Coming off the heels of a national championship game appearance, Notre Dame is set to see a new identity on the offensive side of the ball. Here, we breakdown whether each position group will be improved or worsened from the 2024 to 2025. Photo by The Irish Tribune While Mike Denbrock returns as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator, the Irish are set to have a new identity on the offense. While the Irish are still set to be anchored by the exceptional run game of Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Aneyas Williams, Notre Dame will be transitioning into the CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey era in South Bend. The two quarterbacks will provide the Irish a bit more of a downfield threat that Riley Leonard gave the Irish last season, yet it should be interesting to see how the position groups around the quarterbacks are affected. Let's breakdown each position room to see if they are improved, similar, or worse than the 2024 Notre Dame team. Quarterbacks *Worse* While the promise and hype are certainly at the forefront of all Notre Dame fans minds, the maturity curve might take a bit longer than most people believe. Yes, there is no doubt that CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey can perform exceptionally right off the bat and lead the Irish to back-to-back wins against Miami and Texas A&M. Yes, Carr and Minchey are both better throwers of the football than Riley Leonard, yet Leonard brought so many intangibles to the table. Leonard was a junkyard dog at quarterback with an ever-burning competitive fire that willed the Fighting Irish to 12 straight wins. Was he perfect? By no means of the word. He had terrible interceptions against USC and Georgia Tech, but still found a way to get the Irish to the finish line. He struggled against Georgia throwing the ball as well, but when the game was on the line and it mattered the most, Leonard was able to put the nail in the coffin and ice the game. The biggest area that Notre Dame will miss Leonard is in the short-yardage quarterback run game on 3rd and short, and 4th and short. The reason Marcus Freeman was able to be so aggressive on 4th down was because of the confidence he had in Leonard to pick up two yards. While Carr and Minchey are naturally more gifted throwing the football, it is too early to deem the position in better hands than with a quarterback that took Notre Dame to the national championship and got selected in the NFL Draft. Running backs Better The best running back room in college football somehow got deeper after leading the Irish to the national championship game. The room returns Heisman-hopeful Jeremiyah Love who is coming off a 1,125-yard season where he collected 19 total touchdowns. Jadarian Price also returns to the room with 746 rushing yards from a season ago with 7 touchdowns. The Irish also return Aneyas Williams and Gi'Bran Payne, who were the featured 3rd down running backs in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Then the Irish have Kedren Young and Nolan James who are still developing and waiting in the wings for their opportunity. With another season under their belt and the new mentorship of running backs' coach Ja'Juan Seider, there is no doubt the Irish running back room will elevate to another new height. Wide Receivers Better The Notre Dame wide receiver room has been in a down period for the last five years. It hasn't been since Chase Claypool where a Notre Dame wide receiver has led the team in receptions. While that may speak to the excellence of Michael Mayer and Mitchell Evans, the Irish wide receiving room hasn't produced a 1,000-yard receiver since Claypool either. This year, the Irish will get an improved Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison, who are coming off impressive CFP performances. The Fighting Irish also add Malachi Fields and Will Pauling from the transfer portal to add experienced pass catchers for the new quarterbacks as well. The quarterback situations should also aid the wide receiving room with more opportunities for a down-field pass game than a season ago. With the maturity of some of the younger weapons and the integration of the transfer portal pieces, mixed in with a quarterback who will be a bit more accurate than a year ago, the numbers for the receiving room are bound to increase. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Tight End Worse The tight end room has been a staple at Notre Dame for the past decades, yet this year the room seems to be a bit thin. Outside of Eli Raridon, who has anchored down the TE1 position after Mitchell Evans' jump to the NFL, the tight end room is a bit thin on experience. While the Irish added Ty Washington from Arkansas in the portal, the Achilles injury to Cooper Flanagan leaves the tight ends in young hands. Jack Larsen will see an increased role early in the season, and Kevin Bauman should be another tool for Denbrock to utilize as well. Offensive Line Better When three players who started for the program last season transfer out because of returning depth next season brings, the room is in a good place. While Sam Pendleton, Rocco Spindler, and Pat Coogan made instrumental impacts in leading Notre Dame to the national championship game, the writing was on the wall with the returning pieces the offensive line is bringing back. Notre Dame's offensive line is in an incredible position for next season, and the scary thing about the unit is: they could all stay together for the 2026 season too. Yet, the 2025 year is the focus of the article, and this unit is absolutely stacked. It will be a bit of a puzzle to see where offensive line coach Joe Rudolph fits all the pieces together, but there is no doubt that the Fighting Irish will be competing for the Joe Moore Award by season's end. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame men’s basketball picked up its first two commitments in the 2026 class in four-star point guard Jonathan Sanderson and four-star center Gan-Erdene Solongo. After compiling the number five-ranked class in the 2025 cycle, head coach Micah Shrewsberry is still looking towards the future. Photo via Jonathan Sanderson The two brothers will join their father, Jon Sanderson, who was hired as the Director of Men's Basketball Strength and Conditioning back on May 9 of this year. After a season at Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee, the two will make the jump to La Lumiere School, where incoming freshman and 18th-ranked player in the 2025 class, Jalen Haralson, played his senior season.   Sanderson, a 6’2” native of La Porte, Indiana, was the first of the two to commit to the Irish on June 8. He is the top-ranked player in the state, holding offers from Indiana University, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and several other Division I programs.   Enjoy this BB article? Subscribe to Tribune+ to stay in the know for Fighting Irish recruiting Following a transfer to Ensworth School for his junior season, after spending his first two years of high school at Saline High School in Saline, Michigan, Sanderson’s play reached new heights. He led his team to the state semifinals, averaging 24 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and an impressive 1.8 steals as well. This play was good enough to earn Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year honors, and he is now the ninth-ranked point guard in the 2026 class according to 247 Sports.   Sanderson is one of the best shooters you will find in the 2026 class with his ability to get a shot up, even with little space available. He’s lethal from the wings, but also attacks the corners, making him versatile on the perimeter. While playmaking and ballhandling aren’t his first traits, he is still able to make the smart kick out or pass to the open shooter and is a high-level break starter and finisher.   Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Use code IrishTribune20 for $20 off In the transition, Sanderson can do it all, whether that be finding the open man, finishing at the rim, or knocking down the three. His play style will fit well with the 2025 class as well as the remaining pieces that are expected to be on the roster when he arrives in South Bend. There will be no lack of chemistry on the court between Solongo and Sanderson, especially after their run to the state semifinals together. Solongo, a seven-footer originally from Mongolia, whom the Sanderson family adopted, averaged 12.3 PPG, 10.1 RPG, and 1.3 blocks during his junior season at Ensworth. He held offers from Indiana, Illinois, Arizona State University, Ohio State University, and other Division I schools. Photo via Gan-Erdene Solongo Size was one of the predominant issues for the Irish over the past two seasons under Shrewsberry. With the addition of Solongo, who is believed to be the tallest living person from Mongolia, the Irish should be able to compete with anyone in the post. Solongo can do anything with the ball in the low-post/short corner when fed the ball, whether it be making a move to score, or finding the open shooter out of a double team. He is also elite above the rim on offense and defense, catching lobs while finding the opening on the baseline and finishing. There were plenty of times during his junior season when he found himself catching a lob from his brother, something that Irish fans can get used to seeing.   The Irish have had stellar point guard play since the beginning of the Shrewsberry Era, with rising junior Markus Burton already establishing himself and Jalen Haralson looking to do the same. Now, the Irish look to dip into the post with recruiting, adding the first seven-footer in Shrewsberry's tenure. Notre Dame has kicked off 2026 with two huge gets that are going to benefit the future of the program greatly. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame held its annual Irish Invasion Camp this past Friday with Class of 2027 and 2028 recruits raving about the experience they had while on campus. Multiple recruits received offers at the end of camp. I was able to speak with a few of them to find out how camp went and what it means to them to receive an offer from Notre Dame. Photo by The Irish Tribune As you can imagine, every one of them was thrilled to get an offer and expressed how much it meant to them individually and why. C/O 2028 Edge Jackson Vaughn had a great time at Irish Invasion and came away with a quote from Head Coach Marcus Freeman that really stuck with him. "The quote of the day for me from Coach Freeman was: “Notre Dame is not for everybody”. I appreciated that he said this. There are high expectations and demands both athletically and academically at Notre Dame. You can’t sugar coat it. Not every kid is built to accept the rigor of both. I love it! I’m a person who thrives on being pushed and challenged every day. There’s personal growth that happens when those things occur. I’m a curious learner, so I often challenge ideas, thoughts, and processes, but I also expect to be challenged as well. Iron sharpens iron. That’s how you get better and optimize your full potential." Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Jackson felt his time at Irish Invasion went great, and described his favorite part of the day were the 1v1 drills, which allowed him to compete, which he loved the most. "The day went great! My favorite part of the day at the Irish Invasion was the 1v1s. I love to compete. I was able to go up against some great offensive linemen and get better." He came away from the camp landing an offer from Notre Dame, something he told me means a lot to him. "It means a lot to land an offer from Notre Dame. Coaches at this program don’t just hand out offers, especially to rising sophomores like myself. When they offer prospective football players, it means something, so I felt extremely blessed to receive the offer from Coach Al Washington. I’m excited about building a relationship with the coaches and players, and getting more familiar with the school/program. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to come to a game in the fall." C/O 2028 CB Phoenix Evans felt his time at Irish Invasion was an overall great experience, where he was able to represent his home state of New Jersey and continue to build a relationship with the coaches. "The Irish Invasion overall was a great experience. It was good competition there, and a good handful of NJ guys. I feel we all represented the state of New Jersey well. My favorite part of the experience was the grill and chill cookout, where each position group had a grill contest. That was the time we had to really bond with the coaches. That was my opportunity to continue to build with Coach Mickens and Coach Ash." Phoenix is another player who came away from camp with an offer from the Irish, which means a lot to him. He believes that it would be an easy transition from his current high school, as they share some similarities. "It means a lot to receive an offer from Notre Dame because I feel it would be an easy transition there from Don Bosco Prep. Marcus Freeman continues to say that Notre Dame isn’t for everyone, and part of that is because of the culture there. That's something I’m already used to. Besides that, having a chance to play for a team that will always have a shot to win the national championship is huge." C/O 2028 DE Asher Ghioto enjoyed his time getting to watch the coaches coach and the conversations he was able to have with them. Their attention to detail and their hands-on approach to the camp were something that stuck with him. "I really enjoyed watching Coach Washington and Coach Sebastian coach us up, and we had some great conversations. They are awesome and teach a lot. I also really liked how they were very hands-on and kept making sure the drills were done correctly. I was able to talk to Coach Freeman for a bit, and he is awesome. He kept talking about how I should "come home" and be a part of the Notre Dame family." Asher Ghioto is another player who came away from camp with an offer from the coaches, something that means a lot, not only to him but also to his family. "This means a lot to me and my family to get this offer. I come from a big Catholic family, so this meant a lot to all of us. The traditions and the atmosphere at Notre Dame are one of a kind! I'm super excited to build a relationship with the coaching staff!" C/O 2028 LB Allen Kennett V believes his time at camp went really well, and it was a great experience for him getting to compete against other great players. "The camp went really well, and it was a great place to compete among other great players. My favorite part of the camp was the competition period at the end, where the best of the camp competed. I just really fell in love with the energy and the atmosphe re." Landing an offer after camp from the coaches is something he tells me means a lot to him. His love for the structure, history, and tradition of Notre Dame makes this offer that much sweeter for him. "It means a lot to land an offer from Notre Dame. I love the school and the structure, as well as the history and tradition of Notre Dame. I’m excited to get back up to Notre Dame a few more times this year to check it all out and take in the full experience of what it has to offer." C/O 2027 Edge Chaz Gray told me that he believes camp went very well for him, where he was able to showcase his talents to all the coaches, something that means a lot to him. "The camp went very well, I got to showcase my talents to all the coaches and my favorite part was the competitive spirit and the 1v1s because I got to show the whole camp who I am and what I am capable of." Landing an offer from the Notre Dame coaches means a lot to Chaz and he believes it is a great school that shapes for football and life beyond. "Landing this offer means a lot to me seeing as it is a great school because they shape you for the future beyond football." Each and every one of these recruits made an impression on the staff, and you can see why. They are all very humble, hard-working athletes who not only made an impression on the field but also with their conversations with the staff off the field. It will be exciting to continue to watch their growth and progression as athletes and to see if Notre Dame will be the place they call home in the future. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame held its annual Irish Invasion Camp on Friday with Class of 2027 and 2028 recruits leaving South Bend raving about the experience they had while on campus. Many went straight to social media after the camp, excited about the time they had. I was able to get in contact with multiple recruits to get their instant reaction following their trip to South Bend. Each recruit described their trip as an amazing experience that they won't soon forget. Photo by The Irish Tribune For C/O 2027 QB Malachi Zeigler, it was Coach Gino Guidugli and Coach Rawlings who made his experience one he will never forget. "I had a great time at the Irish Invasion camp. Being back at Notre Dame, being coached by Coach Gino and Coach Rawlings was an awesome experience that I will never forget. Getting to hang out with them at the grill and chill gave us a great perspective of the human side of them. Nothing changed. They are the same no matter where they are. It was great." Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here C/O 2027 QB Emmett Queen described his invite as an opportunity to live out a goal of his, and his favorite part was walking the same path as countless Notre Dame players have before him. "My favorite part was knowing that I was walking the same path as countless Notre Dame players before me. This camp has been an opportunity for so many players chasing their dreams, and being invited was a goal of mine. On top of that, I felt great about my performance, and hearing Coach Guidugli say he was impressed with me was awesome to hear. C/O 2027 WR Quentin Burrell enjoyed the competitiveness that was displayed during camp, and he's looking forward to getting back in the fall to experience a night game. "Irish invasion was competitive, and so was the BBQ after. It was good to get time on the field with the coaches and other recruits in my class. I have a good time whenever I’m there and hope to get back in the fall to experience a night game." C/O 2027 RB Jerry Beard enjoyed his time at the Irish Invasion, and his favorite part was the "Grill and Chill" after camp. "I feel like it went well, and I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was the grill and chill after the camp, where everybody got to meet up and talk." C/O 2027 DL Jeremiah Williams raved about his experience and being able to work with Coach Al Washington, which was the "highlight" of his visit. "The Irish Invasion camp was a great experience. I had the chance to work with Coach Al Washington and got tips from some of the ND players, which was one of my favorite parts. Getting an opportunity to work with someone like Coach Al and get feedback from the players themselves was the biggest highlight of my visit." C/O 2027 Edge Isaac Miller was thrilled to be able to compete and attend the "Grill and Chill" competition afterwards. "It went great, it was a very fun camp. My favorite part was being able to complete within the camp and after with the cook-off." C/O 2027 WR Rob Larson described the camp as amazing, noting that it was a special feeling to be able to showcase his abilities at his favorite school. "The camp was amazing, and it was a special feeling being able to showcase my abilities at my favorite school. I really enjoyed meeting the coaches in person and getting to spend quality time with them after the camp. Notre Dame is a great place, and just being there and seeing the campus is a surreal feeling." To say the Notre Dame staff knocked it out of the park this year would be an understatement. Based on the instant reactions of the recruits, it's fair to say they did that and much more. Who Notre Dame will end up landing from this in commitments is too early to tell, but they've certainly made a lasting impression on all that attended this year's Irish Invasion. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame football’s 2026 class has no shortage of talent along the offensive line. With four total commitments up front, the Irish are looking to remain as ‘O-Line U’ in college football. Graphic by The Irish Tribune One of those four additions in the 2026 class, IOL Ben Nichols, has known that South Bend is where he’s wanted to call home for some time now. Nichols, a native of Davison, Michigan, committed to the Irish on Christmas Eve of 2024 over Penn State University, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Tennessee. Despite the decision coming just over five months ago, Nichols had his sights set on Notre Dame from early on in his recruitment.   “I’ve known Notre Dame was a top contender in my recruitment since the very beginning,” Nichols told the Irish Tribune after committing on December 24. “I made other visits, but nothing compared to Notre Dame, and I knew early on that Notre Dame was where I was meant to be. ”   Nichols is tied for the tallest offensive line commit in the class with four-star Tyler Merrill from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, standing at 6'5". However, Merrill takes the edge, weighing 23 pounds heavier at 338 compared to Nichols at 315. He’s the 22nd-ranked interior offensive lineman in the class, as well as fifth in the state of Michigan, three spots behind fellow Notre Dame commit Gregory Patrick, who’s ranked second.   Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here While being the third highest ranked offensive lineman in Notre Dame’s class, Nichols won’t let that stop him from being the hardest working player in the room.   “Notre Dame fans can expect a dawg that comes in every day to work his butt off,” Nichols said to the Irish Tribune following his commitment. “No matter what the circumstances are, I will always work as hard as I can every single day to help my teammates be successful.”   That mentality is what the Irish will need as they expect a variety of talent on the offensive front. Despite playing tackle for Davison High School, helping the Cardinals achieve a 7-3 record this past season, Nichols very well could slide to the guard position once arriving in South Bend. With Patrick in the same class, Owen Strebig and Will Black in the 2025 class, and an influx of talent at the tackle position already on the roster, versatility could prove to be the biggest contributor to seeing the field.   Looking at his junior year film, Nichols demonstrates the ability to block in a variety of ways. Whether it be for running back commits in the 2026 class, Javian Osborne, and Jonaz Walton, or in the pass protection for whoever is starting under center when he arrives on campus, Nichols finds himself winning a lot of battles. He often finds himself winning mismatches when he’s pulled from his left tackle position at Davison; however, he shows off his 6'5" frame when going up against other defensive linemen.   He already held an offer from the Irish during his junior season, despite not officially committing until just under two months after it was over. Even though the pressure of 19 offers, with 17 of them coming from power-four schools, Nichols mentioned to the Irish Tribune how special it was to receive an offer from Notre Dame.   “I was super excited to get an offer from Notre Dame, just knowing how historic a program it is,” said Nichols. “The respect the coaches have for their players not only as athletes, but as a person too, means a lot to me and what I’m looking for from coaches at the next level.”     Above all else, Nichols highlighted how committing to Notre Dame is a massive accomplishment on the field, but also the smart choice for development off the field. Committing to Notre Dame is the first step in making the move to the next level, however, Nichols has demonstrated he has values beyond the game of football.   “I’m choosing Notre Dame because I not only want to be the best athlete I can be, but I also want to become the best person I can be,” Nichols told the Irish Tribune. “They develop their football players into great people both on and off the field and set them up for success in life after football.”   This, coupled with his faith in God, pulled Nichols to the University of Notre Dame. Like many before him and presumably many after, his relationship with God played a huge role in Nichols’ decision to play in South Bend for the Irish.   “I put my faith in God to lead me to the program that would be the best fit for me,” Nichols told the Irish Tribune. “Without God, I would not be in this position today, and I am extremely grateful and blessed for all that he has given me.”   As Nichols enters the summer before his senior year of high school, God may have more in store for him on the horizon as a member of the Irish. Coming off a National Championship appearance and two major bowl wins in the 2024-25 season, the sky is officially the limit for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish. Ben Nichols has officially become a building block in reaching that ceiling. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As we approach a new season, recovering from a National Championship defeat, we look back on what was one of the most special seasons in Notre Dame history. Relive the top ten ‘moments,’ in my opinion, including some honorable mentions below: Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Honorable Mentions: Pat Coogan bails out Riley Leonard with a first down receptio n ( video ) Jack Kiser breaks the Notre Dame record for games played (63) on Senior Day Bryce Young blocked kicks (2 field goals and a punt) Jeremiyah Love breaks the Notre Dame record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (12) Opening drive of the National Championship versus Ohio State Tyler Buchner fakes (rushed for a first down on a fake field goal and threw a 23-yard first down completion on a fake punt) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here 10. Purdue Beatdown Just one week after the loss to Northern Illinois, it is hard to bounce back as well as the Irish did when they hammered Purdue 66-7. The 59-point loss was the worst loss in Purdue history and one the Irish needed. Jeremiyah Love had his first 100-plus yard rushing performance of the season. On defense, the freshmen showed out as DE Boubacar Traore had a pick-six and LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa recorded his first career interception. This victory was the first of a 13-game win streak for the Irish. 9. Freshman CB Leonard Moore Breaks Out versus Louisville While this may not have been Moore’s best game of the year, it was the beginning of a special season for the former three-star recruit. The freshman corner earned his first career start just five games into the year against the Cardinals, where he tallied seven tackles and a forced fumble. Given Benjamin Morrison’s season-ending injury in the following game versus Stanford, the emergence of Moore could not have happened at a more convenient time. The freshman ended the season as the clear-cut starting cornerback in South Bend, finishing the year as the seventh-highest rated CB among FBS defenders, per PFF. As Morrison enters the NFL, Notre Dame fans can be at ease knowing they have their next lockdown CB for at least two more seasons.  8. Defensive Dominance versus Florida State Eight sacks for number eight on this list. Along with recording the most sacks in a game since 2019, the Irish defense held Florida State’s offense to 208 total yards and three points. Senior Rylie Mills contributed three sacks, and sophomore Donovan Hinish added two in his first career start. The secondary showed up too, as sophomore Safety Luke Talich recorded a 79-yard pick-six and senior DB Jordan Clark recorded his first interception in a Notre Dame uniform. 7. Love and the Defense Sink Navy MetLife Stadium was the site of Notre Dame’s 51-14 victory over the 24th-ranked Midshipmen, marking the first loss of the year for Navy. Love rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns including a 64-yard score . On d efense, the Irish forced six turnovers including five fumble recoveries. Sophomore Jaylen Sneed had nine tackles and a scoop-and-score. Adon Shuler and Junior Tuihalamaka each added seven tackles and a fumble recovery. To top it off, Leonard Moore recorded his first career interception in another dominant defensive showing. 6. Back-to-Back Pick-Sixes Seal USC’s Fate In the regular season finale, Notre Dame walked out of LA Memorial Coliseum with a 49-35 win thanks to clutch defense from the Irish secondary. With around four minutes remaining in a 35-28 game and USC driving, sophomore CB Christian Gray came up huge with a 99-yard pick-six to give the Irish a two-score lead. On the next drive, USC was again moving the ball down the field quickly seeking a late comeback, when senior S Xavier Watts set a Notre Dame record for longest pick-six in history with his 100-yard interception return to put the Irish up 49-28 with under two minutes to play. Additionally, Watts tallied nine tackles in the win while Gray contributed seven. 5. Jaden Greathouse Gashes Penn State The receiver saved his best career performance when it mattered the most, playing a key role in the Irish’s Orange Bowl victory over Penn St. He ended the game with a career-high 105 yards including a 54-yard touchdown to tie the game with under five minutes to play. This game-tying score eventually allowed the opportunity for Kicker Mitch Jeter to nail the game-winner with seven seconds remaining. 4. Unexpected Heroes Propel Notre Dame Past Georgia The Irish finally found a way to get over the hurdle that is the Georgia Bulldogs thanks to efforts from those that us fans may not have seen coming. Jayden Harrison took the second-half kickoff 98 yards to put the Irish up 20-3 in the Sugar Bowl. On defense, junior Tackle Gabriel Rubio had a positive impact in his first career start when he notched four tackles. Also, senior RJ Oben recorded his first career sack in a Notre Dame uniform to help secure the Irish a 23-10 CFP Quarterfinal victory. 3. Season-Opening Upset Victory at Texas A&M Despite entering College Station as the higher-ranked team, all the buzz surrounding this game revolved around the atmosphere in Kyle Field and how Notre Dame could have any chance of winning in the hostile environment. The Irish quieted the critics including an entire ESPN College Gameday crew (except Lee Corso, of course) who picked the Aggies to win when Notre Dame walked out of Texas A&M with a 23-13 victory. While not knowing an embarrassing defeat was on deck, Irish fans started believing that this team could make a legitimate CFP run. Some highlights from this game include long touchdown runs from Love and Jadarian Price, three made field goals from Jeter, and Shuler’s first career interception.  2. Jumpin’ Jeremiyah Love Not much to explain here. Watch some of the viral clips capturing the elite athleticism of Love below: Northern Illinois Hu rdle ( video ) Army Hurdle ( video ) USC Hurdle ( video ) Penn State Hurdle ( video ) 1. Notre Dame Wins Inaugural Home College Football Playoff Game The hype was real in South Bend on December 20th when the entire college football world had its attention on an in-state battle between the Irish and the Indiana Hoosiers. ESPN’s College Gameday was in attendance for what was the most electric atmosphere during a home-field Notre Dame football game in recent history. Love got the party started early when he tied a school record for the longest touchdown rush on his 98-yard scamper under five minutes into the contest. Riley Leonard's one-yard touchdown rush with 4:50 left in the game marked his 15th of the season, breaking a school record for rushing touchdowns in a season by an Irish QB. WR Jordan Faison also stepped up with a career-high seven receptions in the 27-17 CFP First Round victory. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Last season, Notre Dame suffered one of the most embarrassing losses in program history to NIU. This season, where could that potential "trap game" occur, and will Notre Dame be ready? Photo by Irish Tribune The idea of a trap game was not new to Notre Dame or its fans last year when the Irish fell at home to NIU. Although it has not always been to a mid-major like NIU, Notre Dame does have a history of not playing to their abilities when the opponent lacks the talent to compete with Notre Dame. These games were a common occurrence during the Brian Kelly era, whether it was against Tulsa, Navy, South Florida, or a few others. Unfortunately for the Fighting Irish, this trend carried over into the early stages of the Freeman era, with losses to Marshall in his first year and NIU most recently. The thing that set apart the NIU loss from all the others was the expectations that the 2024 team had. They had just beaten Texas A&M on the road in a tightly contested battle and put college football on notice. The rest of the schedule looked promising for the Irish, with only one more true test against USC at the end of the year. Everything looked perfect for Notre Dame to run the table and finish with a 12-0 record. The NIU game ruined all of it, and it put the entire program into question. The 2025 team will walk into the next season with even higher expectations, so which game could potentially be the one to completely derail their season, or will Notre Dame finally learn from their previous mistakes? Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Boise State at Notre Dame - Game 5 Boise State would hardly be more shocking than NIU, as they were just in the CFP. Boise State has a long history as one of the best mid-major programs in the country and regularly competes with top programs. The biggest difference between this Boise State versus last year's team, Ashton Jeanty. Last year, Jeanty had the talent to keep them in almost any game they played in and made them dangerous to play against. Notre Dame will not have to worry about him and will be vastly more talented than Boise State. Notre Dame's history has shown that it is not enough to declare them the winner already. The timing of this game will be what makes this game particularly tricky for the Fighting Irish. The beginning of their schedule is a gauntlet with a trip to Miami, followed by a game against Texas A&M. It then calms back down when they play Purdue, but is immediately ramped back up against Arkansas on the road. That stretch of games will be a huge focus for Notre Dame, as it will be the hardest part of their season. Boise State directly follows that stretch. It is the perfect time for Notre Dame to again let its guard down at home, following multiple difficult games within just a few weeks. Boise State is plenty good enough to take advantage if Notre Dame is not fully prepared for that matchup. Marcus Freeman has talked about learning how to manage success, and if they face Boise State 4-0, that will be a perfect time to prove they have learned how to do so. Notre Dame at Boston College - Game 8 Any time there is a rivalry game, there is always a chance for an upset. The "Holy War" has produced incredible moments in both of these programs' history. A lot of Boston College's best moments were when they were major underdogs against Notre Dame, and this year they will surely try to recreate some of that magic. As long as the season plays out like many think, Notre Dame will be significant favorites against Boston College. They are more talented on paper, but Boston College will have two things working for them. The first being home-field advantage. If a team wants to pull off an upset, it never hurts to have your home fans working for you. Boston College will have that, as Notre Dame will likely draw a crowd. The second thing Boston College might have to their advantage is that Notre Dame will have just played USC. Notre Dame vs USC will not only be a huge rivalry game, but it will also be incredibly emotional. As things stand now, that might be the last time USC plays at Notre Dame for the foreseeable future. That will add more stakes to that game and fuel the emotions both teams play with. Boston College might be able to take advantage of Notre Dame letting its guard down after a game like that, especially if the Irish were to win. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The moniker "Tight End U" has become synonymous with Notre Dame thanks to years of producing top-tier talent at the position, dating back to the 1970s with players like Dave Casper, an NFL Hall of Famer, and continuing through to modern-day players such as Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert. It's something the program and fan base take pride in, and recruits are generally well aware of the history the Fighting Irish have had in developing tight ends, which makes it an ideal destination for some of the country's best. Photo via Brayden Fogle, Instagram (@brayden_fogle23) One player that has an opportunity to be one of the next success stories out of South Bend is C/O 2026 top ten tight end, Brayden Fogle. The Ohio native received an offer from Notre Dame in May and will be taking an official visit in early June. Fogle has drawn attention from a handful of other major programs, including Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, and Penn State. In what should be a hotly contested recruiting battle among some of the sports Blue Bloods, Notre Dame's track record of molding tight ends should keep them squarely in the mix. The 4-star product embodies a lot of what you want in a TE for today's game, and the tape on him is promising. For this breakdown, each trait will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it! Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Receiving/Hands: Elite (7) On film, Fogle is much more what would be considered a "move" tight end. This means he lines up in the slot, as an X, and everywhere in between. He is a vertical threat that can track the ball and is elite when it comes to high-pointing the ball over the top of defenders. At 6'3" and 225 pounds, Fogle does an excellent job of boxing out defensive backs when the ball is in the air and consistently shows he can adjust around his frame. He displays very good concentration on passes that hang in the air too long and can fight through contact at the catch point. His length and leaping ability make him a go-to target in the red zone, and he routinely wins his one-on-one matchups near the goal line. He has major YAC ability, running through arm tackles after the catch, and is shiftier than you would expect for his size. One of the most impressive aspects of his receiving ability is the fact that he has done it against some of the highest-ranked cornerbacks from his class when he has been lined up wide. Fogle is uniquely equipped to help take pressure off the wide receivers in the passing game. Blocking: Solid (4) As mentioned above, Fogle spent a lot of his time detached from the line of scrimmage and in more of a receiver role, so this trait is a little tricky to grade, but one of importance for a tight end. When lined up wide, Fogle did excel as a perimeter blocker, washing out smaller defensive backs and allowing running backs to bounce plays outside. As one of the lead blockers on WR screens, he does show good hand placement, getting inside a defender's frame and pairing it with leg drive and very good play strength to finish off the block. He also flashes good awareness to find someone to block in the open field on broken plays when the QB leaves the pocket to scramble. I did not see any reps of him going against bigger defenders in the run game, or having to chip defensive ends in pass pro, so that is something I will be looking for during his senior season. He has the physical attributes to be able to do these things, but it needs to be seen on film to get an improved grade. Route Running: Good (5) I would not call Fogle a polished route runner quite yet, but there are a lot of things he does well in this area. He is very proficient at running out breaking routes from the slot, getting up on second and third level defenders quickly, and freezing them with a slight jab step before he works towards the sideline. He also does a good job around the goal line when 1 on 1, getting the DB to lean inside by selling a slant before flattening back outside towards the pylon. He understands how to create a little space for himself in the condensed red zone area, especially on fade routes, making sure there is room to get a foot in bounds. I would like to see him find the void vs Zone Coverage and sit down a little quicker to help his QB out, which will come with more reps and coaching. Getting in and out of breaks more explosively will also help him create additional separation, where his natural athleticism will be able to shine after the catch. Athletic Ability: Very Good (6) Long gone are the days when tight ends are nothing more than an extension of the offensive line. Athletic tight ends can create some of the biggest mismatches in an offense's favor, as they are often too big to be covered by corners and safeties, and too fast to be covered by most linebackers. Fogle has the athletic ability to fit that bill, as he has good straight-line speed for his size but also enough change of direction that he is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Not many tight ends are asked to also return kickoffs, but Fogle has done this with success, and one of the plays that most confirmed his special athleticism to me was one that came on defense. Doubling as a defensive end, Fogle showed rare bend and flatten ability working around an offensive tackle and showed incredible closing speed on a QB that was rolling away from him to get the sack. As his route running catches up to his God given athletic acumen, he will be a defensive coordinator's nightmare, and he should be able to make an absolute killing in the middle of the field. Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Mike Denbrock coached tight ends for Notre Dame from 2002-2004 and rejoined the staff from 2010-2016 before making his return last year. He saw multiple tight ends go from South Bend to the NFL, even as recently as this past year when Mitchell Evans was selected in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers. He is a proven commodity when it comes to the evolution of tight ends under his tutelage, and a player as talented as Brayden Fogle would give him a lot to work with. There is a rich tradition of tight ends and Notre Dame, and if the recruiting staff can sell that history, Fogle very well may be the next one to help keep that alive. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With Notre Dame looking to return to national championship form, depth will need to be a key strength of Marcus Freeman’s roster in South Bend. Photo by The Irish Tribune After multiple season-ending injuries across the entirety of the defense, the integration of young players was ultimately necessary for the 2024 team.   While these players are now immediate difference makers for the 2025 team, here are three potential players that could get thrust into the action to make a difference next year.   Ty Washington   While Ty Washington isn’t a young player, the tight end transfer from Arkansas could see sizable action with the injury to Cooper Flanigan leaving the tight end room a bit scarce, Washington’s emergence over the summer will be crucial in order to back up Eli Raridon.   Washington is a big, athletic framed tight end who specializes more in the run blocking game than in the pass catching department. He has only 14 receptions over three years with the Razorbacks, but anything could happen, and he might be thrust into a pivotal role for the Fighting Irish.   Guerby Lambert   Last season, the Irish had first-hand experience in seeing how easy it is to lose offensive lineman to injury. Especially with the elongated season, Notre Dame needs difference makers along the second-string offensive line to be ready to step up in case of emergency.   With that being said, Lambert appears to be the odd man out in the battle for the starting five for the season opener in Coral Gables against the Hurricanes.   Lambert, the 6’7” 334 lb offensive tackle, could be the first man in given any injury on the line due to Charles Jagusah’s flexibility to move and play anywhere along the line. Karson Hobbs   The last name on this list is Karson Hobbs, whose performance in the Blue-Gold game has put him on the forefront for this upcoming season.   While Devonta Smith will probably earn the starting nod at the nickel, Hobbs will be the backup right behind him. He would also be the first name off the bench if Leonard Moore or Christian Gray were to go down.   Hobbs is a freakish athlete who has great natural ball skills and exudes confidence throughout his play. While the 2024 season could provide the Irish a blueprint to the national championship game, depth will be another constant in the Irish's quest for a title. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame has grown accustomed to playing in some of the most interesting and challenging home-and-home series games in the country. Whether it be Ohio State over the past couple of seasons or Texas A&M heading to South Bend this upcoming season, there's no denying that the Irish aren't afraid to add some titans to beef up their schedule. Who else would make for a good series against Notre Dame? Notre Dame already has some fascinating home-and-home games planned in the upcoming years. In 2028, they will kick off their series against Texas in South Bend, and will then travel to Austin, TX, in 2029. 2029 will also mark the beginning of a series with Alabama that will conclude the following year in Bryant-Denny Stadium. These are not only unconventional games, but they are also extremely challenging, as both teams are premier SEC programs. This also happens in the midst of Notre Dame's new annual series with Clemson, starting in 2027. If Notre Dame does end up losing their rivalry with USC, it will be important for the Irish to bolster their schedule with more intriguing and challenging games, so who might that be? LSU Tigers It goes without saying that this would be an electrifying game for Notre Dame. The Irish faithful would probably be the most excited for this game, as it would be a chance for Notre Dame to exact revenge on Brian Kelly and his somewhat messy departure from the program. This series would have more than enough storylines, whether that is Brian Kelly's first game against Notre Dame, the programs' history against each other, and the Notre Dame vs the SEC narrative that always seems to get both sides animated. One of the coolest parts of this matchup would be the venues involved. Death Valley, in Baton Rouge, LA, is considered to be one of the most hostile places to play in the country, all due to its rowdy fans. That is contrasted with the historic backdrop that is Notre Dame and its football stadium. This game would also give Marcus Freeman and his staff another opportunity to travel south and show recruits in the area the Notre Dame brand. The South is an area Freeman has recruited well, but he would surely love one more chance to win over recruits from the Louisiana area. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here The two teams have played 12 times already in the past. The first meeting came in 1970, during Ara Parseghian's time as head coach. The game lacked any sort of scoring, with Notre Dame winning by a whopping score of 3-0. The Fighting Irish and Tigers would then periodically continue to play throughout the 80s to 2018, their last matchup against each other. The last two times these teams have faced off were in bowl games. The first took place at the Music City Bowl, where Notre Dame got the better of LSU with a game-winning field goal. Four years later, Notre Dame would win again in the Citrus Bowl, thanks to the late-game heroics of Miles Boykin. Overall, Notre Dame leads in this matchup, 7-5. As two of the most prestigious programs in the sport, Notre Dame vs LSU would make for a marquee matchup under the bright lights. Penn State Nittany Lions After the thrilling Orange Bowl in the semifinals of the CFP, fans of either school would most likely agree that these teams need to meet more often. This game makes sense for many reasons. Before Penn State joined the Big Ten, Notre Dame and Penn State would meet and produce some awesome moments. Last year proved that these historic programs are still very capable of creating those moments today, so why not feature a matchup at each other's home stadiums? That is another reason why this matchup would make for a great series. Notre Dame Stadium and Beaver Stadium are two of the most iconic venues in college football. A whiteout game at Beaver Stadium against Notre Dame would be a ratings monster and create the perfect environment for a classic. Geographically, this game makes plenty of sense, too. With conference realignment, teams aren't as willing to make long trips to play out-of-conference teams, especially in the Big Ten with West Coast teams. Neither Notre Dame nor Penn State would have to worry about long travel, as they are just a short plane ride away. Lastly, these two teams are very similar in a way. Both are programs with a rich history of winning, but have developed a reputation for not being able to compete with football's best. Both are trying to rid themselves of that reputation and seem to be on their way to doing so. The overall series between these two schools is extremely close, with Notre Dame leading 10-9 with one tie. Throughout the 80s and early 90s, Notre Dame and Penn State faced off 12 times. In that span of games, Penn State dominated the Irish, winning eight of them. During this time, Notre Dame was transitioning from Gerry Faust to Lou Holtz, but even then, Penn State was still able to beat out Holtz, going 4-3 against him. They have played three times since then, two of them occurring in 2006-2007, where they exchanged blowouts. Of course, the last time they played was last season in the Orange Bowl. Notre Dame outlasted Penn State in a thriller, ending the game with a Mitch Jeter field goal. That Orange Bowl should be the catalyst for a new home-and-home installment in a matchup between two of college football's most revered programs. Oregon Ducks Marcus Freeman and Dan Lanning are two of the best young coaches in the sport right now. In a way, they signify the new line of great coaches to come to the sport and have elevated their programs to the top of college football. A series between these two coaches and programs can affirm that narrative, while also providing each fan base with a great matchup. Oregon symbolizes the new age of college football. They have a talented young coach, flashy uniforms, and a ton of NIL money to spend. Because of all of this, they have quickly climbed the ranks of college football, even winning the Big Ten in their first year in the conference. Notre Dame, on the other hand, still symbolizes a lot of what makes the older generations of college football so great for the sport. It is the pageantry, tradition, and the feel the campus gives fans that make college sports what it is. Notre Dame, with the help of Freeman, has modernized in a lot of ways, but Notre Dame will always be that sense of tradition. This clash of identities is what would make a series like this so interesting. If Notre Dame loses the USC game, this series could also give Notre Dame another reason to head out West, which is important for their recruiting and Notre Dame fans on the West Coast. Oregon is also one of the best teams in the country, and one Notre Dame never plays. A chance to see the two play would be unique not only for each team's fans but for the entire country as a whole. Notre Dame and Oregon have only played once in their history. In 1976, Oregon traveled to South Bend and suffered a brutal loss, 41-0. A new series between these two programs would be exactly what college football is all about and is what the sport needs more of. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

In our last article, we revealed Frank Leahy as the #2 spot on our list of Notre Dame’s greatest coaches, and that leaves just one spot left. The top of the crop. The best of the best. The greatest Notre Dame head coach of all-time. Photo Via Notre Dame Athletics 1. Knute Rockne The Fighting Irish are known widely for their deep history and the unique place they hold in college football’s landscape, but they cherish their rich tradition above all else. The legacy of all-time great player and head coach Knute Rockne is arguably the foundation of that very tradition, and his impact on the program can be seen to this day.  Rockne’s story is straight out of a Hollywood movie; an undersized immigrant boy from Norway who couldn’t speak English, a high school dropout who played only a single game of varsity football, went on to become the national face of college football, and died prematurely as a sports hero at the height of his potential, immortalizing himself in the process. After dropping out of school, Knute worked at the post office to save enough money to enroll in college, eventually passing a high school equivalency test to earn a place at the University of Notre Dame. He joined the football team during his sophomore year, and despite his 5 '8 frame and lean build, he managed to leverage his standout speed to become an All-American in 1913. Rockne’s first chance to etch his name into both Notre Dame and college football history came during his senior year in South Bend.  While he didn’t technically “invent” the forward pass, Rockne did play a role in revolutionizing its use and popularizing it across the sport. In the summer of 1913, Coach Jesse Harper brought the forward pass scheme to Notre Dame from Wabash College, introducing the idea to his end, Knute Rockne, and his QB, Gus Dorais. The duo spent the whole offseason together learning and perfecting the forward pass, developing passing patterns, and doing it in a way no one had before; both throwing and catching the ball on the run and in stride. At the time, the forward pass was not in common use and was typically only thrown for short gains in a rigid, mechanical way. The receiver would quickly move off the line, turn around, and come to a complete stop before the pass was thrown, typically only catching it after the play had completely formed. Rockne and Dorais’s on-the-move tweak made longer passes for bigger gains easier, and finding an open receiver more common. The tandem stunned the world when they used their new spin on the forward pass to beat the best team in the country, Army. Their first connection saw Rockne pull in a 25-yard toss from Dorais to score, eventually leading to a 35-13 win for the Irish. Prior to this game, no team had ever scored a touchdown via forward pass on Army. It was primarily due to the significance of their opponent and the shock of its effectiveness that cemented the belief that Rockne had “invented” the forward pass amongst the public. While this classic college football tall tale is ultimately untrue, Rockne, Dorais, and Harper truly perfected the forward pass and introduced their new interpretation of it to the entire sport. Employing an offense with both a powerful and traditional running game alongside a dynamic, open-field passing attack quickly became a necessity for any team looking to stay competitive. The event fundamentally changed how college football was played going forward, inextricably tying it to the program’s lore, and helped to put Notre Dame on the map. Rockne graduated from Notre Dame in 1914 with a degree in Pharmacy and formal training as a chemist. After a short stint working as an assistant in a polymer chemistry lab, Knute turned down further scientific pursuits to continue playing football and begin a coaching career. While pursuing coaching, Rockne played end and halfback for the Akron Indians and later the Massillon Tigers, where he eventually reunited with his former teammate Gus Dorais. The duo used the forward pass they popularized in school to secure a professional championship in 1915. While playing pro ball, Rockne also joined Coach Harper’s staff at Notre Dame as an assistant in 1914 and immediately made a name for himself among the players, eventually earning the program's trust. After 4 years of experience and dedication on staff, Rockne was named the next head coach and athletic director at Notre Dame, following coach Harper’s retirement. His very first season as head coach came amidst the strife of World War 1, and the Irish played only 6 games, posting a 3-1-2 record with the loss coming against the Michigan Agricultural College. Rockne brought Gus Dorais onto his coaching staff for the 1919 season, and the Irish responded with Rockne’s first undefeated season, going 9-0 while outscoring their opponents 229-47, with notable wins over Army, Indiana, Nebraska, and Purdue. There was no formal championship system at the time, but the 1919 squad was retroactively named one of the possible National Champions by selector committees, although the University does not formally recognize this title. Formal Title or not, Rockne’s 1919 team found its way into college football’s history books with 3 members inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: halfback George Gipp, end Eddie Anderson, and guard Hunk Anderson. The Irish would post a second consecutive 9-0 record in 1920, notably dispatching Northwestern, Army, Indiana, Nebraska, and Purdue. Yet again, this squad was retroactively named both National Champions and co-National Champions by selectors, but like the 1919 Title, it's not formally recognized by the University. Star halfback George Gipp was the perfect tool for Rockne’s high-flying passing scheme, ultimately leading to consensus All-American honors and national recognition for his skills. Gipp fell ill before the team’s final game against Michigan State and was forced to stay behind in South Bend to recover. Despite the precautions, his condition worsened following the end of the 1920 football season, and he developed both strep throat and pneumonia. Gipp would tragically pass away on December 14th, 1920, breaking the hearts of his teammates, classmates, Rockne himself, and college football fans across the country. Gipp spent the day before his death with Rockne at his bedside and used what little strength he had left to relay one of the most significant quotes in both Notre Dame and college football history. Rockne kept the Gipper’s final request to himself until the 1928 season. The 1921 team posted a 10-1 record behind throw-first QB John Mohardt, only losing to Iowa in a 7-10 heartbreaker on the road. Between 1919 and 1921, Rockne’s teams posted a 28-1 record, and because of this success, the 1922 season was considered a letdown. The Irish went 8-1-1, with their only loss coming in the final week of the season against Nebraska, 6-14, and a scoreless tie against Army in their 7th game. The Irish improved their record in the 1923 season, going 9-1, but again lost to Nebraska, this time 7-14. Everything for Rockne and the Irish changed with the 1924 season. This stacked team was highlighted by the infamous “Four Horsemen” backfield, comprised of halfbacks Don Miller and Jim Crowley, quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, and fullback Elmer Layden. The 1924 Irish rattled off a perfect 10-0 season, outscoring their opponents 285-54, and notched key wins against Army, Princeton, Wabash, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Northwestern, culminating in a historic Rose Bowl matchup against Stanford. The Irish beat the Cardinal 27-10 in front of nearly 60,000 fans, securing the program’s first consensus National Title and forcing college football to accept them as one of the top programs. All four of the “Four Horsemen”, along with center Adam Walsh, tackle Edgar Miller, and halfback Don Miller, would later be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, cementing the 1924 team as one of the greatest in school history. Following their first National Title-winning season, the Irish only managed to muster a 7-2-1 record in 1925, marking the first time one of Rockne’s teams would lose more than a single game in a season. Both Army and Nebraska shut the Irish out to give them their 2 losses, and Penn State held them to a scoreless tie. The 1926 season brought a different kind of heartbreak for Rockne and the Irish. After winning 8 straight games, Notre Dame was poised to claim their second National Title, yet a single decision would alter the course of the season and go down as the greatest blunder of Rockne’s coaching career. The heavily favored and undefeated Irish were set to face off with 6-2 Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon) in Pittsburgh, PA, but both Rockne and his players seemed to overlook this game in favor of their much-anticipated matchup against USC the following week. Rockne sent an assistant coach in his absence to oversee the game and instead travel to Chicago to attend a scheduling meeting for the Western Conference (now the BIG10) and to scout the Army-Navy game, as he’d scheduled both military academies for the 1927 season. Through 8 games, the Irish defense had surrendered only a single touchdown, but Rockne’s absence seemed to fuel Carnegie Tech, which shocked the nation by shutting the Irish out 19-0. Following the loss, the Irish traveled to Los Angeles for the first time in program history to face USC. Rockne is often credited with brokering the first matchup against the Trojans, but much like the “invention” of the forward pass, the specifics behind the origins of the rivalry are murky and unconfirmed. All we know for sure is that Rockne was instrumental in some capacity. The Irish stole the rivalry’s first matchup with a 13-12 win, but the Carnegie Tech loss from the week before was too much to overlook, and Notre Dame failed to secure the National Title. Notably, the 1926 matchup against Penn State was the first verifiable appearance of the iconic green jerseys. Rockne’s 1927 team again started strong, rattling off 5 straight wins, including key matchups against Navy, Indiana, and Georgia Tech, before a week 6 matchup against a stout Minnesota team. Unfortunately, the game ended in a 7-7 stalemate, ending the Irish’s pursuit of a perfect season. The following week, Notre Dame faced Army at Yankee Stadium, one of the two teams Rockne had scouted the previous season, whilst his team lost to Carnegie Tech. Unfortunately, the scouting trip wasn’t enough to give Rockne’s squad the edge, and they lost in a lopsided shutout, 0-18. Despite winning their remaining games, Notre Dame’s 7-1-1 record was not enough to earn them the consensus National Title, with most selectors ultimately awarding it to either Georgia or Illinois. The lack of consensus around that year’s champion deepened when the Houlgate system awarded Notre Dame the Title, despite the Dickinson system ranking them only 4th. It's yet another Title the University does not formally recognize. The 1928 season was undoubtedly Rockne’s worst, with his squad posting a disappointing 5-4 record. They lost to Wisconsin, eventual National Champions Georgia Tech, USC, and Carnegie Tech, outscored by a dismal 99 to 107 margin by season’s end. The Carnegie Tech loss was Notre Dame’s final game at their original stadium, Cartier Field, and marked their first loss in South Bend in 23 years.  The brightest spot of the dismal 1928 season came during the matchup against Army at Yankee Stadium, in front of nearly 80,000 fans. Notre Dame’s downtrodden squad entered the halftime break in a scoreless tie with the Cadets, and Rockne used this time to deliver arguably the most inspiring locker room speech in college football history. He reportedly entered the locker room quietly, breaking the silence with, “You’ve all heard of George Gipp, I presume. . . You may not have heard what he told me that night, which I’m going to tell you now.’ According to Rockne, Gipp said, “I’ve got to go, Rock, it's all right, I’m not afraid. Sometime Rock, when the teams up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys…tell them to go in there with all they’ve got, and win just one for the Gipper. I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rock, but I'll know about it, and I'll be happy.” Rockne allegedly confessed, “I’ve never told any other team of that request before, but I’ve told you now,” and promptly left the locker room without saying another word. His players, inspired by the shocking and heartbreaking story of one of Notre Dame’s all-time greats, went on to beat Army 12-6, etching the matchup into history as the “Win One for the Gipper” game. When news of the speech and Gipp’s final request from 8 years before broke to the public, it touched the hearts of so many that it was ultimately made into a feature film in 1940 called “Knute Rockne - All American,” starring future President of the United States Ronald Reagan as the Gipper.  As the 1929 season began, Rockne found himself at a crossroads of sorts. He was no longer the upstart young coach with no experience and a chip on his shoulder, just as much as he was no longer the untouchable figurehead at the height of his success. It’d now been 4 years since Rockne brought Notre Dame their first title, and with the program now considered a national powerhouse and Rockne a household name, the standard for success had soared. With the previous season’s 5-4 record looming large and doubt beginning to creep in, all of college football waited anxiously to see how Rockne and his boys would respond. Little did anyone know, the 1929 season would begin the most dominant 2-year span of Rockne’s entire career.  Construction on Notre Dame’s new stadium wasn’t complete in time for the start of the 1929 season, leaving the Irish without a place to play in South Bend and no home-field advantage to rely on. As a stand-in, the University secured the use of the Chicago Bears’ “Soldier Field” for home games, but could only get 3 of their 9 matchups moved there. The first game of the season came on the road against Indiana, but the Irish left with a 14-0 shutout win to start Rockne’s rebound season on the right foot. Just as their luck seemed to be changing for the better, misfortune once again found the Irish. Just before the week 2 matchup with Navy, Rockne was sidelined with illness and was forced to appoint an interim coach in his stead. Even with the added hurdle, the Irish bested the Midshipmen 14-7 on the road and pushed their record to 2-0. Although Rockne struggled with illness and availability for the remainder of the season, his players never let it affect their on-field performance. They’d go on to face Wisconsin, Carnegie Tech, Georgia Tech, Drake, USC, Northwestern, and Army, posting 4 defensive shutouts en route to a perfect 9-0 record, the 4th of Rockne’s career. The stunning turnaround from the lows of the year before was enough to earn both Rockne and the program their 2nd consensus National Title and finally return the Irish to their rightful place at the top of college football’s ranks. After playing the entire 1929 season without a home field, football finally returned to South Bend in 1930. With construction complete, Notre Dame Stadium’s inaugural season kicked off with 3 straight home games - SMU, Navy, and Carnegie Tech. Even with the added pressure, Rockne and the Irish christened their new stomping grounds in style, winning all 3 matchups handily with a lopsided 67-22 scoring margin. Their first road game came the following week against Pitt, but the Irish overwhelmed the Panthers and won handily, 35-19. The season’s early momentum never stopped, and Rockne’s boys won 4 more games to bring their record to 8-0. Week 9 saw the undefeated Irish return to Soldier Field for the first time since they called it “home” the season before. The hype around another Notre Dame-Army clash brought more than 100,000 fans to the game, and the 8-0-1 Cadets posed the biggest threat to the Irish thus far. The contest lived up to its billing, with the struggle ultimately ending in a close 7-6 Notre Dame win. The following week, Rockne’s still-perfect team hit the road again, this time traveling to LA to face USC for the season’s final game. The once-beaten Trojans never stood a chance, and the Irish posted their 3rd shutout of the season in a convincing 27-0 win to bring their record to 10-0. The back-to-back perfect seasons extended Notre Dame’s win streak to 19 games and secured them a second straight National Title (Rockne’s 3rd), further separating the program from the rest of the college football landscape. Notre Dame’s dynasty, led by Knute Rockne, had no end in sight. On March 31st, 1931, only 4 months after the end of the 1930 season and at the height of Notre Dame football’s success, tragedy struck a blow unlike any before. The University had recently agreed to participate in a film about the football program’s history and recent success entitled “The Spirit of Notre Dame,” and Rockne was asked to consult on its production in California. Always the family man, Rockne stopped in Kansas City before leaving for the West Coast and visited his two sons at boarding school nearby. Shortly after departing Kansas City, the plane carrying Rockne and seven other passengers encountered severe weather and tragically crashed over a Kansas wheat field, claiming the lives of everyone on board. It was eventually concluded that heavy rain weakened the water-based glue used to bind the plane’s exterior together, allowing the wood to separate and, ultimately, the wings to fail. Once the plane’s design flaws became known, the public’s initial heartbreak quickly turned to outrage, and calls for reform led to foundational changes in aircraft design, maintenance, and safety. The crash site was only about 100 miles from the home of Rockne’s former coach, Jesse Harper, and Harper was asked to identify Rockne’s body at the crash site. Out of respect and deep grief, Harper accompanied Rockne’s body on the journey back to South Bend. The shock of his death and the pain of his loss touched the lives of people across America and the world as a whole, with over 100,000 people lining the streets of his funeral procession, and six of his players carrying his casket to his final resting place. President Herbert Hoover called the tragedy a “national loss,” and Norway’s King Haakon VII posthumously dubbed Rockne a Knight, sending Olaf Bernts as an official envoy to the funeral. Actor and comedian Will Rogers put words to everyone’s collective heartbreak when he lamented, “We thought it would take a president or a great public man’s death to make a whole nation, regardless of age, race, or creed, shake their heads in real sincere sorrow. Well, that’s what this country did today, Knute, for you. You died a national hero.” The 43-year-old was Notre Dame’s greatest win and its greatest loss. Rockne’s legacy lived on even after his death, with Jesse Harper stepping up to take over as Notre Dame’s athletic director, and three of Rockne’s former players following in his steps to lead the Irish as their coach once had (Hunk Anderson, Elmer Layden, and Frank Leahy). While some on this list may have more championships, more wins, and more Heisman Trophy winners, no other coach or even player has had such a wide-reaching and everlasting legacy as Rockne. In 13 seasons, he became the longest-tenured head coach in Notre Dame history, leading the Irish to 5 undefeated and untied seasons (1st at Notre Dame) alongside 6 1-loss seasons, 3 National Titles (2nd most at Notre Dame), a 105-12-5 record (2nd most wins - behind Brian Kelly), and a .881 win percentage (1st all-time in Division 1 college football history). Throughout his 13-year tenure, Rockne never posted a losing season and only lost 2+ games twice. The stellar coaching resume, national celebrity status, tragedy of his death, and the promise of “what could have been” led to Rockne’s posthumous induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. His coaching success transformed a relatively young Notre Dame football program into a legitimate football powerhouse, and his scheduling strategy developed the program’s brand from a small Midwest fan base to a national sensation. Rockne is largely considered the reason Notre Dame became the only team in college football to expand their fan base to major cities outside their immediate general area, like Chicago and New York, truly making them “America’s Team.”  Rockne’s time in South Bend built the very foundation of Notre Dame’s historical identity, and his influence on the program’s rich tradition can be felt to this day. From revolutionizing the game itself to building a national powerhouse from scratch, Knute Rockne is undeniably the greatest coach in Notre Dame history and one of the most consequential figures in college football history. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Earlier this month, Notre Dame staff wrapped up a recruiting hot streak that featured nine commits, seven of which are nationally ranked, in just 39 days. We recap the April and May heater that pushed the Irish 2026 recruiting class to second-ranked in the country. Photo by The Irish Tribune Note: All rankings per 247 Sports Irish Defensive Coordinator Chris Ash and Defensive Line Coach Al Washington got the party started with a duo of edge rushers committing in early April. On April 5, Ebenezer Ewetade committed to Notre Dame while on a visit in South Bend over Florida State, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina State. The North Carolina native ranks as a four-star and top-25 edge rusher in the class.  Less than a week following Ewetade’s commitment, the Irish received a pledge from another North Carolina edge rusher in five-star Rodney Dunham . The 15th-overall recruit in the ‘26 class chose Notre Dame over Duke, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee on April 10. Dunham is currently the clear-cut headliner of the Irish’s young class. Next, Notre Dame received offensive commitments on back-to-back days starting on April 13 with Offensive Tackle Gregory Patrick . The four-star Michigan native chose the Irish over Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State. Patrick became the fourth Offensive Line commit of the class and is currently the highest-rated of the group, ranking as the 17th-overall tackle.  The following day, the Irish got faster when receiver Bubba Frazier announced his pledge to the Irish over Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, Georgia, and North Carolina. The speedy slot-man ranks as a four-star and joins Dylan Faison as the Irish’s current ‘26 receiver commits. After a quiet 12-day window, Safety Ayden Pouncey announced his commitment to Notre Dame over Miami, Syracuse, and LSU on April 26. The four-star ranks as the 12th-overall safety and became the second Defensive Back to join the ‘26 Irish class with Cornerback Chaston Smith.  The Irish kicked off May with another set of days with back-to-back commitments. On May 2, it was Linebacker Jakobe Clapper announcing his pledge to Notre Dame over Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon. The three-star, Cincinnati native joins Thomas Davis Jr. as linebackers in the class. The next day, Running Back Javian Osborne picked the Irish over Michigan. The four-star ranks as a top-ten back. This was the first of two high-end running back commitments in May, largely credited to new RB Coach Ja’Juan Seider.  Coach Washington struck again on May 10, securing the commitment of Defensive Lineman Tiki Hola over SMU and USC. The three-star joins Osborne as Texas natives set to join the Irish.  Coach Seider put the cherry on top of this 39-day heater with the commitment of RB Jonaz Walton over Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and others. The four-star Georgia native is ranked as the 12th-overall RB in the class, marking two top-12 backs set to join the Irish in ‘26. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun