Notre Dame lost out on prized wideout Derek Meadows, who chose Baton Rouge over South Bend. How will the Irish recover in WR recruiting moving forward? Plus, with Aug. 31 right around the corner, how does this Irish squad line up against the Aggies? On the latest edition of "First and Gold," Pete Mulroy discusses the Irish losing out on highly-touted recruits in Dylan Robinson, Tanook Hines, and Derek Meadows. Plus, IT's Clayton Stohler rings in to break down ND's first two games of the season: Week 1 at what will be a raucous College Station for a meeting with Texas A&M, and the Sept. 7 home opener against Northern Illinois. There's plenty of insight and opinions to go around. You DON'T want to miss this one! Go Irish! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

With the worldwide launch of EA Sports College Football 25, we decided to showcase our favorite players to use in-game, both on offense and defense! Let's get in the game. Photo by The Irish Tribune The wait is finally over. After a decade-long hiatus, the highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 25 is making its triumphant return. With the game's official release, there has been much excitement around the player ratings and gameplay. Some athletes are sure to stand out and offer an electrifying experience for Fighting Irish fans. Let's dive into five of the most exciting Notre Dame players to control in EA Sports College Football 25. Offense Jeremiyah Love - RB The first player I'll highlight is one of the fastest player on Notre Dame's roster, Jeremiyah Love. Love, the 6'0" 206 lbs sophomore running back got sizable touches last year during his true freshman campaign. Love rushed for 385 yards on 71 carries and had a 36-yard touchdown run. In game, Love boasts impressive statistics that translate extremely well into gameplay. Stats like 94 speed, 95 agility, and 95 acceleration make him one of the biggest home run threats on the entire roster. On top of this, Love boasts the physical abilities "360", "Takeoff" and "Shifty", which compliment his style of play extremely well within the context of the game. Utilize this workhorse on any down to get the absolute most out of his abilities. Kris Mitchell - WR The next player on the list is the prized transfer portal recruit, Kris Mitchell. Last year at FIU, Mitchell logged his first thousand-yard season, catching 64 passes for 1,118 yards and adding 7 touchdowns. This year for the Irish, Mitchell is expected to take the tops of defenses with his blazing speed. The 6'0" senior from Jacksonville, Fla., is the Fighting Irish's top big-play threat candidate. For EA Sports College Football 25, Mitchell's deep threat ability is well represented with 92 speed and acceleration, alongside 90 deep route running. Mitchell's physical ability "Double Dip" improves the effectiveness of double move routes, which should serve extremely effective against man coverage. Jayden Harrison - WR/KR Harrison, the transfer from Marshall, came to Notre Dame because of his prestige in the kick return game. Last season, Harrison was awarded All-American status by some media publications. After a very successful spring camp working in the wide receiver room, Harrison emerged yet another option offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock can take advantage of. Harrison will be a rotational piece in the slot with the sophomore tandem of Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse, yet his speed still remains his greatest asset, both in the game and in real life. Matching Mitchell at 92 speed, there might be few better options for you to sub in for kickoff returns when a big play is needed. Defense As it pertains to the defense, most gamers like to manually user one specific player on defense. The more novice players user a defensive lineman because it is easier to control and has less of an impact on the play. The more experienced gamers love to user either a linebacker or a safety. With 92 overall Xavier Watts as the option for safety, I gave both the novice and experienced gamers two options to user on defense. Boubacar Traore - Edge Arguably the most athletic member of the Notre Dame defensive line, Traore is yet another true freshman that saw integral game minutes last year. Traore's biggest impact last season was sacking former Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams. The 6'4" 240 lbs edge rusher will now be getting a lot more snaps during his sophomore year after Javontae-Jean Baptiste got selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. In the game, his athletic prowess is well represented, with an 87 rating in finesse moves, the best at his position. When controlling Traore, you'll find it easy to maneuver around the edge with 88 acceleration, And if you're looking to start a dynasty with the Irish, expect him to be a big piece of the defense a few years in, as he is tied for the second highest rated player at his position in his sophomore season. Jaylen Sneed - OLB The last player mentioned here is also the player with the highest ceiling on Notre Dame's roster, Jaylen Sneed. Sneed, the former five-star talent from Hilton Head, S.C. is finally stepping into a role of his own. With both JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau going to the NFL, Sneed is finally getting his opportunity to be the rock at the center of this Notre Dame defense. In year's past, Sneed's athleticism has been too much to keep him off the field, as Al Golden has utilized Sneed as a blitzer. His combination of speed, size, and strength make him one of the best linebackers to use in the game. With 84 speed and 92 acceleration, Sneed is the second fastest Irish linebacker in the game, making controlling him on the field much less of a chore. Sneed also boasts an 87 rating in power moves, making him more than capable of blowing by offensive linemen on blitzes. However you plan to utilize Sneed in the game, you really can't go wrong. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

It's no secret that Notre Dame has an impressive track record in the recruitment and development of elite running back talent. From Josh Adams to Audric Estime, the Irish have continued to churn out some of the best tailbacks in college football in the past decade - and 2025 Irish commit Justin Thurman is no exception. We were fortunate enough to connect with Thurman recently, who shared tons of insight into both his recruitment, his mindset and his goals, as fans patiently await his arrival on campus. Photo Via Justin Thurman, X "It’s one big family and the vibes are always cool and positive." As a way for Notre Dame fans to learn more and get excited about Justin Thurman; he was generous enough to answer a few questions about himself and his commitment to the University of Notre Dame. Thurman is a 4-star running back out of Tampa, Fl where he attends Jesuit High School. There, he has made quite a name for himself as a speedy, do it all back with an impressive track background. Due to his reputation and talent, he has been ranked the 27th best running back in the entire country according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings. As a recruit, he drew a lot of attention from Tennessee, Iowa, Kansas, and Florida. He eventually landed at Notre Dame and committed to Marcus Freeman just less than a year ago. At Notre Dame, he will be apart of a historic tradition of productive running backs, and after conducting this interview, he seems more than up to the task. "They have a top tier football program and coaching staff, a great and well rounded environment, and the endless possibilities, paths, and networks that I can create for when football comes to an end for me." Notre Dame's history, infrastructure, and coaching played a huge part in swaying Thurman to South Bend, as it has some of the best resources college football can offer. He also expressed how important it was for him to receive a top tier education, something that has always set Notre Dame apart from other schools. "The historic and holistic picture in terms of a great education. They offer a unique program in real estate in the business school." On the football field, Thurman can utilize a vast skill set to impact a game, and Coach Deland McCullough has already began to scheme ways to put him in positions to succeed. Coach McCullough has always been able to use different running backs in ways that suit them best, and Thurman will be no different. "He likes my versatility and how it can be applied in ways such as being a 3 down back, moving out to the slot and receiver position, pass pro, and utilizing my speed to the fullest." Along with Coach McCullough, OC Mike Denbrock has also began to cultivate a relationship with Thurman, however, it came under more unique circumstances compared to the rest of the coaching staff. Former OC Gerad Parker was the offensive coordinator when Thurman committed, but left to pursue a head coaching opportunity at Troy. This sort of change could bring complications to a player's recruitment, but luckily, Denbrock, along with the rest of the staff made this transition seamless. "The transition has been great. I’ve been able to build a relationship with Coach Denbrock and talk about how my play style can be implemented into the 11 personnel offense that he uses and how well I fit into that type of offense." The team dynamic can make or break a season. This makes it important to know what kind of teammates players will be when they arrive on campus. Thurman has high expectations for himself when it comes to this, and expresses what he brings to Notre Dame's locker room. "I’m going to be the teammate that’s competitive, hardworking, one who stands by their teammates side, goes to battle and gives full effort no matter what." The 2025 season is still a ways away, but Thurman understands he still has a lot of work to do before his high school graduation and arrival to South Bend. He still sees ways to improve as a player and a person before his high school career is up. "My goal is to get better everyday and use my versatile play style and leadership to help my team put itself in a position to win a state championship." As Thurman looks forward to what he can accomplish in his senior year, he already has a lot to be proud of when you take into account his various accomplishments. He has worked hard to diversify himself in many different ways, both on and off the field. Thurman lists a couple of things that he's most proud of up to this point in his career. "Working hard to earn the offers I received and to be able to commit to go to school and play ball at the University of Notre Dame. Additionally, my consistent strong academic performance, giving back to the community, and receiving my 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do." As a way for fans to know him better, I asked Thurman to describe himself as a player and as a person, so that fans will know what they are getting when he becomes a member of the Fighting Irish in the fall of 2025. "I describe myself as a hardworking, laser-focused, and determined player that runs the ball hard and fast. I would describe myself as a person who's chill, laid back, focused, and a funny individual." Thurman is an extremely talented player with blazing speed and a versatile set of skills, but Notre Dame fans will have to wait until 2025 before they can see for themselves. Until that moment has come, Thurman has his sights set on a state championship and his high school graduation. Click to Join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame unveiled their new look for home games Friday morning on social media and ESPN. From the monogram sleeves to the Under Armour logo: Notre Dame's golden notion has only grown greater, and it's happening at home. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame Football unveiled its new home uniforms for the upcoming 2024 season on social media and national television: ESPN. The uniforms feature updated logos, such as the monogram on each sleeve, and the Under Armour logo. The monogram: Notre Dame has one of the most iconic logos in college football, the interlocking "N" and "D" are synonymous with Notre Dame's tradition, winning culture, and branding. The monogram has been located on the shoulder sleeves for a while now, but previously in the color white. Notre Dame seems to have opted to go with a color that matches their iconic golden helmets painted with gold. The apparel logo: Notre Dame has worn Under Armour uniforms for a decade now, first seen in 2014 under former HC Brian Kelly. The Under Armour logo had previously been in the color white, like the monogram, but located on the upper left chest of the uniform. The UA logo has now been updated to feature a gold coating just like the monogram, and similar to Notre Dame's helmets. Most noticeably though: The UA logo is now feature in the center part of the collar of the jersey, something fans haven't seen since the Adidas era, where Notre Dame's uniforms feature the three stripes in the center part of the collar. The new uniforms were first spotted in screenshots of EA's CFB25 video game that just released this week. Fans also noticed that the official Notre Dame bookstore began selling the new jerseys in recent weeks in blue, white, and green versions, which feature similar changes. Below are the official images of the new home uniforms for Notre Dame, do you like these changes? Leave your thoughts in the comments or on social media. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The pieces have come together nicely in the offseason for Notre Dame's offense. Nobody brings more experience, poise, and potential than projected starting QB, Riley Leonard. Let's dive into the factors that will help Leonard separate himself from quarterbacks of the past. Photo by The Irish Tribune When Riley Leonard transferred to Notre Dame in December, the Irish inherited an unfamiliar quarterback talent. In his only full season with the Duke Blue Devils, Leonard collected 2,967 passing yards, a 63.9% completion percentage, and added 699 more yards on the ground. In short, Leonard is as true of a dual threat quarterback in college football as anyone with a precise and immensely strong arm. Despite a limited spring recovering from two minor ankle surgeries, Leonard competed against other top college football quarterbacks in the Manning Passing Academy. In the end, Leonard out dueled Oregon star Dillon Gabriel to be crowned the "Air it Out" champion. In turn, Leonard cemented himself as a top passer in the country, and proved to be the missing piece the Irish offense have been longing for. Let's look at what makes Riley Leonard the X factor for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Arm Talent While single season statistics don't tell the whole story, Leonard's numbers are comparable to those of Notre Dame's recent transfer quarterbacks, Sam Hartman and Jack Coan. Best Single Season Stats Riley Leonard Jack Coan Sam Hartman Passing Yards 2,967 2,727 4,228 Total Touchdowns 33 22 50 Interceptions 6 5 14 While Hartman's numbers are more impressive, the mesh-style offense he ran at Wake Forest didn't translate well to Notre Dame's pro-style scheme. Leonard has experience with this scheme and will benefit from stronger talent at the pass-catching positions. At Duke, Leonard did the most with what he was able to do, yet the talent pool at the offensive line and wide receiver positions are far superior in South Bend. Dual Threat The next, and biggest "X" factor with Riley Leonard's game is his ability to keep plays alive with his legs. Leonard is an extremely accurate passer who doesn't necessarily shine outside of the pocket, but has the ability to continue plays and let receivers get open. Leonard's true prowess with his legs is in the RPO and designed QB run game. Leonard rushed for 699 yards and added 13 touchdowns in his 2022 campaign. In the past three seasons with Coan, Drew Pyne, and Hartman as the primary quarterbacks - the Irish haven't had a quarterback who could use their legs effectively since Ian Book. Leonard is also a tough runner capable of breaking tackles and gaining extra yards. While it might be imperative to save himself from possible injury, Leonard's winning mentality and competitive desire make him highly capable of making big plays. At the beginning of last season, Leonard had a game-changing 44-yard run that led his Blue Devils to upset the then No. 9 Clemson Tigers. Mike Denbrock The last piece of the puzzle that will unlock Riley Leonard's true potential is newly appointed offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. Fresh off helping Jayden Daniels win the Heisman trophy, Denbrock's high-octane offense will help Leonard flourish. Denbrock has had an illustrious career getting the full potential out of his players and leading one of the best offenses in college football. Last year, LSU led all of college football in scoring, yards per play, and total offense. He also helped Jayden Daniels set the record for the NCAA single-season passing efficiency. With transfers Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell, and Jayden Harrison joining Jayden Thomas, Deion Colzie, Jaden Greathouse, and Jordan Faison, the Notre Dame wide receiver room is locked and loaded. While adding Mitchell Evans and Eli Raridon into the mix, Leonard will have plenty of options in the air. With these receivers and an established coach like Denbrock, Leonard can put up a historic season for the Golden Domers. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Cade Harper ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter (X): @ CadeHarperIT Photo via Derek Meadows (Instagram) 247 Sports' Tom Loy logged a prediction back in January of this year in favor of the Irish to land Derek Meadows, an elite receiving talent out of Nevada. Since then, multiple SEC schools have emerged, making this an all out war for the 6'6" 200 pound wideout, with Alabama & LSU being the main competitors. Despite the crystal ball, the leader to land Meadows seems unclear at this point. Meadows was initially supposed to make his decision on July 13th, but he has since rescheduled his commitment for July 20th at 3:00 PM EST to contemplate the biggest decision of his early career with his family. Notre Dame has kept themselves in a tight race thus far, and are now taking all the necessary steps in hopes of finally adding an elite receiving piece to this class. Before he makes his decision, I am going to breakdown what he can bring to this already talented class, and how big of a statement it would make in the recruiting realm for the Irish. Meadows has been sought after by Notre Dame since last year, with former WR Coach Chansi Stuckey leading the early push. Since newly acquired WR Coach Mike Brown took the reigns, the Irish have been able to hold the interest of Meadows despite the staff turnover. The Bishop Gorman phenom has visited twice since Brown was hired back in December, and has visited South Bend more than any of the other schools in his Top 5. Looking into his high school numbers, in just 10 games as a junior last season, Meadows totaled 15 receptions for 391 yards and eight touchdowns, making him a deep ball threat averaging just over 25 yards per reception. For his size, he is incredibly athletic and very fast. He was recognized as the Gatorade State Track and Field Player of The Year, and put up an impressive time of 36.73 seconds in a 300 meter hurdle race. Not only that, but his wingspan, which measures at 80 inches, makes defenders dread matching up against him. His size, paired with his athleticism, has the potential to make an immediate impact in a receiving room that has been starving for a deep threat since the late 2010's. Meadows' lengthy frame and catch radius give him an incredible advantage as an outside receiver, and athletically speaking, there may not be a better frame at the position in this class. Although Meadows' production might not jump off the page, his athletic floor is so high that it's hard not to take notice. Playing at a powerhouse like Bishop Gorman, the competition is always stiff - and when Meadows has had a chance to make a play, he doesn't waste it. Meadows has scored a touchdown in seven of ten games in the 23/24' season. In three of those games, his lone touchdown was his only reception. And as stated earlier, he's scored on eight of his 15 receptions - in short, when he touches the ball, it's more likely to be a touchdown than not. Via Derek Meadows, X According to 247 Sports, Meadows is ranked as the 32nd overall player in the 2025 class. In position rankings, he sits at sixth, and in the state of Nevada, he stands alone as the highest rated prospect. Meadows would be joining several other freaky-athletic playmakers in the 2025 class, such as Deuce Knight and James Flanigan, who were just named to ON3's "Future Freaks" list. And while the additions of Elijah Burress and Jerome Bettis Jr. are welcomed, Meadows would certainly heighten anticipation and raw talent within the receiving room. The Irish have been trending downward in the 2025 recruiting rankings after the loss of Ivan Taylor and another priority target in Tanook Hines choosing USC. Landing Meadows could reignite the spark on the trail that Marcus Freeman and the staff have been vying after for some time. Now all that's left to do is wait on Meadows' decision and trust Freeman to do whatever it takes to convince the 4-star WR to pledge his commitment down the stretch. Via Mitch Stephens, X Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by: Jhett Garrett | Writer | Twitter/X: @JhettGarrett Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame is one of the most storied programs in college football history, with plenty of rivalries that will last forever. The Irish picked one of those rivalries back up recently in Michigan State, as the two teams will again meet for the first time in a decade in 2026. Following this announcement, let’s take a look at five teams that should be added to the Notre Dame schedule regularly. 5.    Penn State Nittany Lions 9-9-1 All-Time Series; Last Matchup 9/8/2007, Penn State 31 Notre Dame 10 A series that started back in 1913, the Notre Dame-Penn State matchup saw the two sides collide 13 times from 1976-1992, including 12 straight matchups from 1981 to 1992. The 80s were mostly dominated by the Nittany Lions, seeing them win six of nine matchups against the Irish. The series ended following the 1992 matchup in Notre Dame Stadium, which was won by the Fighting Irish 17-16, however, it was picked back up in 2006 for a home-and-home series. The 2007 matchup remains historic, as it was the first time in Penn State history that the entire stadium wore white, starting the iconic “White Out Game” that the Lions host at least once a season. Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, the two programs have found themselves in similar scenarios. Neither side has been able to break the mold and take that next step towards winning a National Championship. Penn State’s last National Championship came in 1986 when they defeated Miami (FL), while Notre Dame’s last National Championship came just two years later in 1988, where they defeated West Virginia. Under James Franklin, the Nittany Lions have accomplished five ten-win seasons and even won the Rose Bowl back in 2022. However, the daunting task of knocking off Ohio State and Michigan in the same season has been the Achilles heel for Penn State, leaving them out of the Playoff. On the other hand, Notre Dame has had ten or more wins in every season but two since the 2015 season, where they have won four bowl games, and made two trips to the College Football Playoff. However, the Irish have always had those one or two big games on the schedule that they just cannot get over. In some cases, it has felt as if they had the talent to do so, and they just haven’t been able to put it all together. This would be a really fun series to resume in the coming years, and there would be a lot of East Coast Notre Dame fans who would enjoy this renewed series. 4.    Texas Longhorns Notre Dame leads All-Time Series 9-3; Last Matchup 9/4/2016 Texas 50 Notre Dame 47 OT Two of the biggest brands in all of college sports, both of which always have some of the highest expectations entering every season. The last matchup between these two sides came in a forgettable 2016 season for both teams. Following the overtime win for the Longhorns, Texas was considered “back.” However, neither team was bowl-eligible and were forced to go back to the drawing board. Nearly a decade later, the two sides have yet to meet again. Texas has had three different head coaches since their last meeting and has not won a bowl game since 2020 under Tom Herman. With Steve Sarkisian now there, the Longhorns saw themselves playing in the College Football Playoff this past season, falling short against the National Runner Up Washington Huskies. Historically speaking, the Irish and the Longhorns find themselves tied for fourth all-time with 948 wins, and four National Championships with their most recent coming in 2005 over USC. Some of the greatest college football players of all time come from these two programs, which makes it fitting for these schools to play regularly. One of the biggest players would be the fact that Texas is now a member of the SEC, which means they are more than likely struggling with their scheduling as it is. 3.    Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State leads All-Time series 6-2; Last Matchup 9/23/2023 Ohio State 17 Notre Dame 14 If you ask any Notre Dame fan one game they would love to have back, the matchup with Ohio State in South Bend this past season would most likely be the first game that comes to mind. A game that was predominantly controlled by the Irish for most of the second half, came down to a last-second touchdown scored by the Buckeyes with 10 men on the field for Notre Dame. Nearly a year later, that loss still stings, and it probably won’t go away. That game felt like the first opportunity for Notre Dame to silence the critics who say the Irish can’t win the big game since the 2020 College Football Playoff. Not coming away with a victory at home was harrowing for the program. Nonetheless, the previous Ohio State series over the last two seasons have been some of the most anticipated regular season games for Notre Dame fans in decades. Having a perennial top-five team in the country regularly is what Notre Dame needs. Following the previous matchup, a rivalry seemed to be conceived. A postgame interview with Ryan Day seemed normal as usual until he called out the legendary Notre Dame head coach, Lou Holtz, who had some less than kind opinions on the Buckeyes. It was what switched everything from this series, and with the bitter taste still in the mouths of Marcus Freeman and company, extending this series before the end of the decade would be perfect. The two biggest brands in college football playing hard-nosed football on the gridiron is something that all college football fans across the country will want to watch.   2.    Miami Hurricanes Notre Dame leads All-Time series 17-8-1; Last Matchup 11/11/2017 Miami 41 Notre Dame 8 Catholics vs. Convicts. It’s one of the most historic catchphrases to ever grace college football, and it was started because of the Notre Dame-Miami rivalry in the 1980s. From 1971-1990, these teams played every single year but one, which was arguably the peak years for both programs. Miami was putting players in the NFL like it was nothing, and Notre Dame was on a quest to get back to the top. It was the perfect rivalry that everyone couldn’t help but watch. The 1988 meeting in South Bend was the peak of the rivalry, dubbed Catholics vs. Convicts. Despite the pregame noise that was born from a t-shirt, things were hot on the field between the two sides. It was a matchup between the number one-ranked Hurricanes, and the number four-ranked Irish. After clawing their way back into the game from a ten-point deficit in the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes two-point attempt at the end of the game came up short, resulting in a 31-30 victory for Notre Dame, who would later go on to win the National Championship. This rivalry is set to renew next season after being pushed back from the 2023 season. Now, the Irish will play the Hurricanes in Hard Rock Stadium in 2025 before hosting Miami in 2026.   1.     Michigan Wolverines Michigan leads All-Time series 25-17-1; Last Matchup 10/26/2019 Michigan 45 Notre Dame 14 For most Notre Dame fans, the Michigan Wolverines are towards the top of the “Most Hated List.” From teaching the Irish how to play football, to removing them from the schedule for their Catholic values, there is no love lost between Notre Dame and Michigan. The first meeting between the two teams came back in 1887, finding Michigan winning 8-0 just hours after teaching the Irish how to play. Due to poor conditions, it is said that the game only lasted around 90 minutes, and ended with Father Superior Walsh telling the Wolverines they would always be greeted with a “cordial reception” when entering South Bend. Little did Father Walsh know, that would not be the case in the future. The first eight meetings were all won by the Wolverines; however, things would change after the Irish won in 1909. Following the Irish win, they were dawned with the nickname “The Fighting Irish” by Detroit sportswriter E.A. Batchelor. Despite this, Michigan Head Coach Fielding Yost would remove the Fighting Irish from their schedule just before the 1910 meeting, claiming that former Michigan player, then Notre Dame head coach Frank Longman was going to play two ineligible players. Because of this, the Notre Dame-Michigan rivalry would not be played again for 32 years, and Yost even tried to convince teams in the Western Conference (now Big Ten) to not play the Irish. This boycott is the reason that the Irish never joined a conference and allowed them to start rivalries with schools such as USC and Army. In 1942, the series was once again resumed, but this time it would not last as long. After dominating the Wolverines in 1943, 35-12, Michigan’s head coach at the time Fritz Crisler attempted a second boycott of Notre Dame. Despite the successful boycott in 1910, this one would fail because Michigan State and Purdue refused to drop the Irish from their schedule. The rivalry was picked back up once again in 1978 and was played regularly until the end of the 2014 season. Since then, the Irish and Wolverines have met twice with meetings scheduled in 2033 and 2034. This is a rivalry that should be played every year. Every. Single. Year. It has the potential to be one of the top rivalries in all of college sports, and yet it continues to not be played. Now five years since their last meeting, we are still nine years away from the next, leaving the rivalry to not as mean as much to the next generation of fans. While many more rivalries should be played more often, these five matchups are some that feel more important to many Irish fans across the country. From storied programs to genuine bad blood, a college football rivalry is more than just 60 minutes on the gridiron. Notre Dame is one of the predominant examples of that, and as college football continues to progress, the Irish are one of the few schools that still value their rivalries year in and year out. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The University of Notre Dame is a college football program unlike any other. Athletic and academic excellence is a cornerstone of the Fighting Irish's recruiting pitch. When it comes to five-star wide receiver Derek Meadows, the Irish can roll out a new strategy. This angle can be attributed to the coaches brought into the program, and their success in translating college talents to NFL careers. This concept has been the biggest gap when trying to pry highly touted recruits away from SEC schools. LSU, Alabama, and Georgia all have illustrious track records to attract recruits. Specifically for Meadows' recruitment, the Irish are competing against two SEC juggernauts: LSU and Alabama. While Meadows enjoyed his time in South Bend during his official visit this past June, two trips to Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa the following week made his decision a little hazier. As this recruitment rollercoaster comes down to his July 20 commitment date, Notre Dame is still battling the SEC for Meadows' services. Now, as an accepted practice in college football recruiting, it's frowned upon to trash another school to elevate your own program. However, from a practical point of view, in comparing the LSU Tigers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, it's unclear what leverage Brian Kelly has in this battle. His offensive coordinator, Mike Denbrock, who captained the No. 1 rated offense in college football last season, left the Bayou Bengals to team up with Kelly's successor in South Bend. In the process, Denbrock developed a Heisman-winning quarterback in Jayden Daniels and two first-round wide receivers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. After leaving South Bend, Brian Kelly was very vocal about the differences in South Bend and Baton Rouge. Kelly told ESPN, " There are priorities at Notre Dame. The architectural building needed to get built first. They ain't building the architectural building here first. We're building the athletic training facility first, [and] we're in the midst of a $22 million addition to our athletic training facility." While it took some time, the football facilities at Notre Dame will soon be second-to-none. Marcus Freeman announced before the Spring Game the unveiling of a new football facility that will expand the existing Guglielmino Athletics Complex (Gug) by 50%. Now that Notre Dame has improved their coaching personnel, along with renovating their facilities, there is really nothing holding the Irish back from competing with SEC rivals. In years past, NIL deals have been an issue, leading big-time recruits to choose SEC programs. The biggest evidence of this was through Keon Keeley's recruiting fiasco. In the end, Keeley decommitted from Freeman and the Fighting Irish to go play for Alabama, and, reportedly a higher NIL deal. On the other hand, former Notre Dame star Khalid Kareem broke down his decision to decommit from Alabama and pledge his allegiance to the Fighting Irish on the Varsity House podcast. "Elston said... 'you can come here and make an impact early'" said Kareem. Proximity to home and the liveliness of Notre Dame Stadium were other factors that led the Irish to secure a premium edge rusher. Notre Dame has had other wins over SEC competition, like snagging Jeremiyah Love from SEC country, and convincing Jaiden Ausberry to stay loyal to South Bend despite being from Louisiana. At the end of the day, the recruiting war for Meadows will be ongoing far past his commitment this week. Meadows will get the chance to see how both offenses fare this upcoming season and how he can envision himself within each receiver room. Yet, with Notre Dame offering the best offensive coordinator in college football, the best academics in the country, a position to play early on in your career, as well as making strides in the NIL department, there isn't much holding the Fighting Irish back from beating the beasts of the SEC in the recruiting turf war. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Brenden Duffy ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @Brenden_Duffy Photo by The Irish Tribune A year after finishing 10-3 against a top-15 schedule, the Irish have a much less difficult schedule this season. According to College Football Network’s Strength of Schedule Score,   Notre Dame is tasked with the 47th-hardest schedule in the nation. This is one of the reasons Notre Dame is currently tied for the 4th-best odds to finish the regular season undefeated. But as all Irish fans know, there is no such thing as an easy season. Let’s preview four of the toughest games the Irish will play this season: Week One (08/31): at Texas A&M The Irish head on the road to open the season in what should be the toughest away matchup all year. College Station will be buzzing all day as ESPN’s College Gameday will be in town  for this primetime matchup. Kyle Field in College Station was also just rated the #1 toughest place to play  by EA Sports CFB25 (take that as you will), so the Irish may have their hands full. This is the first half of a home and home series with the Aggies. The Irish are 3-2 all-time in this matchup, dropping the most recent meeting in 2001 in College Station. When the preseason AP Poll drops, A&M should find themselves somewhere between 20-30 while the Irish should be top-10 to open the year. The Aggies had themselves a busy offseason following the historic firing of Jimbo Fisher ,  which cost the program over $75 million due to Fisher’s buyout. In late November, A&M announced the hiring of Duke Head Coach and former Aggie and Irish Defensive Coordinator, Mike Elko . Last season at Duke was Elko’s first matchup against the Irish as a head coach, falling 14-21 at home.  Despite the transfers lost following Fisher’s departure, this is by far the most talented squad Elko has coached. A&M’s biggest question marks will be the offense surrounding star quarterback, Conner Weigman. Weigman enters his junior season with a real chance to be one of the first QBs selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately last season, Weigman suffered a season-ending foot injury just four games into the year. However, when he is on the field he has been sensational with a 16-2 touchdown-interception ratio and 1,875 passing yards in just nine games (eight starts). In his first career start, Weigman completed 28/44 passes for 338 yards and 4 touchdowns with no interceptions in a 28-44 loss to Ole Miss. Despite the loss, this performance showed Aggie fans they have a legit quarterback in College Station. Prior to the injury last season, Weigman had a two-game streak of 330-plus passing yards with 2-plus total touchdowns. Weigman is not much of a threat on the ground so the Irish secondary will have to be ready for this matchup. If Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts, and co. lock down the Aggies weapons, it could be a slow day for the A&M offense. The defense for the Aggies is what will win them games. With one of the best front-sevens in the country combined with Coach Elko’s defensive prowess, A&M will have no issues getting to the quarterback and slowing down the run game. The true star of defense is incoming transfer from Purdue, Nic Scourton. Last season, Scourton led the Big Ten in sacks (10) while totaling 50 tackles, 15 for a loss, 3 pass deflections, and a forced fumble in just 11 games. The defensive end entered the portal as the No. 1-ranked edge rusher before committing to A&M  in early January.  On the interior, Elko was able to convince NFL Draft prospect Shemar Turner to return for a senior season. The 6’4 290-pound lineman is an athletic freak who is able to play different positions on the line, but is expected to line up as a tackle most of this season. In 12 games last season, Turner posted career-highs across the board with 33 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. The third real threat in this front-seven is sophomore linebacker Taurean York. Last season, York totaled 74 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble. He was named a Freshman All-American by ESPN and selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Realistically, this is not an ideal first matchup for the Irish offensive line after losing both starting tackles to the NFL Draft. Experienced linemen like Tosh Baker and Pat Coogan should be able to do their jobs. The question marks will come with how the other, less experienced linemen perform. Expected starters Charles Jagusah, Ashton Craig, and Billy Schrauth will be tested by this ferocious front-seven of A&M. Regardless, this primetime matchup is bound to be tight. There are no easy road games at Kyle Field and oddsmakers agree as Texas A&M is currently favored by 1.5 points. Both teams will be giving it all as each program has scheduled smaller schools following this war. Week Five (09/24): vs Louisville Louisville week needs to be a game Coach Freeman has circled after last season’s poor showing in this matchup. The Cardinals outperformed the Irish in all aspects of the game in a 20-33 defeat. Historically, these two programs are tied 2-2 in head-to-head matchups, with the first matchup occurring in 2014. Similar to Texas A&M, Louisville should find themselves flirting with a spot in the top-25 to begin the year. With no real threats prior to this meeting, Louisville should be 3-0 heading into this game setting up for a possible top-25 matchup. After losing quarterback Jack Plummer to the NFL, Coach Brohm brought in the talented and vastly-experienced Tyler Shough. Shough, 24-years old, is entering his 7th season of collegiate football. Shough spent three years at Oregon before spending the last three seasons at Texas Tech. In 27 career games, Shough has completed over 63% of his passes totaling 4,625 yards with 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Shough has shown some capability to use his feet as well, rushing for 714 yards and 10 touchdowns on 204 carries. Surrounded by an overall solid group of receivers and tight ends, Shough should be in line for a very solid season if he stays healthy. If Irish linebackers Jordan Botelho, Jack Kiser, Drayk Bowen, and Jaylen Sneed can keep Shough guessing, it should be a long day for the Cardinals Offense. Louisville’s defense will be interesting. They have at least one solid player on each level, however there are definitely some holes, specifically on the line. The Cardinals do bring back elite edge rusher Ashton Gillotte for his senior season. As of right now, Gillotte should be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season, Gillotte recorded 45 tackles, 14.5 for a loss, 11 sacks (1st in the ACC), 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. In last year’s meeting with the Irish, Gillotte posted 3 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Irish tackles Tosh Baker and Charles Jagusah will need to have big games in an attempt to slow down Gillotte. At the linebacker position, the Cardinals leading tackler from last season returns in TJ Quinn. In 14 games last season, Quinn totaled 92 tackles, 2 pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and an interception. He posted four games with 10-plus tackles, including a 10 tackle performance last season versus the Irish. Quinn keeps the middle of the field locked down so Riley Leonard will need to be looking outside all game. In the secondary, the Cardinals feature another ‘25 draft prospect with cornerback Quincy Riley. During 27 appearances over two seasons, Riley has recorded 76 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and 6 interceptions including a pick-six. In last season’s meeting with the Irish, Riley totaled four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. Odds are Riley’s main focus for this season’s matchup will be Irish receiver Jayden Thomas. If Thomas has a slow game, expect fellow receivers Kris Mitchell and Jaden Greathouse to pick up the slack.  The biggest weakness on the Cardinals roster is the defensive line surrounding Gillotte. If Gillotte is contained, Riley Leonard should be in line for a big performance with time in the pocket. Running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price could also be heavily featured for this matchup.  Louisville is going to leave everything on the field in South Bend as they have a bye week following this game. At home, Notre Dame should be favored heading into this matchup as Coach Freeman seeks revenge on the Cardinals. Week Eleven (11/09): vs Florida State The toughest game of the season will occur at home week eleven versus the probable ACC champion Florida State Seminoles. If FSU can handle Clemson and Miami before this matchup, odds are they will be undefeated heading into this game. Along with the advantage of being at home, the Irish will have two weeks to prepare for this matchup while FSU will be busy focusing on North Carolina the week prior. Historically, the Noles own a 6-5 advantage in head-to-head matchups, however, the Irish have won three in a row including, most recently, a 41-38 win in 2021 in Tallahassee.  After losing their quarterback, running back, top two receivers, and three tight ends, FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell reloaded nicely through the portal bringing in a top-10 transfer class.  The most important addition was former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Irish fans should be familiar with Uiagalelei from his insane freshman performance at Notre Dame when he threw for 439 yards and 2 touchdowns in a loss. As a junior at Clemson in 2022, the Irish shut down Uiagalelei limiting him to under 200 passing yards with an interception in a dominant performance from the Notre Dame defense. Last year at Oregon State, Uiagalelei set a career high in passing yards (2,638) while throwing 21 touchdowns. He did struggle with accuracy, completing just over 57% of his passes and throwing 7 interceptions. Luckily for Uiagalelei, he will be protected by an elite offensive line featuring four seniors and a junior transfer. More than likely, Uiagalelei will receive a chance in the NFL if he has a solid season. The biggest weakness on the offense is the tight end room. Uiagalelei will have to rely on his receivers most of the time in the pass game. Similar to the A&M game, Irish defensive backs Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts, and co. will be heavily relied upon to slow this offense down. Florida State will make their living on defense. Everything will start with elite edge rusher and ‘25 draft prospect, Patrick Payton. Payton will be entering his 4th year with the Noles following a career-best season in 2023. Last season, Payton totaled 44 tackles, 14.5 for a loss, 7 sacks, 10 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. The 6’5" 255-pound defensive end typically lines up on the left side meaning the Irish redshirt freshman tackle, Charles Jagusah, could be in for a long day. The rest of Noles defense is also very formidable so Riley Leonard and co. will need to be on point all day.  This November meeting has top-25 potential featuring playoff implications. This could be a chance for ESPN’s College Gameday to visit South Bend this year.  Week Fourteen (11/30): at USC The Jeweled Shillelagh is once again up for grabs after the Irish whooped USC last season 48-20 in South Bend. Currently, the historic rivalry favors the Irish 49-37-5. This will be the final regular season game for both sides, as USC will be wrapping up a brutal gauntlet of a schedule. They will likely face five top-25 opponents including the Irish in their first year in the Big Ten Conference.  Everything will need to go perfect for the Trojans in order to be a College Football Playoff Team this year. They should open the season as a borderline top-25 team but it is hard to project where they will be in late November. USC and Head Coach Lincoln Riley have many questions and holes to fill on this somewhat depleted roster. The first question starts with the quarterback. It appears Miller Moss will start this season after his 372-yard, 6 touchdown performance in last season’s Holiday Bowl. However, UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava is waiting in the wings after passing for over 3,000 yards last year as a freshman. If Moss does live up to Coach Riley’s expectations, there is a real chance Maiava gets the nod as the starting quarterback. Unfortunately for whoever the starter ends up being, they will be working with young, inexperienced receivers and tight ends. Also, besides the center position, the Trojans offensive line could be one of their biggest issues. This could be a big game for both Irish defensive lineman RJ Oben and Rylie Mills against this weaker line. USC will have a reliable running back this season with Mississippi State transfer Woody Marks joining the Trojans this offseason. Marks comes to the Trojans with four years of SEC experience. In his time at Mississippi State, Marks split carries totaling 410 rushes for 1,883 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is also a threat as a pass-catcher with 214 receptions for 1,225 yards and 5 touchdowns. In 2020 and 2021, Marks finished 4th in the SEC in receptions with 60 and 83, respectively. As the clear-cut RB1 at USC, Marks should be in line for a career-best rushing season. As mentioned previously, he will not be running behind the strongest offensive line, however his skill should offset this issue. USC’s defense will be something to watch after major struggles last season forced the firing of their defensive coordinator. The name to watch on this defense is nose tackle Bear Alexander. The 6’3 313-pounder is an athletic freak who could move to the edge once he is selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.  After spending his freshman season at Georgia, Alexander took his talents to USC last year. As a Trojan, Alexander recorded 48 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and 4 pass deflections in 13 games. Last season’s meeting with the Irish was Alexander’s worst game of the season, posting zeroes across the board. If the Irish do that again, they should have no issues moving the ball offensively. The rest of the USC defense is decent for now. They have a couple key guys at all three levels, however there are clearly some holes and depth issues.  As we all know the Irish do not have a conference championship after the regular season. So if the Irish are considered a “bubble” playoff team, this will be the last chance to leave an impression on the committee. While it is certain Irish players are going to enjoy the Southern California November trip, they will need to keep the intensity and focus for a potential College Football Playoff run. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Photo by The Irish Tribune The college football landscape in 2024 is a sea of uncharted water. With conference realignment, an expanded playoff format, and the transfer portal continuing to run rampant, there is a new era of college football that is starting this upcoming August. While the University of Notre Dame was once a symbol of the old school tradition of the sport, the University continues to adjust itself to the times. While the Fighting Irish and Marcus Freeman have been sharks in the transfer portal, their upcoming schedule is one that isn't normal for the Irish - it's noticeably weaker. While in years past this could be a cause of concern while coupling it with a lack of conference championship game, the 12-team playoff makes this reality more acceptable. Let's take a deeper look here. Strength of Record History Year Record Strength of Record 2023 10-3 13th 2022 9-4 20th 2021 11-2 10th 2020 10-2 4th 2019 11-2 10th Over the past five years, Notre Dame's strength of record has ranked within the top 20 schools. The main gripe around the college football community is Notre Dame's state of independence equates with a weaker regular season schedule. However, this misconception is clearly not true. While Notre Dame plays a conventional ACC schedule for the most part, non-ACC games over the past years such as Ohio State and upcoming Texas A&M have boosted the strength of schedule for the Fighting Irish, as well. Notre Dame in years past also has been on the wrong end of scheduling when it comes to ACC games. The ACC normally schedules BYE week games the immediate week before their matchup with the Fighting Irish. As a result of this, a well-rested, two-week prepared game against quality ACC opponents makes games significantly harder for the Fighting Irish. 2024 Slate While appreciating a tougher regular season schedule in the past, the 2024 season will be a little bit different. Photo via Notre Dame Football As seen above, the schedule this year has a little bit of a different look to it. While Marcus Freeman has learned never to overlook an opponent via the lesson in 2022 against Marshall, this schedule has plenty of smaller games. I'll break up the schedule into three categories. Tier 1: Texas A&M USC FSU Louisville Tier 2: Stanford Purdue Georgia Tech Tier 3: NIU Virginia Miami (OH) Army Navy The Notre Dame schedule is the weakest it's been over the last twenty years. The Irish only have one home night game this year, with Florida State coming to South Bend in early November. The Fighting Irish also only have three true away games (Texas A&M, Purdue, and USC) , with three neutral site games at NFL stadiums (Army, Navy, and Georgia Tech). While an opening week away game in the hardest environment in college football according to the research done by EA Sports might be frightening, if the Irish pass that first road test, it should be smooth sailing. The 12-Team Playoff As a whole, this weaker schedule only works because of the expanded playoff format. In the four team playoff format over the last decade, a weak strength of schedule along with the lack of a 13th game would be detrimental for the Irish. With more teams able to make the playoff, the Fighting Irish don't need perfection to crack the playoff. A one-loss Notre Dame team is very hard to leave off a 12-team playoff picture. Knowing this, why not have a weaker schedule to limit the wear-and-tear that comes with an absolute gauntlet of a schedule. A weaker schedule with a handful of big games prepares the Fighting Irish for the playoff without making them perceptible to a high volume of losses. This is why the combination of a weaker schedule, and a 12-team playoff should be a recipe that the Fighting Irish can take full advantage of until the college football playoff committee makes them pay. As it stands, there is no greater chance for the Irish to reach new heights with this strength of schedule in an expanded playoff. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Clayton Stohler ⏐ Writer ⏐ Photo by The Irish Tribune They came out of nowhere. Body of work, inconsistent. Unproven, but with all the tools. They were overlooked, overshadowed, and counted out. A forgotten relic, and cast aside as mere numbers on a jersey. Only to emerge from the grip of being "just another player". They were doubted. Accepted by the masses that their time had passed, or their ceiling was reached. But they didn't get the memo. Every team has them, and every season yearns for their unexpected thrust into relevance. The athlete you didn't know you needed. The players that you slept on, but that gave you no choice but to open your eyes, and wake up. Who are these players? What is their path? Defense Jaylen Sneed The 5-star prospect hailing from South Carolina was recruited personally by Marcus Freeman when he was a defensive coordinator. Sneed had it all. Speed, length, and a GPA to match. He was, and is, a Notre Dame fit. A prospect that fans weren't used to stepping into South Bend, and better yet, staying, did just that. Casting off a trend of Notre Dame "shopping down a different aisle". Sneed marked a welcomed shift in recruiting strategy. Sneed's athleticism continues to stand out when he has had a good understanding of the scheme. Unfortunately, that has been a rarity thus far. It is a phenomenon that has kept him off the field more than he'd probably like. And even then, when Sneed got his legs under him, number 3 was impossible to ignore. Sneed is a versatile athlete that can play any linebacker position the staff wants him to, should he reach his ceiling. Although that probably won't be, nor should it be, asked of him. He offers a unique ability to bring pressure at every level of the field. In the box, from the edge, from the frickin' sideline. A Jaylen Sneed that reaches his ceiling, means mayhem on every play. The growing anticipation for the likes of Jaiden Ausberry, KVA, and even Drayk Bowen have perhaps stolen some of the spotlight from Sneed. But make no mistake, Sneed had an impressive spring that somehow gets forgotten about. Watching in person, the way he tackled was menacing. If Sneed becomes what he can truly be, this defense takes another leap into title-worthiness. Adon Shuler As is well known, Notre Dame returns perhaps the best safety in the country in Xavier Watts, another ball-hawking missile in the secondary that offenses have to account for. In addition to Benjamin Morrison, Christian Gray, and Jaden Mickey, the secondary is certified elite. Only a handful of teams in the country are deserving of being in the conversation. Even then, there's room for improvement. Opposite of Watts last year was a choice. Average, or below average. DJ Brown, or Ramon Henderson. Missed run fits, dropped interceptions, open field follies, or big plays allowed. You pick. The safety position opposite of Watts was hard to ignore, and difficult to justify. Every play that went wrong was usually followed by a replay showing Brown or Henderson behind the ball, diving at the ground, looking like they don't belong. That ends in 2024. And it will end in large part to Adon Shuler. Potentially overlooked because of the transfer addition of Rod Heard II from Northwestern, Shuler showed himself to be an intimidating figure if nothing else during spring ball. Now that fall approaches, the battle between him and Heard II will be on full display. Shuler may very well win that battle. Quelling the worries, and silencing the echoes of Peyton Bowen faxing his commitment from Oregon, to Oklahoma, and back to Notre Dame (Just joking- I'll never know what happened that night, but would it shock you?) Shuler taking the step means Notre Dame has almost zero holes on defense, with almost no way to attack the field on offense. A scary proposition for the entire country. Who was once one of the lowest ranked prospects in the class of 2023, could very well end up being Notre Dame's missing link in the secondary. Rylie Mills However much you're talking about Rylie Mills, you're not talking about him enough. The talented 3 technique with all the tools has had significant playing time now for 3 seasons. Next to Howard Cross, it's easy to blend in. But make no mistake - the light has only flickered, it has not been fully switched to the "on" position just yet. An anonymous coach stated something to the effect, "I like Howard Cross. He's got a little Aaron Donald in him. It sounds crazy to say, but I think it's true." Could you imagine what Notre Dame's defensive line looks like if Mills takes the same step Cross took in 2023? With the tools he has at his disposal, it's hard to deny that Mills came back for a host of reasons. But one of the biggest being that he has potential first or second round talent in the NFL draft. If that potential delivers itself on film, there's no limit to the disruption Notre Dame can provide from it's front 7. It could very well make this defense generational. Offense KK Smith Watching practice clips of KK Smith won't fully do justice to what he can bring to Notre Dame's wide receiver room. Being at the blue and gold game wasn't enough either. In person, Smith is easy to look past. He's slight in nature, looking like a true sophomore that simply hasn't put on weight in any significant way. With Kris Mitchell being brought in from FIU as the team's self-proclaimed "burner" with "4.3 speed", it wasn't difficult to cast aside Smith as a depth piece. Even when the room was relegated to ruins last year prior to Oregon State, Smith's number was rarely in view of the TV screen. But word is getting out. Teammates have raved about Smith's speed - being unanimously praised as the fastest player on the roster. There are some years where that wouldn't have carried as much weight. But on this roster, praise like that means everything. Think back to a time when Mike Denbrock had play calling authority and access to elite speed at the receiver position. Perhaps Will Fuller rings a bell. And while it's unfair to heap expectations like that on Smith, the moments the ball finds him could be during Notre Dame's most explosive plays of the year. For relevance sake, week 1 offers a keen opportunity to put his explosivity on full display. With Elko sure to be dead set on stopping Mitchell Evans, and not allowing a repeat of last year's performance versus Duke, the Aggies secondary will be bracketed on Evans. Leaving a window for Jaden Greathouse to up his volume tremendously. What could possibly happen if all eyes become fixated on Greathouse? Rocco Spindler Perhaps the most tired discussion coming out of spring camp is the lack of experience across Notre Dame's offensive line. Justified as it may be, an unsung anchor to said offensive line is Rocco Spindler. Emerging last year as a physical force in the run game, Spindler is poised to improve dramatically. He preformed incredibly well during the spring game, and while there was a battle at the left guard position, that battle is all but over now. Ronnie Stanley, Sam Mustipher and Mike McGlinchey are just a couple examples of offensive linemen at Notre Dame that struggled early on their tenure to go on and pave exceptional NFL careers for themselves. The offensive line is going to be better than most people think in week 1. The left guard position will be a major reason why. Riley Leonard Yes, really. The most hyped portal acquisition all year is being forgotten about. And for a host of reasons. CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey performing well in the spring game didn't help his cause. The ankle injury, and the history that comes with it hurt Leonard even more. Almost zero real time reps in the spring, a surging quarterback room waiting ever-so-close in the distance, and the fact that Notre Dame's fan base has been "burnt" in the recent past by portal acquisitions at quarterback have levied insurmountable standards onto what success looks like for Leonard. But look back at the teams that came close to either making the playoffs, and even making a run. At Notre Dame, or otherwise, a lot of those teams were a Riley Leonard away from winning it all. With a roster this talented, Leonard doesn't have to win a Heisman, or come close to it, for this gamble to pay off. NFL arm-talent, formidable size, elite athleticism- Riley Leonard looks like he was churned out of a quarterback factory. And yet he is oft forgotten, rarely mentioned when talking about reasons 2024 could be special. Fall camp will be the first step in silencing the worries, and illuminating hope once more. A Word - Ironically, the players on this list that have been slept on, could be the very reasons that Notre Dame takes the massive step from being the perennial 6th best team in College Football, to being the best. But there's not time for sleep now. We must all open our eyes, and watch. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by: Jhett Garrett ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @ JhettGarrett Photo via Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (Instagram) Since the dawn of the 2010s, the University of Notre Dame has been one of the most premier destinations for linebackers. The Butkus Award, an award granted to the top linebacker in college football, was introduced in 1985 when it was first given to Brian Bosworth of the University of Oklahoma. It would take 27 years for Notre Dame to get their first Butkus Award winner in South Bend, but in 2012, Manti Te’o left voters no choice. Just three years later in 2015, Jaylon Smith would become the second member of the Irish to win the award, and Jerimiah Owusu-Koramoah would win it in 2020. With the way things are shaping up, Notre Dame could have their next Butkus Award winner in the 2025 class. Notre Dame has already landed a commitment from four-star Anthony Sacca, the number nine linebacker in the 2025 class according to Rivals.com , and it seems that as things stand, Notre Dame is still in the running to add a few more top-100 names at the linebacker position before the end of the cycle. Madden Faraimo and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng are two names to keep an eye on down the stretch. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng has received an offer from nearly every Power Four school you could imagine. Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Michigan, etc. After months of uncertainty, the pendulum has swung in Notre Dame’s favor, as he has been Futurecasted to the Irish by Rivals following his official visit. The name may sound familiar, as he is the brother of Notre Dame’s most recent Butkus Award winner, and member of the Cleveland Browns, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. During his time in South Bend, Owusu-Koramoah totaled 24.5 TFLs, seven sacks, 142 tackles, five forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown during his award-winning final season. Now in the NFL, he is coming off his best season yet. The third-year linebacker totaled 101 tackles, a league-leading 24 TFLs, two interceptions, and a forced fumble while helping lead the Browns to their second playoff appearance since 2002. Owusu-Boateng transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida before his junior season last year. In eight games, the linebacker played a national schedule, finishing with 45 tackles, six TFLs, a PBU, one sack, and a fumble recovery. Entering his senior year, one of the biggest developments for Owusu-Boateng will be his physical growth. Currently, Owusu-Boateng stands at 6’2”, weighing in at around 205 pounds. It can be more than expected that the young linebacker is going to put on lean muscle, allowing him to have more of an impact in the backfield, not unlike his brother. Watching his film, you can already see his ability to shed pass blockers and get to the quarterback whenever he is called upon to do so, however, once he puts on even more muscle and potentially grows a little more, there is not a single linebacker in the class that comes close to Owusu-Boateng. This past season at IMG Academy, Owusu-Boateng served as a middle linebacker who was an elite run stopper with the ability to track down any pass catcher with his top-tier speed and agility. Once he spots the ball leave the quarterback’s hand, he hits a second gear that allows him to run through ball carriers. He was included in special teams as well, where he was able to showcase the speed he possesses when getting down the field. It is going to be harder to find a linebacker, or any player for that matter, with the build of Owusu-Boateng - but when you couple that with his speed, he is virtually unstoppable. Heading into his final year of high school, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng is a consensus four-star recruit, however, the potential for him to jump to five-star status is very real. For the publications that have Owusu-Boateng ranked lower than others, it can be highly anticipated that that number will change once his season kicks off. He has released his top five including the Irish, as well as Florida, Ohio State, USC, and Michigan. At the beginning of June, Owusu-Boateng stepped back on Notre Dame’s campus for an official visit with his older brother. From afar, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng feels like a perfect fit for Marcus Freeman and Al Golden’s defense, and up close, he believes the same thing. He praised the way that Freeman went beyond being just a legacy, but also tapping into his skillset that would fit beautifully into the Notre Dame culture. Owusu-Boateng believes that Freeman views him as someone who can “come in and impact the program.” Following the visit, Owusu-Boateng spoke highly of Notre Dame’s football opportunities, as well as the academic opportunities. He, like many other smart recruits, realizes that Notre Dame is not just a four-year destination following high school; it is a lifetime achievement that will be able to take you to amazing places throughout your entire life. “Just seeing that whole part of it all separates Notre Dame from all the other schools I’m looking at.” Before his Notre Dame visit, he was out west for a visit to Southern California, and he also completed visits to Michigan and Ohio State since his recent trip to South Bend. A decision is not expected from Owusu-Boateng any time soon, meaning that this process is far from over. However, with Notre Dame seemingly making a large impression, it is hard not to be excited for the potential that Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng could tap into in South Bend: A potential Butkus Award winner who will play on Sundays. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun