Irish Women’s Hoops notched an 80-70 overtime upset win over the number four ranked Texas Longhorns thanks to a 30-point performance from Hannah Hidalgo. We have your recap of the notable effort here: Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The Irish entered the matchup 5-2 and ranked number ten in the country, coming off a 0-2 appearance in the Cayman Islands Classic. The unsuccessful trip to the Caymans included a 68-76 loss to 17th-ranked TCU. Before the trip, the Irish notched their best win of the season in their victory over number-three USC.  The Longhorns entered as two and a half points favorites, with a perfect 7-0 record. They most recently won the Gulf Coast Showcase, which included a notable win versus 12th-ranked West Virginia in the first-place game. The matchup between the Irish and Longhorns was a part of the SEC/ACC Women’s Challenge. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here A tight first quarter resulted in a 22-19 Texas lead after ten minutes. Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron started strong, combining for 17 of the Irish’s 19 points. On the other side, Texas’ Madison Booker and Shay Holle combined for 16 of the Longhorns’ 22.  Notre Dame had an impressive second quarter, outscoring Texas 20-12 to take a 39-34 lead into the half. Four different scorers for the Irish found the bottom of the net in this quarter including Hidalgo, Citron, Olivia Miles, and Liatu King. Good defense from both teams led to a scoreless final two minutes of the half. This defensive prowess carried over to the third quarter. Both squads only added 14 points in this quarter, including good efforts from Citron, Miles, and King. Kyla Oldacre had six of the Longhorns’ 14 points. Notre Dame closed the quarter maintaining their five-point lead, 53-48. Texas started the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run to even the score at 55 with eight minutes remaining. The game stayed within two points for the rest of the quarter in a back-and-forth affair. With seven seconds remaining, Texas’ Rori Harmon connected on a mid-range jumper to even the game at 66. Following a pair of timeouts, Miles connected on a go-ahead layup with just two seconds to spare to give the Irish back their lead. A costly foul last second foul by the Irish allowed Texas and Harmon to send the game to overtime, which she did not miss. This top-ten battle needed five more extra minutes tied at 68. Oldacre scored the first points of overtime to give Texas their first lead since halfway through the fourth quarter. These ended up being the only points the Longhorns could muster in the five minutes. The Irish caught fire at the perfect moment, outscoring Texas 12-2 in overtime, highlighted by Hidalgo’s six points.  Notre Dame’s 80-70 win improves their record to 6-2 and should expect a nice bump in next week’s AP Poll. The Irish open ACC play this weekend at Syracuse. Key Player Stats: Hannah Hidalgo (ND): 30 points (11-20 from the field, 3-5 from three), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals Liatu King (ND): 10 points (4-7 from the field), 12 rebounds, 4 steals Olivia Miles (ND): 18 points (6-11 from the field, 2-4 from three), 6 assists Sonia Citron (ND): 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 steals Kate Koval (ND): 4 points, 4 rebounds, 5 blocks Madison Booker (TEX): 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, block Kyla Oldacre (TEX): 13 points (5-9 from the field), 8 rebounds, 3 blocks Rori Harmon (TEX): 6 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage: ND (44.4%) - UT (37%) Three Point Percentage: ND (47.1%) - UT (33.3%) Free Throw Percentage: ND (94.1%) - UT (72.7%) Rebounds: UT (46) - ND (37) Steals: ND (16) - UT (8) Turnovers: UT (23) - ND (17) Points Off Turnovers: ND (24) - UT (15) Points In Paint: ND (34) - UT (24) Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With the 2024 college football regular season over, this is a great time to see how the Irish stack up, statistically, against potential playoff opponents. Photo by The Irish Tribune Now that each FBS program has 12 games under its belt (besides Army and Navy), it is officially time to look ahead to the debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Below is a list of programs that have potential, or have already, earned their spots this season (in no order): Notre Dame Oregon Penn State Ohio State  Indiana  Texas Georgia  Tennessee  ACC Champion SMU or Clemson Big 12 Champion Iowa State or Arizona State  Mountain West Champion Boise State or UNLV Alabama Apologies to Miami, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and other fans of programs that may have been left out of this list. Now, we will be seeing how Notre Dame ranks in key stats, and how these potential playoff opponents rank against that same stat.  Total Offense: Notre Dame ranks 42nd (among 133 FBS programs), averaging 421.2 total yards per game. With dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard, the Irish heavily lean on a ground game headed by running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.  Playoff teams with the best total defenses: Ohio St. (1st) - allowing 241.1 yards per game, only 13 touchdowns allowed is tied for fewest in the country. Edge rusher Jack Sawyer, safety Lathan Ransom, and linebacker Cody Simon are elite contributors at each level of this OSU defense. Indiana (2nd) - allowing 244.8 yards per game. Edge rusher Mikail Kamara and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds have been defensive standouts throughout the Hoosiers’ magical season. Texas (3rd) - allowing 247.2 yards per game, tied with OSU with 13 touchdowns allowed, 3.99 yards per play allowed leads the nation. The Longhorns have one of the best secondaries in the country with safety Michael Taafe and corner Jahdae Barron combining for six interceptions and ten passes defended this season. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and lineman Alfred Collins pose as formidable run-stoppers. Penn St. (4th) - allowing 266.8 yards per game. Like OSU, the Nittany Lions feature an elite-level player at each level with Abdul Carter coming off the edge, Kobe King at linebacker, and cornerback A.J. Harris leading the secondary.  Tennessee (5th) - allowing 278.2 yards per game. The combination of Joshua Josephs and James Pearce Jr. is, arguably, the best edge rusher duo in the country. Cornerback Jermod McCoy heads the Vols’ secondary with four interceptions including a pick-six and eight passes defended this season. Oregon (7th) - allowing 283.8 yards per game. The Ducks have been well-rounded defensively, garnering production from numerous players. The biggest game-wrecker on this defense is linebacker Bryce Boettcher, the Ducks leading tackler with 51 on the year. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Total Defense Notre Dame ranks tenth, allowing 296.8 total yards per game. The Irish rely on an elite secondary led by safety Xavier Watts and cornerback Leonard Moore who have combined for seven interceptions. Linebacker Jack Kiser is one of Notre Dame’s better defenders against the run, leading the team with 53 tackles. Playoff teams with the best total offenses: Boise St. (5th) - averaging 478.2 yards per game, leads Mountain West in yards per play and offensive touchdowns. The Broncos are led by sensational, Heisman finalist running back Ashton Jeanty. He runs behind one of the best tackles in the country, Kage Casey. Quarterback Maddux Madsen and receiver Cam Camper lead the less-potent passing attack.  Clemson (8th) - averaging 465.7 yards per game, second in the ACC. Quarterback Cade Klubnik has been the Tigers’ offensive leader all season. Receiver Antonio Williams has been a solid option for the signal-caller this year. The run game also shows flashes featuring running back Phil Mafah rushing behind one of the best all-around tackles in the ACC, Blake Miller.  Tennessee (9th) - averaging 462.9 yards per game, second in the SEC. The Volunteers have one of the best rushing attacks in the country, thanks to the running back duo of Dylan Sampson and DeSean Bishop. Receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. and tight end Miles Kitselman have been effective options in the passing game led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava.  Texas (14th) - averaging 450.1 yards per game. The Longhorns’ line is among the best in the country featuring tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., center Jake Majors, and guard Hayden Conner. Running behind this elite line are three talented running backs, Quintrevion Wisner, Jaydon Blue, and Jerrick Gibson. Highly touted quarterback Quinn Ewers has struggled in moments throughout this season but he still has Texas’ passing game ranked among the top 25 in the country. Oregon (15th) - averaging 448.5 yards per game, leads the Big Ten. Heisman candidate quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been elite all season, leading the Ducks through a perfect regular season. Running back Jordan James has become one of the top rushers in the country. Gabriel’s top target is the very talented receiver, Tez Johnson. Penn St. (19th) - averaging 442.8 yards per game, second in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are a true ‘triple-threat’ with Drew Allar at quarterback, Tyler Warren at tight end, and Nicholas Singleton in the backfield. Allar has been consistently productive all season, as has Singleton. Warren is, arguably, the best receiving tight end in the country. SMU (21st) - averaging 441.8 yards per game, fourth in the ACC. All-purpose running back Brashard Smith is one of the best runners in the country. After an early-season quarterback change, Kevin Jennings has run away with the job, playing very good football through most of the season. Tackle PJ Williams is one of the best at his position in the ACC. Indiana (24th) - averaging 438.8 yards per game, fourth in the Big Ten. Elite quarterback Kurtis Rourke has a plethora of talented receivers to throw to, including Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., Myles Price, and Ke’Shawn Williams. Running back Justice Ellison has also come on as one of the more talented rushers in the country. Passing Offense Notre Dame ranks 101st, averaging 196.4 passing yards per game. Riley Leonard has been solid, especially as the season continued. Jeremiyah Love has provided value as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Receivers Jaden Greathouse and Jayden Harrison have served as reliable options for Leonard for most of the season.  Playoff teams with the best passing defenses: Texas (1st) - allowing 143.7 passing yards per game, tied for fewest passing touchdowns allowed (4), leads the nation in total passing yards allowed, yards per pass attempt, and yards per completion defensively. Edge rusher Colin Simons is one of the best pass rushers in the SEC with seven sacks on the year. The Longhorns secondary features elite playmakers including safeties Michael Taafee and Andrew Mukuba and cornerback Jahdae Barron, who each have five pass breakups and a combined ten interceptions.    Ohio St. (2nd) - allowing 144.2 passing yards per game, tied with Texas for fewest passing touchdowns allowed, one of two defenses (Texas) allowing under 150 passing yards per game. Safeties Lathan Ransom and Caleb Downs lead this unit, quietly shutting down opposing offenses each week.   Iowa St. (3rd) - allowing 156.6 passing yards per game. Cornerback Darien Porter is one of the best at his position in the Big 12. Behind him, fellow corner Jontez Williams and safety Malik Verdon have also been keys to this Cyclones secondary. These three have combined for 12 passes defended and eight interceptions this season. Penn St. (7th) - allowing 169.8 passing yards per game, third in the Big Ten. Abdul Carter off the edge is an elite pass rusher with a team-high ten sacks on the year. The leader of the Nittany Lions secondary is talented cornerback A.J. Harris. Oregon (8th) - allowing 171.5 passing yards per game, tied for fourth in passing touchdowns allowed (9). The Ducks have six highly-skilled pass rushers including linemen Derrick Harmon and A’Mauri Washington, edge rushers Jordan Burch, Matayo Uiagalelei, and Teitum Tuioti, and linebacker Bryce Boettcher. These six game-wreckers have combined for 29 sacks this season. The secondary is not as talented, but corner Jabbar Muhammad, who has eight passes defended this season, is their leader. Indiana (10th) - allowing 174 passing yards per game, fifth in the Big Ten, 9.28 yards per completion allowed is the second-fewest in the country. Linebacker Jailin Walker and edge Mikail Kamara are among the best pass rushers in the Big Ten, with a combined 13 sacks this season. Like Oregon, this secondary is not super talented, but corner D’Angelo Ponds has been valuable for the Hoosiers most of this season, with two interceptions and a team-leading seven passes defended. Tennessee (16th) - allowing 178.7 passing yards per game, second in the SEC. The Vols’ edge duo of James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Josephs is among the best in the country with a combined ten sacks between the two. This defense also features elite cornerback Jermod McCoy in the secondary who leads the team in passes defended (8) and interceptions (4). Passing Defense Notre Dame ranks fourth, allowing 157.9 passing yards per game, 5.56 yards per pass attempt allowed is the third-fewest in the country. The Irish pass rush has struggled at certain points throughout the season, but one consistent has been lineman Rylie Mills, who leads the team with seven sacks. Their secondary is led by elite safety Xavier Watts who has a team-leading five interceptions this season. Playoff teams with the best passing offenses: Georgia (10th) - averaging 297 passing yards per game, third in the SEC. Quarterback Carson Beck has certainly had his ups and downs this season with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while throwing for over 3,400 yards. Despite being ultra-talented, the Bulldogs’ receiving core has struggled throughout the year. All-purpose running back Cash Jones has been an underrated option for Beck out of the backfield. Receivers Dominic Lovett and Dillon Bell and tight end Lawson Luckie will need to step up to give the ‘dawgs a legitimate national title shot. Oregon (14th) - averaging 277.6 passing yards per game, second in the Big Ten. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been impressive this season, throwing for over 3,200 yards with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Very talented receiver Tez Johnson is Gabriel’s favorite target with 685 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in ten games played this season. The tight-end combination of Terrance Ferguson and Kenyon Sadiq has also been reliable in the passing game for most of the season.  Clemson (16th) - averaging 275.1 passing yards per game, fourth in the ACC. Quarterback Cade Klubnik has, like most of the quarterbacks on this list, been very good all season. He has thrown for over 3,000 yards with an impressive 29:5 touchdown to interception ratio. Similar to Georgia, there is no truly ‘elite’ wideout that has emerged on this Tigers squad. Receiver Antonio Williams is, arguably, the most talented option for Klubnik as he has 792 receiving yards and ten touchdowns this season. Texas (17th) - averaging 274.6 passing yards per game, fourth in the SEC, 33 passing touchdowns are the third-most in the country. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, like UGA’s Beck, has had his fair share of ups and downs this season. With over 2,300 passing yards and a 24:7 touchdown to interception ratio, Ewers has not performed like a top NFL Draft prospect, as many claimed in preseason. If he can elevate his game in the playoff, Texas could be nearly unstoppable. The Longhorns’ top weapons are receivers Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden and tight end Gunnar Helm, all of whom have over 500 receiving yards and five or more touchdowns.   Rushing Offense Notre Dame ranks tenth, averaging 224.8 rushing yards per game, tied for third nationally in yards per carry (6.3) and rushing touchdowns (40). The Irish feature three productive runners, including running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price and quarterback Riley Leonard. This trio has combined for 2,362 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. Love is among the most talented rushers in the country with 949 yards and 15 touchdowns with no fumbles. Playoff teams with the best rushing defenses: Indiana (1st) - allowing 70.8 rushing yards per game, the only team in the country to have less than 1,000 rushing yards allowed. The Hoosiers have multiple skilled run-stoppers including linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Jailin Walker, linemen Tyrique Tucker and CJ West, and edge Mikail Kamara. These five have combined for 90 tackles and four forced fumbles against the run this season. SMU (4th) - allowing 95.8 rushing yards per game, 2.8 yards per rush allowed ranks third nationally. The Mustangs' run-stopping efforts are led by linebacker Ahmad Walker and edge Elijah Roberts. This duo has combined for 54 tackles and three forced fumbles against the run this season. Behind these two, the linebacker duo of Kobe Wilson and Alexander Kilgore and lineman Jared Harrison-Hunte have provided value in stopping the run as well. Ohio St. (6th) - allowing 96.8 rushing yards per game, fourth in the Big Ten. Edge rushers JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer and linebacker Cody Simon are three elite run-stoppers featured on the Buckeyes' defense. This trio has combined for 66 tackles against the run this season. All three are capable of wrecking opposing rushing attacks by themselves. Penn St. (tied-7th) - allowing 97 rushing yards per game, second-fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (5). The Nittany Lions' rush defense relies on their versatile safeties coming up to make plays. However, linebacker Kobe King is the most talented run-stopper on this roster, with 32 tackles against the run this season.  Tennessee (9th) - allowing 99.6 rushing yards per game, second in the SEC, 2.83 yards per rush allowed is the fourth-fewest in the country. The Vols’ edge rusher duo of Joshua Josephs and James Pearce Jr. are just as capable of stopping the run as they are attacking the quarterback. This pair has combined for 36 tackles and three forced fumbles against the run this season. Furthermore, Josephs has been one of the more talented run-stoppers in all of the SEC. UNLV (10th) - allowing 101.1 rushing yards per game, leads the Mountain West. The Rebels receive a well-rounded effort from the entire defense against the run. Linebacker Jackson Woodard leads the way with a team-leading 58 tackles against the run this season. Lineman Alex Whitmore and edge Fisher Carmac have also provided value versus the rush, combining for 44 tackles. Texas (12th) - allowing 103.5 rushing yards per game, third in the SEC. The Longhorns’ premier run-stoppers are lineman Alfred Collins and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. Collins has been very impressive this season, but the duo has combined for 60 tackles and three forced fumbles against the run. Behind these two, Texas is loaded with talented run-stoppers including linebacker David Gbenda, linemen Jermayne Lole and Vernon Broughton, and edge rushers Colin Simmons and Barryn Sorrell.   Boise St. (17th) - allowing 106.6 rushing yards per game, second in the Mountain West. The Broncos, like UNLV, have a very team-oriented approach to stopping the run, with almost everyone playing a role. Their best run-stoppers are linebackers Marco Notarainni and Andrew Simpson and lineman Herbert Gums. This trio has combined for 59 tackles against the run. Oregon (22nd) - allowing 112.2 rushing yards per game, seventh in the Big Ten. Linebacker Bryce Boettcher and lineman Jamaree Caldwell are the Ducks leading run-stoppers, with a combined 47 tackles against the run this season. Lineman Derrick Harmon and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa have also provided value in this phase throughout the year. Rushing Defense Notre Dame ranks 52nd, allowing 138.8 rushing yards per game. Similar to the Mountain West foes mentioned above, the Irish rely on a team effort against the run, which heavily involves defensive backs. Specifically, cornerback Leonard Moore has been, arguably, one of the best run-stopping corners in the country. In the middle, the talented linebacker duo of Jack Kiser and Jaiden Ausberry have combined for 68 tackles against the run. Playoff teams with the best rushing offenses: UNLV (4th) - averaging 254.1 rushing yards per game, leads the Mountain West. The Rebels have a three-headed rush attack featuring running backs Jai’Den Thomas and Kylin James and dual-threat quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams. These three each have over 500 yards and four rushing scores a piece. Combined, they have compiled over 2,200 yards and 20 touchdowns. All three of these rushers are talented and are capable of breaking for a big play at any moment. Boise St. (6th) - averaging 253.5 rushing yards per game, third in the Mountain West, 6.36 yards per carry is the second-most in the country, and 40 rushing touchdowns are tied for the third-most in the country. The Broncos have the best running back in the country, and it is not close. Ashton Jeanty has recorded 2,287 yards with 28 touchdowns on the ground this season. If Jeanty’s yards after contact (1,695) were another person, they would be the FBS’s second-leading rusher this season. Opposing defenses can not stop this Heisman finalist, they can only hope to slow him down. Tennessee (9th) - averaging 232 rushing yards per game, leads the SEC. The Volunteers feature an elite running back in Dylan Sampson, who carries most of the rushing workload. He has 1,482 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season with four fumbles on 256 attempts. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava is a talented runner, but his nine fumbles on just 69 carries are a major red flag.  Arizona St. (24th) - averaging 195 rushing yards per game, fourth in the Big 12. The Sun Devils are led by an elite runner in Cam Skattebo. He has recorded 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground in 11 games played this season. Behind Skattebo, fellow running back Kyson Brown and quarterback Sam Leavitt are also capable rushers, combining for over 700 yards and six scores.  Penn St. (25th) - averaging 194.7 rushing yards per game, second in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions have a unique run game, considering running back Nicholas Singleton was expected to be one of the top backs in the nation before this season. Instead, a duo of Singleton and fellow running back Kaytron Allen have, together, led this rush attack. They have combined for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. To add to the uniqueness of this rushing offense, PSU receives production from their tight end Tyler Warren, and backup quarterback Beau Pribula. Both of these players have four rushing scores and are averaging over 6.5 yards per carry. Starting quarterback Drew Allar has also been effective when he needs to tuck and run. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

2026 3-Star IOL Sullivan "Sully" Garvin announces his commitment to Notre Dame in collaboration with The Irish Tribune. Here's everything you need to know: Cover Art by The Irish Tribune C/O 2026 3-Star IOL Sullivan “Sully” Garvin from Allegan, Michigan, announced his commitment to Notre Dame today. He becomes the first offensive lineman to commit to the Irish in the 2026 class. He joins 4-star QB Noah Grubbs, 4-star LB Thomas Davis Jr., 3-star WR Dylan Faison, and recently committed 4-star CB Chaston Smith as early commits for the Irish in the 2026 class. Photos by The Irish Tribune Garvin is a 6’5", 300lb interior lineman from Allegan High School. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 8th overall player in the state of Michigan, and the 39th overall IOL in the country. He holds 12 Division-1 offers from schools such as Indiana, Purdue, Washington, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame among others. But for Sullivan, Notre Dame was always the "Dream Offer" that he was waiting on, and that came right after his visit on September 28th for the Louisville game. Coach Joe Rudolph approached him with the offer, and Garvin described it on social media as: “Dream offer after an amazing game day visit.”  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here On November 16th, he visited Notre Dame for a second time for the UVA game, and based on his social media posts, it appeared that Notre Dame had made quite the impression on him for a second time in just a short period. So what exactly is it about Notre Dame that makes it the place for Sullivan? As he told me, it had a lot to do with the amazing location, his relationship with the coaches, and the "world-class education" he would receive were all major factors in his decision. "Notre Dame is the place for me because it has everything I need to succeed. It has great people surrounding it, an amazing location because it's only an hour and 20 minutes from home, a world-class education, and most importantly, an amazing staff that has recruited me the hardest and has believed in me the most." For every recruit, there's always a moment when they realize that the place they are meant to be is the particular school they are looking at. For Sullivan, this was no different, and he knew early on that Notre Dame was where he was meant to be. As he described to me, he always had Notre Dame high on his list, but there was one particular period in time where it became clear that he wanted to call Notre Dame home. "The moment I knew Notre Dame was the place for me was right after my first gameday visit. I was already very high on Notre Dame before the visit, but after the Louisville game, it only solidified it even more. Getting an official offer from Coach Rudolph after the game was a dream come true for me. There are many reasons why someone would want to go to Notre Dame, but for me, the main reason is it just feels like home." So now that Sullivan Garvin has officially announced his decision to commit to the Fighting Irish, what is he looking forward to most? "The thing I'm most looking forward to is getting the opportunity to be developed at the highest level by one of the best offensive line coaches in the country Coach Rudolph. I know he'll put me in the best position to be developed and grow to become the best offensive lineman and person that I can be. I'm also looking forward to my future at Notre Dame and the opportunities I'll be given to thrive there. Sullivan “Sully” Garvin is a very talented and humble young man who is continuing to grow and get better each and every day. He’s a hard worker who’s willing to put his head down to help his team and do whatever it takes to succeed. We at the Irish Tribune would like to wish Sully good luck on his journey at Notre Dame! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish traveled to Athens for a matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs this past Tuesday, in hopes of ending a four-game losing streak. However, the Irish fell 48-69. Photo by The Irish Tribune Braeden Shrewsberry and Tae Davis led the Irish in scoring with 14 each. Shrewsberry shot 6-16 from the field and 2-7 from three. Davis shot 5-13 from the field and 0-2 from three. The Irish took a quick 6-0 lead at the 15:25 mark in the first half. Shrewsberry made a jumper to start the game followed by a Davis jumper and a Kebba Njie dunk. At the 11:02 mark, The Irish gave up the lead and trailed 9-13 after missing several layups and not being able to grab a rebound. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Heading into the half, Notre Dame was down 22-34. The Irish were getting dominated on the boards, and Georgia was out playing them in almost every stat category. Notre Dame was missing easy layups and the Bulldogs were capitalizing on Notre Dame’s mistakes. The Irish came out of the half slow, trailing 24-41 at the 18:30 mark. The Bulldogs had made a layup, three, and a jumper all in consecutive offensive possessions. Notre Dame went on a 10-0 run to make it a seven point game, 34-41, at the 14:58 mark. The run was led by a Shrewsberry jumper, then back to back threes by Shrewsberry and Matt Allocco, finished by a Nikita Konstantynovskyi layup. The Irish and Bulldogs continued to trade baskets and the Irish trailed 39-46 at the 11:32 mark. The Bulldogs proceeded to go on a 6-0 run, leaving the Irish trailing 41-53 at the 6:58 mark. The Irish and Bulldogs then trade baskets up until the 3:18 mark when the Irish trailed 47-57. Georgia would pull away after going on a 10-0 run to end the game. Notre Dame was out of it for most of the game in a tough loss to Georgia, 48-69. Davis and Shrewsberry both had double figures for the Irish in the loss. Notre Dame got outplayed in almost every facet of the gam. The Irish were dominated in the rebound department and struggled to shoot well, as they finished 36.5% from the field, and 21.1% from three. Notre Dame will look to bounce back as they take on Syracuse on Saturday at 12:00 PM EST in their first ACC game on The CW Network. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With elite LB Madden Faraimo's buzzer-beater commitment, Notre Dame's incoming defensive class went from good to great. We break down every player below. Cover Art by The Irish Tribune Recruiting is a roller coaster ride for both the coaches and the fans that follow it. There is a lot of work that goes into it for the coaching staff. They spend months building relationships with the recruits and their families, visiting them at their high schools, and hosting them for games on campus all while preparing the current team for success on the football field. The payoff for all this hard work comes on signing day when the recruits put pen to paper and officially announce their commitment to play for the Fighting Irish. This year's class comes in as the 12th overall class in the country according to 247Sports and is loaded from top to bottom with impressive talent on both sides of the ball. Get to know the class of 2025 defensive signees. Madden Faraimo - LB 4-star Linebacker Madden Faraimo has always been a top target on Notre Dame’s list for the class of 2025. It was a back-and-forth battle between Notre Dame and USC for the past couple of months with many saying he was destined for USC. Freeman and the coaching staff never gave up on landing the highly touted LB and continued to recruit him until he signed with the Irish.  Madden is ranked by 24/7 Sports Composite as the 4th-best player in the state of California, the 3rd-best LB in the nation, and the 61st-best player nationally. Prior to signing with Notre Dame he held 20 offers from many of the most notable schools in the country such as Alabama, Texas, USC, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, and Notre Dame among many others. JaDon Blair - DB At 6'4" 190lbs, JaDon Blair is a very intriguing prospect and is already one of the best safeties in the country. He's a dual sport athlete at Mount Tabor High School in Winston Salem, NC, where he plays both football and basketball. He is a 4-star Safety ranked by 247Sports as the 5th best player in the state of North Carolina and the 12th-best safety in the country. Before signing with the Irish, he had 22 offers from some of the most notable schools in the country such as Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina, Louisville, Duke, LSU, Miami, and Notre Dame among others. He committed to the Irish on July 5, 2024, and has been very vocal about how much he loves the University. Dallas Golden - DB Golden is a very dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, and a great addition to the backfield at the safety position to complement the 2025 class with JaDon Blair. Golden is 4-star safety at Berkeley Prep High School in Tampa, Florida, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in the state of Florida, 3rd-best ATH in the country, and the 87th-best overall player in the country. Before committing to the Irish, Golden held 42 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country to include Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Texas, and Notre Dame among others. Golden is a very talented prospect that is sure to make a big impact for the Irish at the next level. Christopher Burgess - DL Burgess, at 6'4" 240lbs, is a big-framed defensive lineman who has experience at multiple front-line spots. He is a 4-star defensive end at Simeon High School in Chicago, IL, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 4th best player in the state of Illinois, the 9th best Edge in the country, and the 126th best overall player in the nation. In his senior season, he racked up many honors including 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-City, 1st Team All-State, and All-American. Before signing with the Irish, Burgess held 36 offers from many big name schools across the country such as Alabama, Florida State, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame among others. He committed to the Irish on January 6, 2024 and has been very vocal about his excitement to get to the next level and be a contributor for Notre Dame. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here   Mark Zachary IV - DB Mark Zachary IV is another very intriguing athlete who is a standout basketball player and football player at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, IN. He currently plays on both sides of the ball at the cornerback and wide receiver positions but is being recruited to play cornerback at Notre Dame. Zachary is a 4-star cornerback ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 3rd-best player in the state of Indiana, the 17th-best cornerback in the country, and the 175th-best player in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, Zachary held 32 offers from some of the most notable teams in the country, such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, USC, and Notre Dame among many others. Zachary has been committed to the Irish since May 25, 2024. Anthony Saaca - LB Anthony Saaca, a senior at St. Joesph's Prep School in Philadelphia, PA, made the switch from safety to linebacker for his junior year season. Saaca, at 6'3" 225lbs., is a high-level talent who can play in the box, but because of his previous play at the safety position, he has the ability to drop back in coverage which makes him a big threat at the linebacker position. Saaca is ranked by 247Sports Composite as a 4-star linebacker, the 5th-best player in the state of Pennsylvania, the 23rd-best linebacker in the country, and the 220th-best player in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he held 25 offers from notable schools such as Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and Notre Dame among many others. Dominik Hulak - DL Dominik Hulak has experience on both sides of the ball, but is being recruited as a defensive edge. Hulak, listed at 6'4" 235lbs, is a 3-sport athlete at Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, IL where he plays football, hockey, and lacrosse. He is ranked by 247Sports as a 3-star Edge, the 8th-best player in the state of Illinois, and the 34th-best Edge in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he held 11 offers from such schools as Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, Stanford, Purdue, and Notre Dame among others. He was named Co-Defensive Player of Dupage County with fellow class of 2025 Notre Dame Commit Joseph Reiff. Cree Thomas - DB Cree Thomas is a very talented cornerback at Brophy College Preparatory High School in Phoenix, AZ, who has a knack for the ball and seems to always be in the right spot which often results in interceptions. Thomas is a 3-star cornerback ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 5th-best player in the state of Arizona, the 40th-best cornerback in the country, and the 459th overall best player in the country. Before signing with the Irish, Thomas held 12 offers from such schools as Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame among others. He has been a long-time commit to Notre Dame since he announced his commitment to the Irish on November 20, 2023. He has been very vocal about how excited he is to be a part of Notre Dame's class of 2025. Get 50% off a yearly Tribune+ subscription with code "ESD". Subscribe here Joseph Reiff - DL Joseph Reiff, a 6'6" 250lbs defensive lineman, has been another impressive recruit on the offensive side of the ball for the Irish. He was named the Co-Defensive Player of The Year for Dupage County, an award he shares with class of 2025 Notre Dame commit Dominik Hulak. Reiff is a 4-star defensive lineman and U.S. Army All-American. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 10th-best player in the state of Illinois, and the 45th-best defensive lineman in the country. Before signing with the Irish, Reiff held 6 offers from such schools as Cincinnati, Louisville, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue, and Notre Dame. Reiff has been committed to Notre Dame since September 24, 2023. He was currently named to the 1st team All-State by The News-Gazette, an honor he's held for two consecutive years in a row. Gordy Sulfsted - DL Gordy Sulfsted is the son of former NFL offensive tackle Alex Sulfsted, who was a 6th-round draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Gordy, a 6'5" 240lbs defensive lineman, is a senior at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH. He is ranked by 247Sports as the 20th-best player in the state of Ohio, and the 71st-best defensive lineman in the country. Before signing with the Irish, Gordy held 25 offers from notable schools such as Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa, Miami, Minnesota, Purdue, Washington, and Notre Dame among many others. He has been committed to Notre Dame since May 19, 2024. Ko'o Kia - LB The pipeline from Hawaii to Notre Dame has been going strong for quite some time now ever since they landed Manti Te'o back in 2009. Kia is a talented 3-star linebacker at Punahou High School in Honolulu, HI. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 2nd-best player in the state of Hawaii and the 63rd-best linebacker in the nation. Before signing with the Irish Kia held 15 offers from notable schools like Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Michigan State, Oregon, Texas, USC, Utah, Washington, and Notre Dame among others. He was selected as an All-Star in the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. Kia has been committed to the Irish since January 15, 2024. Ethan Long - DB Ethan Long is a 6'2" 185lbs 3-star safety at Brunswick High School in Greenwich, CT. He is teammates with class of 2025 Notre Dame commits Blake Hebert and Matty Augustine, who will also be signing with the Irish on early signing day. Long is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 5th-best player in the state of Connecticut and the 45th-best safety in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he held 16 offers from such schools as Boston College, Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame among others. Long as been committed to the Irish since January 8, 2024. Brandon Logan - DB Brandon Logan was originally committed to play baseball at Vanderbilt, but that changed when he announced his decision to flip his commitment to Notre Dame on August 10, 2024. Logan is a dual-sport athlete and will play both baseball and football at Notre Dame. Logan is a 6'0" 185lbs 3-star safety at R. Nelson Snider High School in Fort Wayne, IN. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in Indiana and the 67th-best Safety in the nation. Before signing with Notre Dame, Logan held 4 offers from Vanderbilt, Indiana, Iowa, and Notre Dame. He is a rising star athlete that Notre Dame feels will be a big contributor both on the football field and the baseball field. Davion Dixon - DL Davion Dixon is another talented defensive lineman added to the class of 2025 for Notre Dame. He is 6'2" 305lbs 3-star defensive lineman at Miami Palmetto in Miami, FL. Dixon currently holds the honor of being on the All Dade County 1st-team Defense as well as an FBU All-American. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 82nd-best player in the state of Florida and the 73rd-best defensive lineman in the nation. Before signing with the Irish Dixon held 26 offers from such notable schools as Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Penn State, Syracuse, and Notre Dame among many others. Dixon has been committed to Notre Dame since April 21, 2023. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame signed the future of their offense today. We break down every offensive player in the class of 2025 that'll be wearing gold. Photo by The Irish Tribune Recruiting is a roller coaster ride for both the coaches and the fans that follow it. There is a lot of work that goes into it for the coaching staff. They spend months building relationships with the recruits and their families, visiting them at their high schools, and hosting them for games on campus, all while preparing the current team for success on the football field. The payoff for all this hard work comes on signing day when the recruits put pen to paper and officially announce their commitment to play for the Fighting Irish. This year's class comes in as the 12th overall class in the country according to 247Sports, and is loaded from top to bottom with impressive talent on both sides of the ball. Get to know the class of 2025 offensive signees. Will Black - OL Will Black is arguably the biggest prize in the 2025 class for the Irish. The 6'7" 300lbs 4-star Offensive Tackle from Choate Rosemary Hall High School in Wallingford, CT is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 1 overall player in the state of Connecticut, the 10th ranked overall OT in the country, and the 70th overall player in the country. He held 23 offers from notable programs such as Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, and Penn State among others, before officially signing his letter of intent today to play at the University of Notre Dame. He's been committed to the Irish since December 21, 2023. James Flanigan - TE James Flanigan, the son of former Notre Dame Football great Jim Flanigan, is a 4-star TE from Notre Dame De La Bale Academy in Green Bay, WI. He is ranked by 24/7Sports Composite as the No. 1 TE in the state of Wisconsin, the 7th overall TE in the country, and the 117th overall player in the country. He held 9 offers from notable schools, such as Wisconsin, Stanford, Penn State, Michigan, and Missouri among others before committing to Notre Dame on 10/21/2023. Flanigan became the first traditional TE to win the WisSports.net Al Toon Award, which goes to the top wide receiver or tight end in the senior class. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here   Antavious Richardson - WR Antavious Richardson flipped his commitment to Notre Dame on October 1st of this year after being committed to USF since June 24, 2024. The Irish offered Richardson on August 23, 2024, and he made an official visit shortly after on September 20, 2024. Just 11 days later, on October 1, 2024, he announced his decision to flip his commitment to Notre Dame. Richardson is a 4-star Athlete, and ranked by 247Sports Sports as the 11th overall Athlete in the country and the 30th overall player in the state of Georgia. Richardson is listed as an Athlete in recruiting reports because he played multiple positions in high school including QB, RB, and Safety. He's being recruited by Notre Dame to play the wide receiver position. Richardson a senior at Greenville High School in Greenville, GA is listed as 6'0" 175lbs, and is a Georgia A-Division II state champion in both the 100 and 200-meter dash. Richardson holds 12 offers from notable schools like Alabama, Mississippi State, USF, Duke, and Notre Dame among others. Elijah Burress - WR Elijah Burress is the son of former NFL Wide Receiver and Super Bowl Champion Plaxico Burress. Elijah is a 4-star WR at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, NJ. He is ranked by 247Sports as the 4th-best player in the state of New Jersey and the 23rd-best overall player in the country. He holds 11 offers from notable schools such as Cincinnati, Duke, Marshall, and Notre Dame among others. Elijah committed to Notre Dame on February 10, 2024. Elijah has had a standout senior season with 36 receptions for 945 yards for an average of 26.3 yards per reception, and 14 touchdowns on the season. Elijah is listed at 6'1" 190lbs. He has utilized his talents, and became one of the top wide receivers in the state of New Jersey who will be an immediate threat on the field for the Irish. Cameron Herron - OL The Notre Dame fanbase and everyone around the program was ecstatic when C/O 2025 4-star IOL Cameron Herron announced his decision to flip from Iowa to Notre Dame on October 14th, 2024. Herron is a very talented player with the size and skillset to end up playing either guard or center. He is a highly touted player with 24 D1 offers from notable schools like Iowa, Louisville, Indiana, Wisconsin, and of course, Notre Dame. Herron is a 6’4", 280lbs interior offensive lineman from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is currently ranked by 247Sports as the 6th overall best player in Indiana, and the 240th-best player in the country. He’s the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in Indiana, an All-State Junior, First Team All Marion County, and a 2x First Team All Mic. So it's very easy to see why the coaches and the fanbase were ecstatic about landing Herron. Get 50% off a yearly Tribune+ subscription with code "ESD". Subscribe here Owen Strebig - OL Owen Strebig is another big-time offensive lineman in the 2025 class for the Irish. At 6'8", 300lbs, he is a natural to play tackle, and with his big frame, he often overwhelms smaller defenders. Owen is a 4-star OT at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, WI. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 2 overall player in the state of Wisconsin and the 193rd overall player in the country. Owen holds 25 offers from many notable schools such as Texas A&M, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Arkansas, Penn State, and Notre Dame among many others. Notre Dame offered Strebig on March 21, 2023. On February 8, 2024, Owen committed to the Irish, and on June 14, 2024, he made his official visit to South Bend. He has never wavered, as he has stayed strongly committed to the Irish since his commitment. Blake Hebert - QB Blake Hebert announced he was flipping his commitment to Notre Dame on October 14th of this year after being committed to Clemson since June 16, 2023. Many Notre Dame fans were shocked and rushed to find out exactly who the new signal caller the Irish had picked up. Hebert is a 4-star QB from Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 2 overall QB in the state of Connecticut and the 26th overall QB in the country. Matty Augustine - OL Matty Augustine is another big-body offensive tackle with a similar frame to Owen Strebig. At 6'7" 300lbs, Augustine is a natural fit at the tackle position. Matty is a 3-star offensive tackle who is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 3 overall player in the state of Connecticut, the 31st overall offensive tackle in the country, and the 426th overall player nationally. Augustine is the teammate of Notre Dame QB commit Blake Hebert at Brunswick High School in Greenwich, CT. He held 29 offers from many notable schools such as Alabama, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Notre Dame among many others. Jerome Bettis Jr. - WR Jerome Bettis Jr. is the son of former Notre Dame Football legend Jerome Bettis. He is a 3-star wide receiver from Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Bettis may come from elite football bloodlines, but with his 6'2" 190lbs frame, he's utilized his own talents and has found his own success with good size, decent hands, and above-average playing speed. Bettis is sure to be a factor in the future of the wide receiver position at Notre Dame. Bettis is ranked by 247Sports as the 89th best player in the state of Georgia, and the 116th overall best wide receiver in the country. Bettis holds 22 offers from many notable schools across the country such as Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Purdue, Missouri, and Notre Dame among others. Nolan James - RB Nolan James Jr. was a late flip for the Irish, as he was originally committed to Boston College. Nolan seemed to be locked in on Boston College when he committed to them on December 2, 2023, until Notre Dame stepped in on November 10, 2024, and made a late offer for the talented running back. Nolan didn't hesitate, and announced his decision to flip his commitment to Notre Dame just a day later. For Nolan, it was the combination of academics and athletics that ultimately drove him to make a flip to the Irish so fast. Nolan is a 3-star running back ranked by 247Sports the 16th-best player in the state of New Jersey and the 27th overall running back in the country. Before signing with Notre Dame, he held 14 offers from such teams as Boston College, Duke, Minnesota, Syracuse, Virginia, and Notre Dame among others. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Photo via The Irish Tribune Following a disappointing trip to Las Vegas for the inaugural Players Era Festival where Notre Dame went 0-3, the Irish need to have a short-term memory. Things were already looking bleak on the visit out west after a home-loss to Elon back on Nov. 22, but Notre Dame’s star player sophomore Markus Burton went down with an injury early in the first game of the event against Rutgers. Now on a four-game skid, the Irish will travel to Athens, Georgia for a meeting with the Georgia Bulldogs for the ACC/SEC Challenge.   Sitting at 7-1, the Bulldogs own wins over Georgia Tech on the road on Nov. 15 and St. John’s who was ranked 22nd in the country at the time on Nov. 24. Averaging 84 points per game through their first eight games, the Bulldogs will be the toughest offensive test for the Irish thus far into the season. They’re led by five-star freshman forward Asa Newell who was the number 19 player in the 2024 class. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here   Standing at 6’11”, Newell has been an interior problem for nearly every team they’ve encountered this season, averaging 15.4 PPG on 57% shooting and 6.0 RPG. His 220 lbs. frame makes him effective on the offensive glass, allowing him to score easy second chance points. It will be important to keep Newell in front and not slip behind alongside the baseline for easy lobs at the rim. Newell also can get in the passing lanes and works well in transition, collected two steals in each of his last five games.   Defending Newell will start up top with the guards to ensure that they stay east and west and don’t get downhill requiring help from post defenders. Sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr. is the name to look out for in that department, averaging 14 PPG on 45.3% shooting, 4.5 RPG and 3.4 APG. Fellow sophomore Braden Shrewsberry could be tasked with guarding the 6’5” ball handler after his impressive performance on defense against Creighton’s lead guard Pop Isaacs.   Shrewsberry was effective on the defensive side of the ball against the Bluejays, holding Isaacs to a season-low six points. On offense however, Shrewsberry left a lot to be desired going just 2-7 from behind the three-point line and 8-17 overall, finishing with 17 points. He also chipped in with four rebounds which will be important when assigned to Demary Jr. who has grabbed seven rebounds on two separate occasions this season.   While the pick-and-roll game will be in action with Newell and Demary Jr., fifth-year senior guard Dakota Leffew is not afraid to let it fly from distance. In his first year with the Bulldogs after spending the last four at Mount St. Mary’s, Leffew is averaging 6.5 threes per game and shooting 40.4% from deep. In Georgia’s last game against Jacksonville, Leffew finished with 16 points on 4-5 shooting from three, while also racking up eight assists.   Georgia has two other players averaging double figures this season in senior guard Tyrin Lawrence and sophomore guard Blue Cain who are averaging 12 and 10.4 PPG respectively.   Lawrence, who has scored 11 or more points in each of his last four games, is an athletic slasher that excels around the rim and can also stretch the floor, shooting 2-3 from three in his last game. Cain, who’s in his second season in Athens, is averaging 4.8 threes per game while shooting 36.8% from outside.   Head coach Micah Shrewsberry is going to need to focus heavily on the painted area and force the Bulldogs to find success from beyond the ark. Georgia ranks 255th in the country in three-point attempts per game with just 21.4 and still finds a way to put up 84 points per game. This comes from their 12.9 offensive rebounds per game and having the fourth highest rebound margin in the nation. The defensive assignment will be to keep them off the boards and keep them extended beyond the three-point line.   On offense, the Irish have turned to junior Tae Davis who has performed well early in his second season in South Bend. He’s put up double figures in the last three games, averaging 18 points per game on 47.5% shooting during the Players Era Festival. His ability to get to the free-throw line has given the Irish another valuable option on the offensive side of the ball. Creighton did a good job keeping Davis off the boards, but if he can outrebound Newell, Notre Dame will find themselves in a much better spot. If anyone in the country is lengthy enough to guard Newell, it’s Davis.   After an impressive performance against Rutgers, senior point guard Matt Allocco has not found as much success. In his last two games, Allocco has put up 20 points on 6-15 shooting, going 2-7 from the three-point line. For the Irish to get off their current losing streak, Allocco is going to have to step up in the scoring department and be a more consistent shooter.   It will be the first road test of the season for Notre Dame, and it will be an important look at how the Irish will respond to adversity. With an already tough matchup, the Irish are grasping for any momentum before playing their first ACC game of the season on Saturday against Syracuse. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As Notre Dame entered the first ever ‘Players Era Festival’ in Las Vegas, the excitement was high. Despite the loss to Elon on November 22, the opportunity to play in an invitational during ‘Feast Week’ made Thanksgiving even more electric. Photo via The Irish Tribune However, for the Irish, the mood changed from excitement to pure fear as reigning ACC Freshman of the Year Markus Burton sustained a knee injury early in the first half. While it has been announced as a “non-season-ending knee injury,” the Irish are now faced with an early challenge just eight games into the season; How will the Irish weather the storm without their star player?   “We are thankful that Markus will be back this season at full strength,” Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry said following the game against Rutgers. While that is a great sign for the Irish faithful, Burton could very well be missing a few key games. Some of these include Georgia on the road and in-conference foe Syracuse for their first ACC matchup of the season on Dec. 7.   Senior guard Matt Allocco proved against Rutgers on Nov. 26 that he is more than capable of being the starting point guard in Burton’s absence. The 6’4” Hilliard, Ohio native finished with 24 points against the Scarlet Knights while going 6-9 from beyond the arc, with 10 rebounds and not stepping off the floor for the entire 45 minutes of play. Despite slower performances against the number six ranked Houston Cougars and the Creighton Blue Jays, Allocco showed that he can be the leader on the floor, with or without Burton.   Beyond his play on the floor, Allocco demonstrated his leadership by taking responsibility for the foul committed by freshman Cole Certa while tied with Rutgers, which ultimately gave the Scarlet Knights the win.   “I’m going to take it on me,” Allocco said, “If I’m going to fancy myself a leader, I’ve got to communicate right there that the game is tied.”   Allocco is now averaging 10.5 points per game, as well as 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 46.6% from the field.   Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Sophomore Braeden Shrewsberry has shown significant signs of improvement to start the 2024 season. For the Irish to see success during Burton’s absence, Shrewsberry being a consistent shooter is key. While Shrewsberry has been able to put together multiple good performances through the first eight games, he still lacks the consistency that Notre Dame will need.   Shrewsberry has been in double figures in six of the first eight, shooting 32.3% from three and averaging 15.4 points per game. His confidence from inside the three-point line has been promising as well, with Shrewsberry averaging five more shots per game from a season ago, shooting 41.8% from the field overall. While it’s still early, his improvements in his second season in South Bend have been noticeable.   Through the first seven games of the season, junior forward Tae Davis’ growth has been a pleasant surprise averaging 14.5 points per game on an impressive 50% shooting, along with 5.4 rebounds per game. His athleticism is second to none, which was a key factor in his 27-point performance against Buffalo back on Nov. 11, as well as averaging 18 points per game on 47.5% shooting in the Players Era Festival. Davis is a scrappy defender who does not shy away from contact in the post and always chases after the loose ball. This scrappiness is something that Notre Dame needs, however, the Irish can’t afford any more losses on the floor, making it that much more important for Davis to stay out of foul trouble. Davis has picked up 15 fouls in his last four games, fouling out against Elon on Nov. 22, and collecting four fouls against Rutgers and Creighton.   The guard play from junior South Bend native J.R. Konieczny and sophomore Logan Imes must take a step forward. While both players are in their second seasons of seeing real minutes on the floor, they must begin contributing at a higher level. Early on, the two have combined for 29.7 minutes per game where they are averaging just 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and just 1.5 assists per game, which is not going to be enough with Burton out. While Imes showed great promise against Rutgers, he has taken a step back in his last two games combining for just five points in 41 minutes. Konieczny on the other hand put together a solid game against Creighton, scoring eight points on 50% off of the bench.   Above all else, Micah Shrewsberry’s leadership is going to be put to the test in just his second season with Notre Dame. Without his best player, it is important, now more than ever, that he adjusts his offensive sets and lineups to cater to the new approach the Irish must have. Shrewsberry will certainly take this time to experiment with new lineups while Burton is healing. But don’t expect the Irish to lay down during this period, as Shrewsberry has already made it clear the standard isn’t changing.   “We might not be as talented as some of these teams out here, but we’re damn sure just as tough,” Shrewsberry said following the loss to Rutgers, “We compete, and we execute and we’re going to fight no matter who is putting this uniform on.”   After the loss to Creighton, the Irish will go on the road to take on the Georgia Bulldogs who have won seven of their first eight games. Notre Dame has a great chance to pick up a potential Quad-1 win just as December is getting underway, which would be huge for momentum with the Irish's first ACC matchup coming this Saturday against Syracuse. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The apple does not fall far from the tree when it comes to 2026 Notre Dame commit Thomas Davis Jr. His father, Thomas Davis Sr., is a former All-Pro linebacker who played 16 years in the NFL. Davis Jr. has a long way to go before reaching those heights, but he certainly displays a skillset that positions him to have a similar future. Davis Jr. committed to Notre Dame in November after fielding offers from many of the top schools in the country. The Irish just keep building on a successful recruiting run, and this latest addition has a lot of things to like about his game. Here is what I saw when I watched the film. Photo via Thomas Davis Jr., Instagram (@ As always, the criteria for evaluation will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it! Athletic Ability: Very Good (6) Davis Jr. can close on the ball in a hurry. When he is trusting his eyes, he plays extremely fast and explosive. He displays the lateral quickness to be able to chase down outside runs when playing from an off the ball linebacker position. He has also been used as a safety, which speaks to how well he moves as 200+ pound player. Although he may not have as much straight line speed as someone like Notre Dame great Jaylon Smith, he has plenty of quickness to stay in on all three downs and be effective in passing situations. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Run Stopping: Good (5) BIG HITTER! Davis Jr. plays with controlled aggression, which is what you want from the linebacker position. He is a sure tackler who knows how to work through traffic on inside runs, and is also strong enough to set the edge. He handles chips from tight ends without losing leverage when playing from a 2-point stance, and disengages at the proper time. Will be a TFL machine at the next level. Coverage Skills: Good (5) As mentioned above, Davis Jr. has also taken snaps from the safety spots in critical situations, which speaks to his ability to process things quickly. He is very capable as a zone defender, keying on the QB's eyes without overplaying certain routes which allows him to put his foot in the dirt and drive on anything in his area. His big hit ability allows him to separate the receiver from the ball. He also has the skills to cover tight ends and running backs in man coverage, but will need to learn play with different eye discipline than he does in zone. Because he is so aggressive in attacking ball carriers, He will need to make sure he does not get drawn in on play-action passes. He has good enough ball skills to turn errant passes into interceptions, and If he can become a little more polished all around in coverage, he will not be leaving the field very much. Blitz Ability: Good (5) I did not see a whole lot of blitz reps from Davis Jr. on film, but the ones that I did, he showed a natural ability to get to the quarterback off pure athleticism. He has good timing off the snap of the ball, and is also a smart enough player to realize when he will not make it all the way home to the QB, and gets his hands up in passing lanes which led to multiple pass knock downs on film. His combination of length, strength, and explosiveness will result in a tough match up for any inline tight ends or pass blocking running backs looking to stop him. He will need to develop some actual pass rush moves to consistently win vs tackles when lined up on the edge, but that will come with more coaching and development. In my opinion, Notre Dame looks like they have hit another defensive homerun with the recruitment of Thomas Davis Jr. Knowing Marcus Freeman's willingness to play Freshman when they display the necessary attributes, it would not be surprising to me if Davis Jr. saw the field early in his career. He is big, fast, and will bring a physical presence every time his number is called. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

No. 5 Notre Dame punched their ticket to hosting a College Football Playoff game with an emphatic 49-35 win over arch rival USC. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics LOS ANGELES -- Notre Dame did it. After an inexcusable loss to Northern Illinois in Week Two, Marcus Freeman showcased his growth as a third-year head coach. He redirected the trajectory of the 2024 Notre Dame football team. While the Irish are still far from a finished product, ending the regular season at 11-1, while presumably being ranked within the top 4 teams this upcoming Tuesday night is an outcome all Irish fans would've been delighted to hear at the beginning of the season. Even though the Irish took quite an unconventional route, Notre Dame is all but secured a home playoff game in this expanded 12-team playoff. Yet, none of this would've happened if the Irish fell to the Trojans in the Coliseum. With that being said, here are the key takeaways from Notre Dame's playoff-sealing victory. "Win the Interval" A sentiment that Marcus Freeman has preached to his players since he stepped foot on campus as the defensive coordinator. This sentiment echoes the 'goldfish mindset' cliché. Freeman emphasizes focusing on each play with undivided attention rather than getting distracted by the bigger picture. This also goes hand-in-hand when you get beat on a play. Sometimes you get beat. Flush it, reload, and focus on winning the next rep. This was embodied by Christian Gray. Gray was being targeted heavily after Lincoln Riley was forced to throw the ball 49 times after his star running back, Woody Marks, left the game due to injury. The talented Trojan wide receivers were having their way on the outside, and Riley was specifically looking to target whoever Gray was covering. While Gray was continuously being beat, he reset his mind, and was thinking of Freeman's season-long mantra: "Win the interval." With Notre Dame's back to the wall, only up seven with the Trojans' driving, Gray's 99-yard interception wiped away the Trojans' upset bid. With an already depleted cornerback room due to injury, there was no other option than to ride with Gray for the rest of the game, but Freeman's confidence never wavered. "Christian Gray's a great player, but he had to get back into that moment, [where] nothing else matters but doing your job." said Freeman postgame. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle   Here Offense's Ebbs and Flows For most of the game, Notre Dame's offense was rolling. The Fighting Irish didn't have to punt until the fourth quarter, albeit a fake punt on one of Notre Dame's drives along with two turnovers ended others. Riley Leonard played a sound game for the most part as he threw for 155 yards with two throwing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. The main cause for concern was Leonard's interception to which he and Kris Mitchell were on opposite pages. It seemed as though Leonard thought Mitchell was going to run a 25-yard stop route, and Mitchell thought he was on a go-route. It was a terrible miscommunication that could've cost the Irish if not for a four-and-out by the defense. Aside from Leonard's interception, he commanded the game well. While the defense struggled, the offense consistently scored—until the fourth quarter. If I were to assign blame for the fourth-quarter inefficiency, it would go to Mike Denbrock for playing too conservatively instead of sticking with the successful offensive strategy of the first three quarters. On the other hand, if I too were calling the plays after Leonard's horrendous interception, I wouldn't leave much to fate either. When the offense was rolling, Leonard was feeding the ball to either Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price. Love's gravity-defying feats grow grander each week, and Price continues to deliver with lengthy touchdown runs. Price got the majority of the touches in the second half due to lower right leg injury to Love. Sources close to The Irish Tribune have spoken about Love returning for the playoff game, but nothing will be confirmed until Marcus Freeman's weekly presser. For what it's worth, Love was on the exercise bike after the injury and was running up-and-down the sidelines during the fourth quarter trying to warm up his leg. Thankfully, the Irish didn't need him, and he will be able to rest for two weeks before the start of the CFP. The offensive line also played a complete game and allowed for the Irish to have 260 rushing yards in this one. The unity of the offensive line play anchored the Irish's performance, and will be imperative as Notre Dame faces better athletes along the defensive line in the playoffs. Polarization Within Special Teams I find it a bit difficult in rating Marty Biagi's work as the Special Teams coordinator because the level of play within his different units is so drastic. Notre Dame was able to steal yet another possession in this week's game with former starting quarterback turned national champion lacrosse player turned walk-on wide receiver, Tyler Buchner, connecting with Mitchell Evans for a first down on a fake punt pass. Then, there's James Rendell who had woes punting the ball earlier in the season but has come into his own later in the year and executed a 60-yard bomb that flipped the field late in the fourth quarter. With his creativeness in the fake punt game and the ability to raise Rendell's confidence throughout the year, it is so baffling to understand the complications within the place kicking for Notre Dame. Mitch Jeter missed another chip shot, a 27-yard field goal, early in the second quarter. When USC was driving only down by one score before Christian Gray's incredible pick six, how much more comfortable would you feel if Notre Dame was up by 10 points instead of 7? That could be the difference in these upcoming college football playoff games. I'm just unsure of the answer to the question. Should Notre Dame consider moving on from Jeter, who is now 6-for-12 in field goals this year after an impressive 23-for-25 at South Carolina? Do you simply never kick a field goal again? I'm not sure how much Jeter's physical injury is still limiting him, or if he is within his own head at this point. Until 12/6/24, get 50% off and/or 30 days free off select plans. Subscribe here Xavier Watts: The USC Killer Last year in South Bend, Watts' break out game was against former Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams, in which Watts totaled 2 interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. In this year's installment against the arch-rival Trojans, Watts proved to be the steady presence in a secondary that was getting shredded for most of the game. Watts led the team in total tackles (9), had one pass breakup, and returned an interception for a 102-yard touchdown, all the while staring down the USC bench. On a rivalry week where chaos ensued all around the country, the motto of "letting your play do the talking" was seen through Notre Dame's All-American safety. After winning the Bronco Nagurski award last year, then returning to college and having a better statistical year, and then getting snubbed from all major awards is simply mind-boggling. The Irish are lucky to have the best safety in the country. Hosting a Home Playoff Game With Ohio State's loss to Michigan, Notre Dame is all-but confirmed to be hosting a home playoff game this December in South Bend. There is still too much in the air to predict who the Irish will play. If Penn State gets blown out by Oregon in the Big 10 championship, could the Irish slip into the coveted No. 5 seed in which they would play the lowest conference champion and then the second lowest conference champion in back-to-back weeks? Who knows. But what is known is that Notre Dame has two weeks to recover, start to gameplan, and then host a team in their house during the heart of Winter in South Bend. If that doesn't get you pumped up, I don't know what will. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame hockey took their season global this weekend when they traveled to Northern Ireland to compete in the 2024 Friendship Four. We have your recap of the event here: Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The 5-9-0 Irish were joined by Boston University, Harvard University, and Merrimack College in the tournament hosted in Belfast. The Irish matched up with Harvard while Boston squared off with Merrimack in the opening set of games. Friday Result: vs Harvard (5-2, Win) The Irish came out firing in their opener versus the Harvard Crimson. Led by two goals from forward Blake Biondi, the Irish were up 3-0 by the end of the first period.  While on the power play, Biondi found the back of the net off a great pass from forward Cole Knuble  that gave the Irish an early 1-0 lead. Biondi’s fifth goal of the year was assisted by Knuble and forward Justin Janicke, both reaching nine assists this season.  Notre Dame added a pair of goals in 40 seconds with about three minutes remaining in the period. The Irish fourth line made their impact felt when defenseman Jaedon Kerr netted his first collegiate goal . Forwards Tyler Carpenter and Jayden Davis were credited with assists on the goal that extended the lead to 2-0, both notching their first assists of the year. Biondi capped a dominant first period with another goal 38 seconds following Kerr’s score. The forward added his second of the night when he rebounded in defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico’s blue-line shot . Defenseman Paul Fischer was also awarded an assist, marking his ninth of the season.  After outshooting the Crimson 10-4 and holding a 3-0 lead heading into the second period, Harvard decided to change their goalie. This provided some much-needed momentum for the opposition. Under two minutes into the second, Harvard finally answered back to cut their deficit to 3-1. The Crimson’s Joe Miller poked in a rebound past Irish goalie Owen Say to get on the board. Harvard was not done as the Crimson’s Cam Johnson capitalized on an Irish turnover to make it a 3-2 contest under seven minutes into the second. Johnson beat Say on a one-on-one breakaway for his first goal of the season.   The Irish were able to bring this one-goal lead into the final period after being outshot 16-6 in the second frame.  A defensive third period from both sides was broken up when Notre Dame capitalized on another power play opportunity with under six minutes remaining. Janicke added his fourth goal of the season off a rebound  to extend the Irish lead to 4-2. Biondi and forward Danny Nelson were credited with assists on the clutch goal, marking Biondi’s third point of the night.  Knuble netted his seventh goal of the year on an empty net to officially put the game away, giving the Irish a 5-2 victory. Notre Dame advanced to the first-place game on Saturday with this win. Key Players: Blake Biondi (ND): 2 goals on 3 shots, 1 assist Justin Janicke (ND): 1 goal on 2 shots, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, +1 Cole Knuble (ND): 1 goal, 1 assist, +1 Key Stats: Shots: Harvard (31) - ND (27) Power Play Success: ND (2-3) - Harvard (0-1) Blocked Shots: Harvard (19) - ND (11) Faceoffs Won: ND (31) - Harvard (31) Saturday Result: vs Boston University (3-4, Loss) The Irish came up short against the Boston University Terriers in Saturday’s Friendship Four First-Place Game. Boston advanced to the final after defeating Merrimack 6-3 on Friday. Boston got the scoring started when Kamil Bednarik converted a shorthanded opportunity as he danced through the Irish defense and beat goalie Owen Say . Bednarik’s first goal of the season occurred about eight minutes into the first period to give the Terriers an early 1-0 lead. Notre Dame would respond with two goals of their own in a 15-second span with under eight minutes remaining in the period.  First, forward Hunter Strand finished off a great pass from Mastrodomenico to tie the game  at one apiece. Forward Carter Slaggert was also credited with an assist on Strand’s fourth goal of the season.  It was Janicke just 15 seconds later who gave the Irish a 2-1 lead 13 minutes into the contest. Janicke swatted the puck into the back of the net  thanks to assists from forwards Danny Nelson and Brennan Ali.  The Irish added another goal four minutes into the second period when Biondi deked past the Terriers' defense before converting his shot  to extend the lead to 3-1. Biondi’s seventh goal of the season was assisted by defensemen Ryan Helliwell and Kerr. Notre Dame maintained the two-goal advantage heading into the final period. Boston found a response seven minutes into the final frame when the Terriers got one past Owen Say from the blue line to cut their deficit to 3-2.  The wheels completely fell off for the Irish with five minutes remaining when Boston scored two goals, including the game-winner, in 20 seconds.  First, the Terriers’ Ryan Greene snuck one past Say right in front of the net to tie the game at three apiece. Just 20 seconds later, the same Boston line converted the eventual game-winner with under five minutes to go in the contest. Shane Lachance beat Say after wrapping around the back of the net to give Boston a 4-3 lead.  Ultimately, that was all it took for Boston to win the 2024 Friendship Four. The Irish head back to the States with a commendable second-place finish. At 6-10-0, Notre Dame’s next series is slated for December 13 and 14 at Ohio State University. Key Players: Shane Lachance (BU): 1 goal on 6 shots, 2 assists, +3 Quinn Hutson (BU): 2 assists, 3 shots, +2 Key Stats: Shots: ND (31) - BU (30) Penalty Minutes: BU (10) - ND (8) Faceoffs Won: ND (37) - BU (25)

Notre Dame turns on the jets late in the fourth quarter against rival Southern Cal to win 49-35 off the backs of Xavier Watts and Christian Gray's 100 and 99 yard pick-sixes. Photo by The Irish Tribune Quick Summary Off the backs of RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, Notre Dame struggled at times throughout the first half. For the better part of the second half, Notre Dame had their lead questioned by USC. Christian Gray struggled throughout the game, drawing two pass interference penalties and giving up several big plays through the air, but ultimately came to the call when he was needed most, and took an interception to the house for a 99-yard touchdown. Shortly after, Xavier Watts challenged Gray's record-tying interception and got one of his own, returning it 100 yards for a touchdown to put the nail in the coffin for the game. Despite 100 yards less of total offense compared to USC, Notre Dame's late defensive performance led to Notre Dame beating rival USC by two scores. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Below are all the stats you need to know for an all-time classic in Notre Dame and USC's historic rivalry. The Irish are feeling good about keeping the Jeweled Shillelagh, but also feel good about getting their first win on USC's home turf since 2018, when they beat USC 24-17 and ultimately punched their ticket to the 2018 College Football Playoff, their first ever. The Irish are all but certain to be particpants in the upcoming College Football Playoffs. Overall stats for Notre Dame vs USC. Team vs team comparison for Notre Dame vs USC. Defensive stats for Notre Dame vs USC Until 12/6/24, get 50% off and/or 30 days free off select plans. Subscribe here Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun