scrimmage for the Fighting Irish as well. Gabriel Rubio has been trending upwards this entire season, and if Rubio could be paired with a healthy Jared Dawson, then Notre Dame will be in business up the middle. In terms of EDGE rushers, Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young need to jump on the scene sooner rather than later. If the Irish can get good performances from their two best athletes in that room, then sending extra pressure with a linebacker like Jaylen Sneed can be more fruitful for Chris Ash's unit. If Notre Dame can limit Green, quiet the crowd early, and force Arkansas into obvious passing situations, they’ll leave Fayetteville with their second straight win. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

On Thursday, Notre Dame football released its updated injury report for the upcoming Notre Dame-Arkansas game on Saturday, September 27th, at 12:00 pm ET at Razorback Stadium. Each player has their injury and game impact listed below. Game impact inputs are all opinion-based and are not official. Probable: Player Injury Impact K Noah Burnette Right hip Major CB DeVonta Smith Right ankle Major Questionable: Player Injury Impact CB Leonard Moore Right ankle Major Out for the game: Player Injury Impact TE Justin Fisher Right knee Minimal TE Cooper Flanagan Left achilles Moderate DL Preston Zinter Concussion Minimal OL Charles Jagusah Left arm Major OL Peter Jones Left Ankle Minimal Out for the season: Player Injury Impact TE Kevin Bauman Left knee Moderate RB Dylan Devezin Left shoulder Minimal S Brandon Logan Left shoulder Minimal RB Kedren Young Right knee Minimal Which injury do you think will have the biggest impact on Notre Dame's ability to win at Arkansas? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Click here  to join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame has landed a commitment from 4-Star DL Richie Flanigan, brother of current Irish TE James Flanigan, to its already impressive class of 2027. Notre Dame's pursuit of an elite defensive front on the recruiting trail continues to pay dividends. Art by The Irish Tribune If one thing was certain during Notre Dame's opening game against the Miami Hurricanes, it was that the Irish could certainly use some reinforcements and size on the interior of the defensive line. At 6'3" and 255 lbs as just a junior, the second Flanigan brother could be just what the doctor ordered. Coming out of Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin (the same high school as his brother), Richie Flanigan has managed to garner attention and scholarship offers from programs including Michigan, Duke, Stanford, and Wisconsin. But being a Notre Dame legacy twice over, it wasn't much of a surprise to see that Flanigan ended up choosing the Fighting Irish in the end. His father, Jim Flanigan, also played football at the University of Notre Dame in the early 1990s before being selected in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft. Jim would play 10 seasons as a defensive tackle, earning the prestigious "Walter Payton Man of the Year" award in 2000, while collecting an impressive 46 sacks over his decade-long pro career. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Like his father, Richie is determined to be another great disruptor for the Fighting Irish and has already put together an impressive performance thus far in his high school career. Flanigan has played both Guard and Defensive Tackle for Notre Dame Academy, compiling 24 total tackles in eight games this past season. 247 Sports composite ranks him as the 291st overall player in the country, and the 14th overall player in Wisconsin. Flanigan joins QB Teddy Jarrard and LB Ellis McGaskin as the current commits for Notre Dame in the class of 2027. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow  @LiamGaudetIT   on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here ! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Photo via Arkansas Athletics The bright side of the Notre Dame season thus far, especially last week, is how the offense has looked under new starting QB CJ Carr. The young gunslinger has improved each week, and the offense as a whole has benefited. Carr and the Irish could be in store for another big day against an Arkansas defense that has had lapses through four games.  Arkansas Results (2-2): 52-7 vs Alabama A&M (W) 56-14 vs Arkansas State (W) 35-41 at Ole Miss (L) 31-32 at Memphis (L) Arkansas Defensive Stats (national rank): 23.5 points per game allowed (tied-73rd) 371 total yards per game allowed (83rd) 213.5 pass yards per game allowed (74th) 157.5 rush yards per game allowed (tied-87th) 45.45% third-down conversion rate allowed (tied-116th) The Razorbacks have found most of their defensive success in the pass rush. Edge rusher Quincy Rhodes Jr. leads a defense averaging 2.5 sacks per game (10 total), the 26th-most in the country. Arkansas’ defensive backs have flashed with some big plays, including two interceptions from Julian Neal and two forced fumbles from Shakur Smalls. Overall, former Auburn LB and current Razorbacks Defensive Coordinator, Travis Williams’ group has left a lot to be desired, as told by the numbers, especially on the road. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Interior Linemen: Cameron Ball - The smaller of the two interior starters is the 6-5, 323-pound redshirt senior. Ball has six tackles this season, including one for a loss. He recorded a season-high of three tackles at Ole Miss. Against the run, Ball has been solid with four stops, but his two missed tackles have occurred here as well. The well-rounded tackle has added nine QB pressures across 130 pass rushes. Ian Geffrard - Another all-around solid tackle, Geffrard stands at 6-5 and 387 pounds. The redshirt sophomore has seven tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. He has tallied two tackles in each of the past three games. Geffrard has four stops against the run, with one missed tackle. He has added four pressures on 68 pass rush attempts. Others to watch: Danny Saili, David Oke Edge Rushers: Phillip Lee - The Troy transfer may not put up the numbers like his counterpart, Quincy Rhodes Jr., but Lee is not to be taken lightly. The 6-4, 240-pounder, typically in an outside linebacking role, has 15 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, and 1.5 sacks through four contests. Lee’s best performance thus far occurred against Arkansas State when he racked up five tackles and his 1.5 sacks. The redshirt senior is a good pass rusher, with 15 pressures on 91 tries. He has been solid against the run with a team-high seven stops. In the rare instances where Lee drops into coverage, he has allowed two catches for -1 yards (not a typo) across four targets. Quincy Rhodes Jr. - After playing behind third-round draft selection Landon Jackson, the junior has broken out in every sense of the phrase. Rhodes has 15 tackles and leads the Razorbacks in tackles for loss with seven and sacks with five. The 6-6, 275-pound edge rusher’s 1.75 tackles for loss and 1.25 sacks per game both rank within the top six nationally. Rhodes popped against Arkansas State and Memphis when he finished both games with six tackles and two sacks apiece. In terms of pure pass rush, the junior is the best on the team by far and is on pace to be one of the top in the SEC. He has recorded 18 QB pressures across 96 pass rush attempts. Against the run, Rhodes has been solid with four stops and one missed tackle. Notre Dame’s Aamil Wagner and Anthonie Knapp will have their hands full all afternoon trying to contain what is sneakily one of the better edge duos in the SEC. Others to watch: Justus Boone, Charlie Collins Linebackers: Xavian Sorey Jr. - The Razorbacks’ leading tackler is the redshirt senior interior backer. Sorey has racked up 29 tackles, two for a loss, an interception, and a forced fumble so far this year. The 6-3 defender exploded against Arkansas State when he tallied 15 tackles and two takeaways. Over the last two games, Sorey has combined for 13 tackles in the losses at Ole Miss and Memphis. Overall, the redshirt senior’s performances have diminished with a team-leading eight missed tackles. He has at least one in each game and wound up with four misses last weekend. Sorey has struggled against the run with five missed tackles and just two stops. He has been okay in coverage, allowing six catches for 65 yards on nine targets with the interception. His pass rush has been positive with nine pressures on just 37 attempts. Sorey could be in for another long day trying to tackle the combination of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Stephen Dix Jr. - The more versatile of these two starting backers is the 6-1, 246-pound redshirt senior. Dix has notched 26 tackles, including one for a loss, with three misses. The LB combined for 19 tackles in two weeks against Arkansas State and Ole Miss. Dix has really struggled in coverage this season, having allowed 11 receptions for 137 yards on 13 targets. He has been both solid against the run with four stops and just one miss, and as a pass rusher with three pressures recorded across 20 rush attempts. Others to watch: Bradley Shaw Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defensive Backs: Kani Walker - Two weeks ago at Ole Miss, the Razorbacks’ starting CB suffered a scary concussion early in the fourth quarter that required Walker to be stretchered off the field. After missing last week’s contest at Memphis, the redshirt senior is listed as questionable for Saturday as he continues to clear concussion protocols. The 6-2 Oklahoma transfer has 13 tackles, including one for a loss, and four pass breakups through three games played. Before exiting at Ole Miss, Walker had a season-high of six tackles. Walker played well against Arkansas State when he tallied five tackles and three passes defended. The wide CB’s coverage has been a rollercoaster experience for Razorbacks fans so far this year, eerily similar to one Notre Dame starting DB. Walker has allowed 10 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns across 16 targets, but he has added his previously mentioned four pass breakups. He has not had much of an impact against the run. Jaheim Singletary - Walker’s replacement last week, and potentially this week, is the 6-2 redshirt senior. Singletary has seven tackles and one pass breakup on the year. In his start last week at Memphis, the CB recorded a season-high three tackles with one miss. He spent the majority of his time out wide on the left side of the ball. Against Alabama A&M, Singletary recorded two tackles and a pass breakup. He has been solid in coverage, having allowed just three receptions for 38 yards on seven targets. Like Walker, this redshirt senior has a limited impact against the run. Julian Neal - The Razorbacks’ starting right-side CB is a redshirt senior transfer from Fresno State. Neal has 22 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, four pass breakups, and a team-leading two interceptions. He impressed against Arkansas State when he racked up 11 tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception. The 6-2 CB followed up that performance with a six-tackle and two-pass breakup outing at Ole Miss. Last week, Neal added a clutch fourth-quarter interception in an effort that was not enough to give the Razorbacks a victory. Overall, the redshirt senior has been pretty good in coverage, having allowed 12 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets. He has been solid against the run with two stops and one missed tackle. Neal has also impressed with three pressures on just five pass rush attempts in that department. Larry Worth III - One of the Razorbacks’ starting safeties is the 6-4 senior with 19 tackles and one pass breakup this season. Worth finished with a season-high nine tackles last week at Memphis. In week one against Alabama A&M, the senior notched two tackles and a pass breakup. The safety has been okay in coverage with four catches for 24 yards allowed, including a touchdown, on five targets. Worth is solid against the run with four stops, but he does have two missed tackles in this spot. Caleb Wooden - Another starting DB to highlight is the safety from Auburn. Wooden has 16 tackles this year, including 1.5 for a loss. The senior transfer recorded a season-high six tackles at Ole Miss. The 6-1 DB has three missed tackles this season, all of which occurred against Arkansas State. The versatile defender spends the majority of his time in a safety role but will shift to slot corner occasionally. Wooden has been alright in coverage with three receptions allowed for 74 yards on just four targets. He has been solid against the run with four stops, although this is where two of his missed tackles took place. Jordan Young - The Razorbacks’ starting nickelback is the six-foot Cincinnati transfer. Young has six tackles, a missed tackle, and one pass breakup this season. He recorded a season-high three tackles at Ole Miss and notched his first pass breakup of the year last week at Memphis. The slot corner has been mostly solid in coverage, having allowed just four receptions for 67 yards across 13 targets. I am unsure why Notre Dame’s offense refuses to involve Jaden Greathouse, but this Saturday would be a great opportunity for him to break out this year, nearly a quarter of the way through the season. Young has had a limited impact against the run. Others to watch: Miguel Mitchell, Shakur Smalls Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

After starting 1-2 to start the season, Notre Dame has another unique challenge ahead of it. On Saturday, Notre Dame will play their first-ever game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville, so who do the Irish need to key in on to emerge victorious? Photo via Arkansas Athletics Taylen Green - Quarterback Taylen Green is an obvious place to start when reviewing potential problems for Notre Dame. Green is a super athletic playmaker who can hurt a defense with his legs just as much as he can with his arm. He leads an Arkansas offense that is currently averaging over 40 points per game, and one of the highest scoring margins in the SEC. This is a cause for concern for Notre Dame and its defense, as Green has a very similar skillset to Marcel Reed, a player who was virtually unstoppable when playing against Notre Dame. Green broke out last season as one of the better dual-threat QBs in the country. This season, he seems to have taken his play to the next level. Although they are just 1-2, Green's play has elevated Arkansas to one of the better offensive units in college football. In terms of total offense, Arkansas ranks 8th in all of college football and 15th in passing offense. These impressive metrics are partially due to Green's ability to provide explosive plays. This season, Green has posted a solid 62% completion percentage for 1,191 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has thrown four interceptions, as Green is a player who wants to hit on the big play, so he can tend to put the ball in harm's way from time to time. Based on his early-season success, it seems to be a good strategy for the Hogs' offense. As a runner, Green is just as dangerous. On just 44 carries, Green has amassed 360 yards, resulting in just over eight yards per carry. Adding to his 12 passing touchdowns, Green has also found the end zone twice with his legs. Standing at 6'6" and well over 200 pounds, Green is difficult to bring down in the open field, but he is just as hard to bring down in the backfield, as he has only been sacked three times. For a defense that has been severely struggling, Green is going to be another huge test. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! O'Mega Blake - Wide Receiver O'Mega Blake is another Razorback offensive player who is more than capable of giving Notre Dame problems all game. Notre Dame's secondary is, without a doubt, the biggest question mark on the team. Giving up huge passing plays in every game this year, the Notre Dame secondary is going to be something Arkansas tries to take advantage of, and with Blake, they have the player to do it. Blake has been Arkansas's biggest producer through the air in an offense that ranks among the best in the country. With 24 receptions, Blake has racked up 326 yards and three touchdowns. At 14 yards per reception, Blake has proven he has the route-running and hands to hurt defenses downfield. Blake is a long, rangy weapon on the outside who has all the athleticism and burst to beat defenders downfield or rack up yards after the catch. With Leonard Moore questionable and the concerns with the secondary, he is a player who can change the outcome of this game. If Moore is healthy, it will surely be one of the best matchups of the entire game. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Quincy Rhodes Jr. - Defensive Line Quincy Rhodes Jr. is another player who has flashed this year for the Razorbacks, and is a player who can give the Notre Dame offense trouble, especially in the backfield. Rhodes Jr. has broken out this year as one of Arkansas's best defensive players. Rhodes Jr. has already recorded five sacks, although two came against lower competition; he has shown his ability to get after the QB. For Notre Dame, this could spell trouble for an offensive line that has had problems this year stopping pass rushers, especially when they are on Anthonie Knapp's side. If Arkansas does lineup Rhodes Jr. on Knapp's side, Knapp is going to have his hands full with a player who is not only talented but also confident. With this kind of early-season success, Rhodes Jr. will surely be motivated to keep his pace. Last week against Purdue, Knapp was beaten off the edge, which resulted in a sack fumble. In what could be a close, back-and-forth game, a play like that could be the difference. Rhodes Jr., so far this season, seems capable of making that same sort of play. Notre Dame will have to be ready and aware of Rhodes on every down. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame finally notched their first win of the 2025 season, but it did not come without some moments of "here we go again" defensively. The Irish defense gave up 30 points to an improved Purdue Boilermakers team, and will now have to turn their attention to an unfamiliar foe when they travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

(Left) Photo via Arkansas Athletics; (Right) Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame travels down south this week to take on a 2-2 Arkansas squad with hot-seat rumors surrounding the Razorbacks program following brutal, back-to-back, late-game losses on the road. The Irish defense will need to be better than they were two weeks ago against Texas A&M’s dual-threat QB Marcel Reed, as Arkansas offers a potentially larger problem with its more experienced signal-caller, Taylen Green. Arkansas Results (2-2): 52-7 vs Alabama A&M (W) 56-14 vs Arkansas State (W) 35-41 at Ole Miss (L) 31-32 at Memphis (L) As told by the scores, the Razorbacks' offense has been humming for the most part, with late-game mistakes on both sides of the ball costing Arkansas a potential 4-0 start. I mentioned QB Taylen Green as one of the top players on the Irish schedule this preseason , and he has lived up to that expectation. Green has led an impressive Arkansas passing offense that is set up by great blocking, a staple of HC Sam Pittman. Former Arkansas HC Bobby Petrino returned to the program as Pittman’s Offensive Coordinator and play-caller last season, and his balanced attack has led to a fun offense to watch. While the run-blocking is not as prominent as the pass, the Razorbacks’ rushing attack is still dangerous with Green and RB Mike Washington Jr capable of busting big gains at any moment.  Here are some Arkansas offensive stats, with their respective national ranking: 43.5 points per game (tied-15th) 552 total yards per game (8th) 324.3 pass yards per game (15th) 54 completions of 10-plus yards and 10 completions of 30-plus yards (both tied-4th) 227.75 rush yards per game (20th) QB Taylen Green and RB Mike Washington Jr are both top-50 in this stat 61.9% 3rd-down conversion rate (6th) The largest issue facing this Razorbacks’ offense is their knack for turning the ball over. Green has tossed four interceptions this season, two of which came against Arkansas State. Additionally, Arkansas has two fumbles lost, but they both had massive repercussions that essentially cost the Razorbacks wins at Ole Miss and Memphis. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Quarterback: Taylen Green - When you create a QB in Madden, odds are you want him to play and look like the Arkansas dual-threat weapon. Standing at 6-6 and 235 pounds, Green is as intriguing as it gets when it comes to the QB’s ceiling. Through four weeks, here is where the redshirt senior ranks nationally: 387.8 total yards per game (1st; by more than 30 yards) 297.8 pass yards per game (10th) 90 rush yards per game (3rd among FBS QBs) Green has completed 64.3% of his pass attempts for 1,191 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He opened the season with a six-touchdown and no-turnover performance against Alabama A&M. However, across the last two weeks against Ole Miss and Memphis, he has thrown just two touchdowns and two interceptions during the Razorbacks' losses. Green did record a season-high 325 yards last week at Memphis with one score and two picks. In general, the future NFL Draft selection is a solid passer who is capable of opening up any offense thanks to his legs. The key for the Notre Dame defense is the same as it was against Texas A&M: PRESSURE THE QB! Under pressure this season, Green is just 8/26 with two interceptions. My final note on Green as a passer is that he does throw a pretty-looking deep ball. On the ground, the dual-threat is averaging an impressive 8.2 yards per carry for 360 yards and two touchdowns on 44 attempts. He already has two games with at least 115 yards and a score, including at Ole Miss when he rushed for those numbers on 14 carries. Green, a physical presence, has forced 10 missed tackles and has 18 rushes of 10-plus yards. He likes to get outside, with most of his success going to the right. Running Backs: Mike Washington Jr. - As hinted at earlier, the Razorbacks’ lead back is the senior New Mexico State transfer. Washington enters this weekend averaging 7.2 yards per carry for 330 yards and four touchdowns across 46 carries. His 82.5 rushing yards per game rank 43rd in the country. The 6-2, 228-pound back rushed for a season-high 116 yards, including a 53-yard score, on just nine carries against Arkansas State. Against Ole Miss, the RB recorded a season-high two rushing touchdowns on 13 carries for 65 yards, including a 47-yard score. Washington is a good runner who is capable of beating defenses up the middle or to the outside. Unfortunately for Washington, his first fumble of the year occurred last week and effectively cost the Razorbacks a chance to win. With 1:18 remaining in the game and Arkansas down one, the Razorbacks were setting up a game-winning red zone field goal when a Memphis defender punched the ball out of Washington’s hands at the seven-yard line, handing Arkansas an upset loss. In the receiving game, the senior has hauled in six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Washington serves as a reliable, short-yard, yard-after-catch option for Green. Others to watch: Braylen Russell Receivers: O’Mega Blake - The Razorbacks’ leading receiver and Green’s new favorite target is the transfer from Charlotte. Blake has 24 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns with no drops across 35 targets. His six catches per game are tied-25th in the country, while his 81.5 receiving yards per game rank 33rd. The 6-2 wideout has had at least five catches and 60 yards in each outing and a touchdown in each of his first three contests before being held scoreless last week. Blake set season-highs in week one when he finished with 121 yards on seven catches, including a score. The redshirt senior is a good receiver who does most of his work between the numbers. Notably, three of Green’s interceptions were targeted for Blake. Jalen Brown - After transferring over from Florida State, the 6-1 receiver has somewhat underwhelmed this season, specifically at Ole Miss. The Razorbacks were driving down the field, trailing by six, when Brown had the ball stripped away at the Rebels’ 27-yard line with 1:52 remaining, ending any hope for a signature Arkansas win. Through four games, the redshirt sophomore has 11 receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns with two drops across 21 targets. Brown has at least 30 yards in each game, taking the majority of his reps out wide while showing flashes as a potential deep-threat for Green. CJ Brown - Pittman and Petrino have split their slot reps between Brown and Raylen Sharpe, but the 6-1 sophomore has shown himself to be the better option in my opinion. The Arkansas native has 11 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns with one drop across 16 targets. He has at least two receptions and 26 yards in each game, including a season-high performance of four catches for 49 yards and two scores against Alabama A&M. Brown is a solid slot-man and, like Blake, does most of his work between the numbers. Notre Dame’s defense has to force Green to throw outside, something they did not emphasize last week against Purdue. Others to watch: Raylen Sharpe Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Tight Ends: Jaden Platt - The first of two tight ends to highlight is the redshirt sophomore and Texas A&M transfer. Platt, more of a blocking TE, has hauled in eight catches for 143 yards with one drop across 11 targets this season. He has at least one reception and 15 yards in each game, including a season-high three catches, 53-yard outing at Ole Miss. Standing at 6-5 and 265 pounds, Platt serves well as a reliable blocker who can be utilized in the short-yardage passing game. Rohan Jones - Green’s receiving threat at the position is the senior Montana State transfer. Jones has five receptions on five targets for 197 yards and two long touchdowns. The 6-3, 242-pound weapon has 106 yards after the catch, good for an average of 21.2 per reception. Jones’ first touchdown of the season came on a 41-yard score against Arkansas State. Last week, the senior impressed with two catches for 102 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown. He also added a five-yard rushing score off a sweep play on his first carry of the year. Jones has also played well as a run-blocker so far. Others to watch: Andreas Paaske Offensive Line: LT Corey Robinson II, LG Fernando Carmona, C Caden Kitler, RG Kobe Branham, RT E’Marion Harris - As mentioned earlier, a mainstay of Coach Pittman’s programs is elite offensive line play. This year is no different with these hogs. This group features two returning starters from a year ago, two impact transfers from power programs, and a 329-pound redshirt freshman at RG. This elite pass-blocking unit has allowed just three sacks this season, good for an average of 0.75 per game, which is tied-17th nationally. Every single starter on this line can hold their own in pass-block, with LT Robinson being the leader with just one pressure allowed on 141 pass-block snaps. Compared to the pass, the run-blocking has been fairly average, but the abilities of Green and Washington in the backfield cancel out this deficiency most of the time. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 8 Notre Dame loses a must-win game that they had every opportunity to win as No. 16 Texas A&M escapes South Bend with a 41-40 victory. Art by The Irish Tribune SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame had every opportunity to win tonight's thrilling matchup against Texas A&M and let it slip. Let's not even talk about the disastrous performance defensive coordinator Chris Ash has turned in for his first two games in the role, but simply look at the stats that back it up. This Notre Dame defense, that was one of the nation's best last season, just gave up 488 total yards of offense, with 360 coming through the air. A secondary that returns a preseason first team All-American alongside its No. 2 cornerback and a safety that was elected as a team captain. In a game where Notre Dame could never stack opportunities, the Irish simply couldn't stop the opposing team from a game-winning drive for back-to-back weeks and fall to 0-2. It appears as though it would take an insurmountable climb for this team to recover, but simply they just don't appear to have guts. The backbone of the Irish for the last 10 years has been its stout defense that flies all over the field and buries teams into submission. This year's unit has simply shown nothing to demonstrate that identity, and to be fair, the defense has no identity. Missed tackles, empty assignments, and poor communication have sunk the Irish in two games that they've had every right to win. Let's look past basically the entire game and simply eye-in on the last drive. A 34-yard pass over the middle that jumpstarted the drive, a penalty on 3rd & 16 (which would've turned into 4th & 16) that gave the Aggies fresh life inside the 10-yard line, and a 4th & Goal touchdown from the 11-yard line that ended the Irish's hopes. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! There are many fingers to blame. It's easy to blame Tyler Buchner for messing up the snap on the PAT, which turned Texas A&M's last second touchdown into a game-winning one instead of it being a tied game. It's easy to blame Karson Hobbs for having a bad game, and dropping what would've been a game-ending interception. It 's ea sy to blame Christian Gray for not developing as a corner alongside two All-Americans for the past two seasons. Yet, in the end, the issue is with the program as a whole. Notre Dame couldn't get it done when they had the chance sitting in their lap, basically spoon-fed to them. On the offensive side of things, the Irish did everything they needed to do to win this game. Mike Denbrock utilized his two running backs masterfully, albeit a few too many wildcat formations, but it worked when it mattered the most. Jeremiyah Love finished with 94 rushing yards, 53 receiving yards and two total touchdowns. Jadarian Price ended this one with 68 rushing yards and two touchdowns as well. CJ Carr finished his second career game going 20/32 with 293 passing yards, and a TD. While Carr still had his errors, he is still simply a redshirt freshman quarterback making his second career start. He is continuing to develop and is leading this team towards the opportunity to win games. On the special teams front, the blocked punt and the PAT cancel out and subsequently the advantage it would give the Irish is a moot point. This game was a carbon copy of the heartbreaking loss of the 2023 Ohio State game but is somehow worse because it displays the lack of growth that has been made in the program. One can't rest its hat on the national championship appearance anymore. The Irish are 0-2 and a team that simply isn't elite, which isn't acceptable for a program that wants to be atop the nation's best. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 24 Notre Dame was excellent on offense as they recorded a season-high 56 points in their victory against in-state rival Purdue. Photo by The Irish Tribune SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame is looking to be a tale of two sides: an electric offense that is hitting its stride and continuing to develop versus a sluggish defense that refuses to improve nor make adjustments. In this one, Mike Denbrock emphasized a run-heavy scheme against the Boilermakers while keeping the opposing defense on its toes with timely passing plays. The running back pair of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price displayed why they are two of the best backs in the country. Love and Price combined for 230 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Love led the two in yards (166), while Price led in touchdowns (3 rushing, 4 total). Price also added an electric 100-yard kick return in this one as well. As for the Notre Dame passing attack, CJ Carr was the dictionary definition of efficient. Carr ended the game 10/12 for 223 yards and two TDs. Jordan Faison led the wide receiving core with five catches for 105 yards while adding a touchdown. Malachi Fields contributed 78 yards of his own, which includes a 66-yard touchdown on the first offensive play of the game for the Irish. It is clear that Denbrock has made enough adjustments after a poor opening game of the season, and the Irish offense is a clear bright spot through the first three games of the season. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Then, there's the defense. Despite the blowout victory, the Notre Dame defense did get beat up on in the first half. Purdue ended this game with 379 total yards, including 303 yards in the air. The main cause of concern for the defense has been the lack of pressure created by the defensive line coupled with the poor performance by Notre Dame's secondary, specifically in soft zone coverages. In the first half, Purdue was specifically picking on Mark Zackery IV, the true freshman cornerback filling in for All-American Leonard Moore. Dallas Golden, who recorded his first interception of his career, also made his first start in replacing Devonta Smith and leapfrogging in the depth chart over Karson Hobbs. Purdue's quarterback Ryan Browne did a great job of utilizing his legs to create more time for his receivers downfield, but also the Boilermaker offensive line, who is notably a rather average unit, was keeping Irish pass rushers at bay. In the second half, Chris Ash did a good job in utilizing more blitzes to create pressure on Browne, which resulted in only seven second half points for Purdue. A few key standouts on defense were Gabriel Rubio, who was the best interior lineman for the Irish, and Adon Shuler who made an instant impact in the 2nd half after serving the rest of his suspension for his targeting penalty against Texas A&M. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has positioned himself as the most talented linebacker in that position room, while true freshman Madden Faraimo was great in limited snaps. In terms of special teams, the Irish got another touchdown via Price, but with kicker Noah Burnette out, Erik Schmidt looked shaky in his first career game. In terms of moving forward, getting Moore, Smith, and Burnette healthy will be a top priority; however, monitoring Ash's development will be paramount. If Ash can somehow find a way to turn the ship, with the offense rolling as it is, the Irish can be a force to be reckoned with. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Marcus Freeman is more than aware about the current chatter surrounding his Notre Dame defense, as he opened up Monday's press conference by acknowledging the negative buzz surrounding the group. "I know, a lot of talk about the defense, and you know, as you evaluate it, I think it's really two areas. The man coverage, when we're playing man right now we've got to play with better fundamentals." The second area Freeman would like to see improvement? Well, that would be the pass rush, which up until Saturday, had only generated one sack through the first two games. "The fundamentals and technique we're [pass] rushing with can help us get more pressure or stay in our lane." It's a simple goal for Notre Dame, but so far, this "high-ceiling" defensive pass rush is still having issues getting after the quarterback. "If we're going to bring pressure, we've got to get home."  Things got a little better against the Boilermakers on Saturday, as Notre Dame was able to generate two sacks. The Irish defense still ranks 104th amongst FBS teams. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The amount of splash plays the Irish allowed against Texas A&M as well as Miami quietly crept their way into this game as well. Although Notre Dame had been much better in limiting the run, holding Purdue standout Devin Mockobee to 16 yards on 12 carries, the Irish continue to allow their opponents to pick them apart through the air. The Irish secondary allowed four different Purdue receivers to rake in a reception of 20 yards or greater - not good. "We've got to find ways to play well on every play, and that's the mentality. Every offense is going to make some plays, but how do we continue to find ways to not let the bad play turn into a disaster, because the disaster play is our challenge." Speaking of the disaster play, Notre Dame fell victim to a fake punt early in the game, as well as a funky trick play on the goal line, which saw the Purdue running back throw a swing pass to the quarterback who walked in for an easy score. Eye discipline, and as Freeman puts it, "fundamentals", have been the biggest challenge for Notre Dame. One of the more noticeable changes the coaching staff made this week was starting true freshman Dallas Golden at Nickel in place of Karson Hobbs, who was picked on repeatedly against Texas A&M last week. This move proved to be a step in the right direction, as Golden looked confident out there, and managed to haul in his first career interception. "I think his ceiling is extremely high. He is extremely athletic, talented, he's got a lot of playmaking ability." Freeman also admitted that they moved Golden to Nickel last Monday, and to have him ready to play with such a short turnaround is a testament to his skillset and the work he's put in. Another change revolved around Jared Dawson not playing on Saturday. This mostly had to do with the fact that Dawson missed practice later in the week, and although he was listed as available, the best course of action in the coach's minds was to rest him unless absolutely necessary. Despite his absence, as previously mentioned, the defensive line had no issues stopping Purdue's ground game, as the Boilermakers were held to just 76 rushing yards as a team, averaging 2.7 yards per attempt. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Speaking of injuries, Notre Dame's star in the secondary, Leonard Moore, missed the game on Saturday after suffering a minor lower-body injury against the Aggies. Not having Moore clearly hurts a secondary that is already struggling, but his return should make life easier for Defensive Coordinator Chris Ash. As it stands, Moore is still questionable for Arkansas. "He's as good as I've been around at that position. We've had discussions if we need to match him up with the best wide receiver, no matter where he's at." Freeman was asked an uncomfortable question which has been seen circulating on social media over the past two weeks. Would he consider taking over the defensive play calling duties from Chris Ash? "If I thought we weren't calling the game the right way, and trust me I know the definition of insanity, if that was the case, you've got to do what's best for your program. But that's not, to me, the issue." What Freeman has continued to stress, is the execution of the plays themselves. Trying to find the underlying reason as to why the defense isn't executing has been a frustrating endeavor thus far, but Notre Dame doesn't have the luxury of time to waste. We're pointing the finger at ourselves. 'What am I not doing to execute this call the right way?'" Freeman's meeting with the defensive staff held on Sunday shined some more light on his insight in fixing the issues on that side of the ball. "It was not a comfortable meeting. And I didn't want it to be comfortable. But we've got one or two options" Freeman went on to stress the importance of having everyone buy in as opposed to pointing fingers. As a former DC at Notre Dame, he knows all too well the stress and heat that comes with that position. And after losing some games he shouldn't have as a head coach, he's more than familiar with how Chris Ash is feeling. But whether or not Ash will be able to ride out the storm is still yet to be determined. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LiamGaudetIT on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!