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With the College Football Playoff snub and a slow-moving transfer portal operation, there are plenty of items on Notre Dame fans' New Year's Resolutions. Photo by Tyler Wong It has been a very emotional month in the Notre Dame football program with a CFP snub, Marcus Freeman's dangling interest in the NFL, and a quiet transfer portal acquisition period. Outside of Freeman's short, but sweet tweet, not many things have gone in the Irish's way since the fateful Selection Sunday. However, in theory, a New Year turns a new leaf, yet Notre Dame hasn't added a single player in the transfer portal, while seeing 19 players leave the program through the portal. While the Fighting Irish have always said they want to major in high school recruiting while minoring in the portal, right now the Irish have an incomplete on their transcript. It isn't for a lack of trying on general manager Mike Martin's efforts as the Irish have had many prospects visit campus, yet they haven't gotten a pledge yet. Notre Dame will surely cash in, and fans simply have to be patient. As agonizing as that may seem, especially when programs such as Indiana and Texas Tech are spending ludicrous amounts of money, the time will come for the Irish. Until then, and to distract people from the lack of acquisitions in the portal, I've devised a football-centric New Year's Resolution list for the 2026 season. Back-to-Back Heisman Finalists Last season, Jeremiyah Love was the most entertaining player in college football. With his combination of size, speed, and his ability to catch and block out of the backfield, Love was named last year's Golden Domer of the Year. While Love made the decision to forego his senior season and enter his name in the NFL draft, the Irish offense could have an entirely new identity next season highlighting standout quarterback CJ Carr. Carr will be the first returning starter Freeman has had in his tenure at Notre Dame, and he is looking to build off his strong redshirt freshman season. Last year, Carr finished with 2,741 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions. While the receiving corps for next season is still incomplete, Carr is returning his leading receiver in Jordan Faison, along with 2024 playoff-standout Jaden Greathouse looking to get back into the mix for the Irish. Mike Denbrock's offense will have to evolve, and its evolution is centered around one of the most talented quarterbacks in the nation. Carr will look to be Notre Dame's first 3,000+ passing yards quarterback since Jack Coan in 2021. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Attempting to Replace Love and Price Speaking of Jeremiyah Love, he will be impossible to replace. If Jadarian Price stayed for one more season, that would've certainly been an easier transition, yet Price will be joining Love in the 2026 NFL Draft. In a statistical sense, with Love and Price gone, Notre Dame has to replace 312 carries, 2,046 rushing yards, and 36 total touchdowns. Luckily the Irish have some experience coming back as Aneyas Williams projects to be Notre Dame's top running back followed by Nolan James. Kedren Young is an interesting player to watch as he is recovering from a torn ACL during fall camp a year ago. Young was a touchdown scorer against Navy in 2024 and presents a more bruising running back that can run between the tackles. While no one can match the electric ability of Love or Price, the Irish are also getting two solid options from the 2026 high school recruiting class. Jonaz Walton and Javion Osbourne are both names to watch to make an impact during their freshman years. Running the Regular Season Table Last year, Notre Dame put their fate in the hands of the committee, which ultimately led to them being the first team on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff. While that may be flawed, Notre Dame couldn't afford to lose two games last season and leave their national championship chances in the hands of, according to Notre Dame professor Jeff Speaks, incompetent and corrupt officials. If you were to look at next season's schedule, there are no massive roadblocks that can mirror the first two games of last season's schedule. To put it lightly, it is not strong at all, and if Notre Dame couldn't make the CFP with two losses to two CFP teams by a combined four points, then the Irish can never make the playoff with two losses on their schedule. The good news about that is that next season, the Irish would have no realistic chance to win a national championship if they lost two games next year. While the addition of BYU is nice, because of the fact Notre Dame is replacing a lackluster USC team that is scared to add a yearly loss to their schedule, the ACC is just so weak. The Miami game will be one to definitely circle on the calendar, but outside of that matchup against the Hurricanes, there isn't much that scares you if you are Notre Dame. Yes, Marcus Freeman has had three embarrassing losses to significantly lesser opponents during his tenure, but the reality of the situation is that Notre Dame can likely go 12-0 next season. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? 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Photo by New Mexico State Athletics At 11:46 a.m. EST on Thursday, former New Mexico State DL Ezra Christensen announced on X that he had received an offer from Notre Dame. Christensen is ranked as the No. 25 defensive lineman in the Transfer Portal by 247Sports and checks in at No. 338 overall. Christensen put together a dominant 2025 season, recording 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, two pass deflections, and one forced fumble for the Aggies. He earned First Team All-Conference USA honors, was named a First Team Defensive All-American by PFSN, where only two Group of Five players were selected, and also landed on the HERO Sports Group of Five All-American team. Since entering the portal, Christensen has picked up a long list of Power Four offers, including Duke, Colorado, Kentucky, James Madison, Minnesota, Washington, Virginia, Wisconsin, Auburn, and Iowa State. The highly sought-after transfer is expected to continue drawing interest from programs at the P4 level. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle On tape, Christensen consistently disrupts opposing offensive lines with a blend of quick hands and raw power, often flashing a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” burst from the 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive lineman. He moved to San Diego for his sophomore year of high school, where he began playing football, and later earned Palomar League Player of the Year honors during his senior season after leading the league with 15 sacks. Christensen began his college career at San Diego Mesa College in 2022 before transferring to Fresno State for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining at his next stop. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! From a Notre Dame perspective, Christensen’s profile aligns well with the program’s recent emphasis on versatile, high-motor defensive linemen who can contribute immediately while still offering developmental upside. His ability to generate interior pressure with quick hands and leverage would complement Notre Dame’s existing defensive front, particularly in sub-package situations where pass-rush efficiency is prioritized over size alone. With proven Group of Five production and Power Four interest, Christensen represents a low-risk, high-upside portal target, one capable of providing rotational depth early while pushing for a larger role as he acclimates to the Irish defensive system. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @rubenkelly_y  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

After a bit of a slow start in the transfer portal, Notre Dame is still in the running for some top portal targets, but they will still need to find a boundary wide receiver after the commitments of Nick Marsh and Ian Strong. Xavier Gilliam - Penn State Defensive Tackle Coming into this portal window, the defensive line is the biggest need that needs to be addressed. With graduates and players lost to the portal, Notre Dame's defensive line from the 2025 season is mostly gone, especially in the interior. That is why Gilliam would be a massive get for Marcus Freeman and the Irish defense. Rated as the fifth-best defensive tackle in the portal, according to On3, Gilliam would likely compete for a starting role going into the 2026 season. As just a redshirt freshman, Gilliam played in 11 games where he recorded 16 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Gilliam is still in the infancy of his college career and appears to have a lot of untapped potential. He is an explosive athlete in the interior. Combine that with being just over 300 lbs., Gilliam could become a force on the defensive line. Notre Dame's new defensive line coach, Charlie Partridge, is known for developing talent, which seems like a perfect fit for a young player like Gilliam. He took his official visit to Notre Dame on Tuesday, so a decision on Gilliam's future could be made soon, as Notre Dame is looking to land their first transfer in 2026. Xavier Townsend - Iowa State Wide Receiver Notre Dame has had a rough go of it landing a wide receiver in the portal, thus far. They first missed on Nick Marsh, who committed to Indiana. Then, they lost a battle to Cal for Rutgers standout Ian Strong. Now, Notre Dame pivots to Townsend. Townsend was on campus earlier this week but is getting courted by other programs like Florida State. Unlike Marsh and Strong, Townsend does not have the unique size Notre Dame appears to be looking for in the portal. Although lacking size, Townsend has shown the ability to make plays with his speed and shiftiness. He would be a great depth piece to add to the wide receiver room, especially since KK Smith has recently entered the portal. Whether Townsend decides to join the Irish or not, do not be surprised if Notre Dame continues to search for that boundary receiver that has been so elusive to obtain in this year's portal. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Keon Keeley - Alabama Defensive End Many Irish fans will be familiar with the name Keon Keeley, as he was once a 5-star Notre Dame commit before flipping to Alabama. Keeley is now back on the market, and it appears Marcus Freeman will try once again to bring Keeley to South Bend. With a visit scheduled for Wednesday, Keeley is now a premier target to help revamp their defensive line. Although his time at Alabama has been quiet, Keeley possesses all the physical traits necessary to become a star in college football. During his last season at Alabama, Keeley played in every game but only totaled 16 tackles and three sacks on limited snaps. While it is clear Keeley is athletic, explosive, and a powerful athlete, the next step will be turning those traits into production. John Henry Daley - Utah Defensive End Also visiting Notre Dame this week, Daley would be another talented and productive option for this Notre Dame defensive line. In his first season of real playing time, Daley instantly became one of the most effective pass rushers in the entire country before going down with an Achilles injury. While healthy, Daley recorded 11.5 sacks, 48 tackles, and two forced fumbles. Those kinds of stats would immediately make him one of the most productive players on the Notre Dame defense. Daley's stats also make him, in a way, the safest option in the portal. Many of Notre Dame's other targets are talented but have yet to put it all together on the field. On the other hand, Daley is coming off a concerning late-season Achilles rupture that could put much of the season in jeopardy. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Francis Brewu - Pitt Defensive Tackle Sticking to the trend of defensive linemen, Brewu is yet another option at defensive tackle that Notre Dame has set their eyes on. With a visit to South Bend coming up and a strong connection to defensive line coach Partridge, it appears that Notre Dame is in good position to land Brewu, but there are a lot of teams looking to land the talented young defensive tackle. As a sophomore, Brewu was a very impactful part of a defense that ranked amongst the best in stopping the run. Due to his size and physical nature, Brewu was rarely pushed off the line of scrimmage, blocked running lanes, and tackled the ball carrier. Last season, Brewu totaled 36 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. With Brewu just scratching the surface, he could be an excellent piece to the Irish defense in 2026 and years to come. As a smaller note but worth keeping an eye on, Ohio State 5-star freshman wide receiver Quincy Porter has entered the portal. Porter was once a target for Notre Dame during his high school recruitment and could potentially be one once again. Porter fits exactly what Notre Dame is looking for at wide receiver in the portal. At 6'4, he is the perfect size to play as a boundary wide receiver and still has plenty of time to continue his growth as a former 5-star recruit. As of now, it has not been reported if he will take a visit, but that could change quickly, as the portal moves fast. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame is set to hire Colts Defensive Line Coach Charlie Partridge for the same position. Photo by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Irish moved quickly to fill the opening following the announcement that Al Washington will shift from defensive line coach to linebackers coach beginning in 2026. The move comes after Max Bullough departed Notre Dame to become the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator at Michigan State, his alma mater. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Partridge joins Notre Dame with nearly 30 years of college coaching experience, including stops at Wisconsin and Pittsburgh, as well as a three-year stint as the head coach at Florida Atlantic. Prior to joining the staff in Indianapolis, he spent seven seasons on Pat Narduzzi’s staff at Pitt, where he played a key role in the program’s defensive development. Earlier in his career, Partridge served as Wisconsin’s co-defensive coordinator alongside Chris Ash from 2011-12, before the pair joined Arkansas’s staff in 2013 in similar defensive leadership roles. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Throughout his career, Partridge has worked with elite defensive talent, including coaching J.J. Watt at Wisconsin, Trey Flowers at Arkansas, and Calijah Kancey during his time at Pitt. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @rubenkelly_y on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

With the transfer portal officially open, and with the droves of student-athletes that had already announced their intent to enter, the portal should be as chaotic as ever. With holes still left in the upcoming Notre Dame roster, who are some potential targets for Marcus Freeman and his staff? Photo by Michigan State Athletics Nick Marsh - Michigan State Wide Receiver Nick Marsh would be a huge addition and an impactful player for a team looking to compete for a National Championship in 2026. It has been reported that both Notre Dame and LSU are heavily pursuing Marsh, with Indiana also in the mix. Marsh is a game-changer on the outside and would immediately replace Malachi Fields as the big, physical, and athletic playmaker. Standing at 6'3" and 200 lbs, Marsh excels at making tough, contested catches downfield, but he also combines that size with excellent speed that he uses to outrun defenders and get behind the entire defense for big plays. During his two years at MSU, Marsh totaled 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns, producing over 600 yards in each season. Marsh is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the portal and is clearly someone Notre Dame is pursuing. Notre Dame appears to be lacking that physical target on the outside going into the 2026 season. It was obvious how much CJ Carr enjoyed having the ability to throw the ball to Fields. Marsh could easily turn into that target for Carr in 2026 if Freeman can sell him on Notre Dame. Reed Harris - Boston College Wide Receiver If Notre Dame is unable to land Marsh, Reed Harris could be another great option they could pivot to in order to bolster the wide receiver room in 2026. Harris, like Marsh and Fields from a year ago, is a huge wide receiver who thrives on the outside. Harris is 6'5" and 217 lbs, which gives him a huge advantage against his defenders and would be a dangerous weapon for Carr to use. Last season, Harris was at his best, logging 673 yards and five touchdowns. These big, physical wide receivers seem to be a common target for Notre Dame in the portal. The Irish have plenty of talented wide receivers, but they lack size, and Harris has plenty of that. Although he is probably not as talented as Marsh, Harris would be a great fit in this offense and would seamlessly be able to come in and fill a needed role. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Mateen Ibirogba - Wake Forest Defensive Tackle Notre Dame's interior defensive line is in need of incoming talent this offseason. This group has lost a significant number of players since the season concluded, many of whom were key contributors in 2025. With all of these departures, Notre Dame will most likely be looking to bring in some experience and depth to the interior to ensure its defense is ready in 2026. Ibirogba checks all of those boxes and would be one of the biggest acquisitions of the portal cycle, as he sits at No. 15 on On3's portal rankings. Not only would that mean Notre Dame is getting a great player to come in and start right away, but they would be getting that player in a spot where they desperately need reinforcements. Originally a pass-rusher, Ibirogba has an elite first step and burst off the line. Although much bigger than he was as a pass-rusher, he still retains all of his explosiveness and speed, making him dangerous in the interior. For Ibirogba, consistency at defensive tackle is where he can see the most growth, but it is clear that he has all the athleticism needed to be an impact player for the Irish in 2026. Jontez Williams - Iowa State CB Notre Dame is no stranger to targeting defensive back help in the portal, and Jontez Williams will be no different. The Irish had previously enlisted the likes of DeVonta Smith from Alabama and Jordan Clark from Arizona State to play in the slot for the Fighting Irish over the past two seasons. And with depth like Karson Hobbs now in the transfer portal, nickel is once again a position of need. In his time at Iowa State, Williams totalled 67 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and five interceptions through three seasons. His sticky coverage skills would be another welcome addition to the revolving door that has been the nickel position for the Fighting Irish. Currently, Williams is scheduled to visit Notre Dame on January 5th. Williams will also take visits to USC and Florida. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Ian Geffrard - Arkansas Defensive Tackle For years now, Notre Dame defensive tackles have always leaned on the lighter side of things, favoring speed over size and power. Geffrard would definitely be a change of pace. Geffrard is an astounding 6'6" and 370 lbs. At that size, he would be a huge force in the middle to disrupt the running game and establish a level of physicality on the defensive line that would help Notre Dame's defense remain one of the best in the country. With his size, Geffrard eats up a lot of space, allowing Notre Dame's elite linebackers and pass-rushers to shoot the gaps and get free lanes to the running back and quarterback. He may not be exactly what Notre Dame is looking for in the portal, but he is one of the top defensive tackles in the portal, so far, which means there is a chance he will be someone the staff looks at. It is still early in the transfer portal season, as many more players will still likely enter once every team's season concludes. There will be a lot more twist and turns before it becomes clear what Notre Dame's roster will look like heading into spring camp. The names listed are just a few of the many players Notre Dame are or is likely to pursue this cycle. There are other positions Notre Dame will most likely look to add in the portal like kicker, running back, backup QB, and a few others. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame's gravity-defying Heisman finalist running back is The Irish Tribune's 2025 Golden Domer of the Year. Art by The Irish Tribune Jeremiyah Love is unique, not only because of his blend of speed, size, vision, and toughness from the running back position, but also because of his mindset on and off the field. In the midst of a Heisman-caliber season, Love would rarely gloat in his personal accomplishments, but rather celebrate his teammates surrounding him and ultimately, the success of Notre Dame. Marcus Freeman is a man of many mantras, ranging from "Choose Hard" to "Delayed Gratification," yet the one that spoke the most through a reserved, mild-mannered Love was "Team Glory," a trait that helped the Irish go 24-4 during Love's time as the University's starting running back. And now, with Love's playing days over in South Bend, the talent from St. Louis, Mo. will be a surefire first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This past season, Love rushed his way to New York, posting 1,372 yards, 21 total touchdowns, and 6.9 yards per carry. Even with Love's accomplishments this season, he too had to wait his turn before making major waves for the Fighting Irish. Despite being a top-ranked recruit, Love watched, waited, and learned behind now Saints running back Audric Estime, yet, as Estime departed for the NFL, Love's intangibles were too electric to keep off the field. Love's signature traits include the following: Speed Electrifying runs leaving defenders in the dust were one of Love's most used attributes. As big of a home run hitter as any back in the nation, Love had six 45+ yard rushes this season, with the longest being a 94-yard house call against Boston College, during which he yelled at his own sideline. Before the play, running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider was poking at Love saying he couldn't go for 90+ yards, yet, as Jeremiyah Love did multiple times during his Notre Dame career, he made a jaw-dropping play. This is a perfect example showing the true competitor that is, Jeremiyah Love. Video courtesy of Notre Dame Long touchdown runs have now been etched as normal activities in Notre Dame fans' eyes because of Love's ability to break one loose. This, along with his efficiency to hit the big play, resulted in a season total of 6.9 yards per carry. This was on full display against the Syracuse Orange this season as Love had 8 carries for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Balance and Vision The reason Jeremiyah Love was able to break loose so many runs was because of his speed and his ability to re ad defenses. Love 's vi sion near the line of scrimmage was second to none and his innate feeling of knowing when to bounce runs to the outside seemed second nature. There were a handful of plays this season that seemed to be losses or minimal gains, and Jeremiyah Love would turn them into drive-extending plays. Take this play against Navy, for example: it's 3rd and long with the Irish needing to convert to get points before the half: Video courtesy of NBC Love gets hit just beyond the line of scrimmage, then makes an acrobatic spin move that became a new signature move for him this season, to find the open space and erupt for 16 yards. The Irish would later score a touchdown on that drive. Speaking of the spin-move, its crowning moment was during Notre Dame's matchup against a ranked Pitt team that was hosting College Gameday. There was a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding a potential Panthers' upset, yet Love's signature spin put Irish fans at ease. Video courtesy of Notre Dame Love even used the spin while being on top of other players, like he did against Navy for one of his Heisman signature plays. Video courtesy of Notre Dame Do it All The aspect of Jeremiyah Love's game that made him so appreciated was his ability to do the dirty work. Love was able to be an effective blocker in pass protection, smart with the ball, and also a reliable receiving option. While winning the 2024 Golden Domer of the Year, this was the part of Love's game that improved the most over the calendar year. The most impressive feat of Love's Notre Dame career is that he never fum bled the ball. Especially at the next level, ball security is job security, and Jeremiyah Love never coughed up the ball at the college level. In terms of catching the ball out of the backfield, Love hauled in 27 pass es for 280 yards this season. There was arguably no better display of this than his one-handed catch against Texas A&M. Video courtesy of Notre Dame All You Need is Love Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games, an adage that reigns true for nearly all of the best athletes in the game. With Notre Dame's season on the line against their biggest rival, the USC Trojans, Jeremiyah Love put together the best performance of his career. Love was an unstoppable force that night against the Trojans, rushing for 228 yards, 37 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Love's tenacity was on full display, as he ran through instead of hurdling over USC defenders, and simply trusted his eyes and hit the gaps with explosiveness. Video courtesy of Notre Dame While it's disappointing to think that Jeremiyah Love's time with Notre Dame has come to an end, it is impossible to forget the memories he has made along the way. This award and celebration are ultimately a shrine to his accomplishments, a collection that doesn't even include his memorable moments during the 2024 season and run to the national championship game. Jeremiyah Love's impact on the University of Notre Dame is unquantifiable as he has inspired millions across the country and showed what it means to be an elite player to wear the golden helmet. With that being said, the Irish's first Heisman finalist in 13 years is also the first ever repeat winner of The Irish Tribune's Golden Domer of the Year! Art by The Irish Tribune Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. 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Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The 18th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-2; 1-0) hosted the Pitt Panthers (7-7; 0-1) on Monday evening following a week-long break due to the holidays. With refreshed bodies and legs, the Irish were able to handle Pitt 94-59. Notre Dame’s trio of Hannah Hidalgo, Iyana Moore, and Cassandre Prosper outscored Pitt by themselves with a combined 71 points. Hidalgo led the way offensively with another 30-point outing when her three-point shot was not falling. Prosper forced eight Pitt turnovers as she clamped the Panthers on the perimeter and down low, all while contributing 18 points on an efficient shooting night. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Irish started the game on a 12-3 run with Moore nailing two three-pointers to put the home team out front early. Malaya Cowles and Moore combined for 10 of the Irish’s first 12 points. Pitt was able to respond and made it a 14-10 contest with 4:00 on the clock. Notre Dame then put together an 11-2 run that was capped with a three-pointer from Kelly Ratigan that put the Irish ahead 25-12 with 1:23 remaining in the quarter. Pitt finished off the final minute-plus on a 5-2 stretch, leaving Notre Dame with a 27-17 lead after one quarter. Notre Dame opened up the second on a 9-2 run, featuring six points on three buckets from Prosper, forcing a Pitt timeout after the Irish extended their lead to 36-19 just about four minutes into the frame. The Panthers were able to go on a 6-0 run following the quick break, forcing a Notre Dame timeout with their lead trimmed back down to 11. The Irish responded well to the timeout and closed out the final 4:26 on a 15-4 stretch, including nine points from Hidalgo. Pitt was able to tip in a buzzer-beater to close the half. The Irish entered the half with a decisive 51-29 advantage. Hidalgo and Moore lit up the scoring column in the first twenty minutes, outscoring Pitt by themselves with 31 combined points. Hidalgo was all over the place, finishing with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals with just one turnover while playing the entire half. The Irish played clean with just one foul called against them in the first, leading to no free throw attempts for the Panthers. It was pure domination as they forced 11 turnovers on defense and shot 51% from the field, including 47% from deep. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The first half of the third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with Notre Dame maintaining a 57-34 lead at the 5:00 media timeout. Pitt’s Mikayla Johnson opened the third on a heater, scoring the first eight Panthers points. After Johnson converted an and-one opportunity that cut the Irish lead to 20, Notre Dame answered with a 6-0 run that extended their lead to 63-37 with 3:17 on the clock. The remainder of the quarter was a glorified free-throw contest highlighted by multiple fouls and sloppy turnovers from both teams. Pitt converted a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining to make it a 72-49 game heading into the final quarter. Notre Dame jumped out to a 10-2 run in the first two minutes of the fourth with Prosper nailing two big-time threes that forced an early Pitt timeout with the Irish up 82-51. Out of the break, Moore hit her fifth three-pointer of the night to extend the Irish lead to 34. Moore and Cowles took care of the final seven minutes, scoring all of the Irish’s points during this span that featured some good back-and-forth between the two squads. Notre Dame’s 94-59 victory extends its win streak to five as ACC play officially ramps up. Similar to the first half, the Irish were able to capitalize on Pitt’s turnovers and shut down the Panthers offensively. Pitt shot 0-5 from deep in the second half and turned the ball over 13 times as Notre Dame’s smothering play was too much for the road team. Irish Stars of the Game: Hannah Hidalgo - 30 points (13-23 FGs), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals (passed Niele Ivey for 2nd-most in program history), +34, 36 minutes Iyana Moore - 23 points (7-13 FGs, 5-9 3FGs), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, +34, 39 minutes Cassandre Prosper - 18 points (2-3 3FGs), 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals, +36, 39 minutes Malaya Cowles - 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, +20, 31 minutes  Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage - ND (49%) - Pitt (34%) Three Point Percentage - ND (42%) - Pitt (27%) Turnovers - Pitt (24) - ND (10) Up next, the 18th-ranked Irish (10-2; 2-0) travel to Atlanta for an afternoon New Year’s Day tilt with Georgia Tech. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Over the course of the last month or so, there had been a myriad of rumors surrounding Marcus Freeman and potential NFL head coaching jobs. Today, Freeman announced emphatically on X that he would be remaining at Notre Dame in a few simple words: "2026... run it back. Go Irish" It wouldn't be a Notre Dame offseason without heaps of drama, and before the dust had even settled, there had been multiple reports of Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman gaining interest from a few NFL teams for their vacant head coaching positions, namely the New York Giants. Marcus Freeman had been linked to the Giants for multiple weeks, as ESPN radio had reported that Freeman was at one point "favored for the Giants HC job". NFL insider Diana Russini had also reported that Freeman was "among the names on the candidates list for the Giants head coaching vacancy". Amidst all the speculation, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, who has been the center of attention for better or worse this offseason, remained steadfast in ensuring that Freeman would remain in South Bend to lead Notre Dame. Earlier in the offseason, Bevacqua referred to Freeman's contract with the Irish as "a living, breathing document", implying that amendments were always going to be in play to ensure Freeman would be compensated handsomely. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! And despite all of the noise, Marcus Freeman is still humbled by the opportunities presented to him, while still being entirely invested in Notre Dame's football program. In an interview earlier this month, Freeman was asked about the NFL speculation. Like most of Freeman's conversations with the media, he spoke of gratitude. "Well, I think the gratitude you have for one, even being mentioned by an organization like (the Giants), you know, I've got a lot of respect for all NFL teams, but you know, the history of the Giants is tremendous. But it's gratitude for me, it reminds me of the honor that I have to be in the position that I have, and you know, I've said that before. I use that to remind myself of the gratitude that I have for this position, because you wouldn't have said that statement if I didn't have this job and we weren't having success here. And it's a reminder for me that the people in our program, the work they put in, we all put in to have an output that has been pretty successful these past couple of years. The result of that is, you know, having your name mentioned for a place like the New York Giants or any other major program. It's humbling, but I always use it as a reminder to be grateful for what I have, because if you're not grateful for it, I often say you're going to lose it." And after a week or two of deafening silence, Freeman finally would stomp out the rumor mill in a single tweet. Freeman has amassed a career record of 43-12 as the head coach of Notre Dame, reaching 10 wins for the third time in four seasons in 2025. Freeman took his team to the National Title game last season after snapping Notre Dame's New Year's Six bowl drought spanning back to 1994. Freeman also finished with the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, his highest clip yet. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Coming into this season, everybody and their brother inside the Notre Dame Football world knew that Notre Dame had to at worst split between the Miami and Texas A&M games in order to secure a playoff spot come December. They instead lost both games, which created a massive hole for the Irish to try to climb out of. Blame it on coaching, inexperience, scheme, whatever you want, but the fact remains, Notre Dame didn't get the job done against either of their two toughest opponents on the schedule, which would give the powers that be an out to exclude them from the playoffs. Photo by Maysun Hassanali As a result, their backs were against the wall, and the Irish were going to have to go on a run and need help in the process. So, it was going to be interesting to see how they handled the adversity and where they would go from there. As we all know, they went on an impressive 10-game winning streak in mostly dominating fashion to end the season, leading many to believe that they had indeed done enough to secure a playoff spot. It didn't help that the CFB Playoff Committee dragged them along for what seemed like forever, teasing them by putting them above Miami (a team they lost head-to-head to) until the very end. The committee led Notre Dame like a horse with a carrot, with no intention of ever putting them in the playoffs, it would seem. The writing was on the wall when they moved Alabama up after struggling to beat a very bad Auburn team, securing them a spot in the playoffs regardless of the outcome of the SEC Championship. They continued to lead Notre Dame along for clicks and likes week after week on a show that seemed more like a WWE theatrical event than a show announcing football rankings, so it wasn't a shock to me when they decided to leave Notre Dame out. Notre Dame did something they can't do, and that is to leave it in the hands of others, trusting they will do the right thing. They won't! Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! If you haven't noticed by now, the college football world hates Notre Dame, and that couldn't have been more obvious when every media pundit went on a smear campaign for weeks on end to try to bully the committee into seeing it their way. Little did they know, the committee had already made up its mind about what it was going to do, exposing both sides to the corruption that was to follow. But should we be surprised by any of this? If you've been around as long as I have, probably not. This act by the committee only served to expose the shadiness and drop the curtain, much like in The Wizard of Oz, revealing them for what they are. If the committee were being honest about it, they would have had Miami above Notre Dame the entire time, since they won head-to-head, and that's all anyone seems to care about while purposely ignoring the 1993 season outcome; When Notre Dame beat Florida State head-to-head, finished the season with identical records, and got screwed out of the National Championship. No one seemed to care about the head-to-head then, but all of a sudden, the Notre Dame Miami head-to-head result and playoff ranking were talked about like the greatest tragedy to ever occur in the sport. And never mind Alabama, which got beat by an abysmal Florida State team this year and suffered a 3rd loss as they got their doors blown off in the SEC Championship against Georgia, and magically never dropped a single spot in the playoff rankings. That's an issue in itself. But, this has less to do with Miami and Alabama and more to do with the committee. Notre Dame wishes to remain independent and refuses to be held captive to the corporate powers who want total control of the comings and goings of their football program, just like they have with the other powerhouses within College Football. And don't let any fan or team tell you they wouldn't want their team to be independent, because if they did, they'd be lying to you. The ones that scream the loudest, "join a conference," are the same ones that don't have the brand power or money to be self-sufficient enough to do it. Anybody with a brain, if they're being honest, knows that Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country and should have been in the playoffs. Instead, we were stuck with one of the most boring playoff weekend slates you'll ever see, which included two G5 teams with no business being there in the first place getting run out of the stadium. But that's a different gripe for a different day. In the end, Notre Dame made two fatal errors that kept them on the outside of the playoffs, looking in. First, they didn't split between Miami and Texas A&M, which would have left the committee no choice but to put them in, although they still would've tried not to. Second, they put themselves in a position where they needed help from an organization that would love nothing more than to keep them out. Going forward, there is really only one way to remain independent and still make the playoffs, and that's to leave no doubt by convincingly winning all your games. Don't, and Notre Dame could once again find itself in this same predicament. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Photos via Notre Dame Athletics What a shocker, the University of Spoiled Children got their way. Hollywood has officially gone to their heads. The overall sentiment around the sport of college football is that it is a dying product, in large part due to conference realignment, the transfer portal, and a seemingly ‘anything goes’ world surrounding NIL. All of this has destroyed some of the sport’s greatest traditions and rivalries, and the USC Trojans have been and continue to be one of the biggest perpetrators of this new era. After effectively destroying the Pac-12 and leaving Washington State and Oregon State out to dry, the Trojans have now successfully put a halt to the iconic Notre Dame-USC rivalry. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! For context, the Irish and Trojans first played in 1926 and have played every year since, besides 1943-45 (World War II) and 2020 (Covid). The Jeweled Shillelagh trophy will have to be shelved until at least 2030, symbolizing the ‘pause’ on one of college football’s greatest rivalries. Between the two programs, no other annual rivalry has combined for more national titles, Heisman winners, or players selected in the NFL Draft. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51-37-5, and has won the last three games, hopefully leaving a long-lasting salty taste in the Trojans mouths.  This past Monday, Notre Dame announced a home-and-home series for 2026 and ‘27 with BYU, finalizing the failure between the Irish and Trojans to sign a new contract. While the current deal was always slated to end in 2025, there was no legitimate concern about the rivalry’s future until this May when Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde reported, “USC has expressed reluctance to enter into a long-term deal due to uncertainty about the future College Football Playoff format, and while assessing the demands of greater travel as a member of the Big Ten. USC has broached the idea of moving the game to a season-opening spot on the schedule, sources tell SI.” At this time, USC had offered a one-year extension to play at the LA Coliseum in 2026. Notre Dame was seeking a more long-term deal, preserving the rivalry and any chance of its demise in the future. Essentially, all of this goes back to USC’s decision to join the Big Ten. This decision has created a domino effect that leads us to today. It was the Big Ten, including USC, who pushed for an expanded playoff format. It was USC that knew that the travel could be an issue for not just football, but their entire athletic department, when they joined the Big Ten. The Trojans did this to themselves, and as their alumni have boldly acknowledged across social media, they are the ones who look bad in this situation. In his weekly press conference leading up to this past October’s USC matchup, Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman stated, "I know our leadership administration and their leadership administration are talking to try to find a way to extend this rivalry, and so I'm confident it will be extended…I think the rivalry between Notre Dame and USC is a great rivalry, one of the best, and I think it's great for college football." So what happened in just over two months to cause this strain? Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Yahoo Sports has reported that the two programs were close to signing a two-year extension in November before USC ultimately backed out. Trojan officials determined that the traditional post-Thanksgiving date was "no longer ideal" based on past decisions from the CFP Committee, including punishing programs for late-season losses. USC AD Jen Cohen and Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua had a brief discussion about playing the game week zero next season, but clearly that dialogue did not end with a positive result.  This acknowledgement by USC that the CFP penalizes late-season losses is a roundabout way to say they know and are scared of Notre Dame’s abilities in its current state. The Irish have their leader for the foreseeable future, are now matching USC’s annual elite recruiting classes while exceeding their on-field product, and do not appear to be slowing down. If Notre Dame were not having this success on and off the field, there is little doubt in my mind that this rivalry’s future would even be in question. But that is just how USC rolls. Most recently, USC officials have disputed that they received the full language of the CFP MOU, and that “new information” and the CFP selection process are why they do not want to play Notre Dame late in the season. NBC Sports confirmed this was false with a person who has direct knowledge of the communications between the Big Ten offices and schools. This source stated that all 18 schools received the full MOU, which USC supported, in March 2024. NBC Sports then reported a second source, claiming the MOU language had not been changed since its origination. So not only is USC scared of Notre Dame, but they are just liars, in general. This last-ditch effort to stay clear of any blame was unsuccessful, thanks to Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports. USC, Jen Cohen, and Lincoln Riley deserve any disapproval they receive from the Trojans staff, alumni, fans, and college football fans across the country who were able to even just casually enjoy the historic annual rivalry. Notre Dame is going to continue playing big games that draw a national crowd and have Monday talk shows talking about the Irish. Admittedly, if other programs started dropping Notre Dame from their schedules, then they may have to take a look in the mirror. But this will not happen in the near future. USC was able to get away because of an expiring deal. The opponents that the Irish have scheduled for the future would likely have to pay a significant cancellation fee to Notre Dame if they dropped the game. To further prove that Notre Dame is not 'ducking' USC, the Irish resume their Shamrock Series next season against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field before matchups with Miami, BYU, and Michigan State. In 2027, they will begin a 12-year series with Clemson, will finish the BYU series, and begin a home-and-home with Auburn. Then in 2028, they will play Clemson, Auburn, and Texas. And then in 2029, they will play Clemson, Texas, and Alabama. Maybe USC will be back in 2030, but the Irish will have a slew of big-time matchups to pass the time until they can defend the Jeweled Shillelagh. It is fitting that the trophy will be in its rightful home as it rests. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

In an article released on Monday, December 22, Ross Dellenger reported that USC and Notre Dame officials failed to reach an agreement to extend their historic rivalry. The 2026 matchup would have been the 97th meeting in the series, one that has spanned nearly a century. The only times the two programs did not play were during a three-year hiatus in World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo via USC Athletics Everyone’s Biggest Question: Why? When USC decided to leave the PAC-12 for the Big Ten, they faced a difficult realization. They were no longer facing explosive West Coast air-raid offenses that put up hundreds of yards per game through the air alone. Instead, they had to travel to Rutgers, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan for conference games—programs notorious for their “trench warfare” mindsets. But why is that different from regular conference games? The difference is timing and location. These games would be played in December. In the Midwest. Playing Iowa in November at Kinnick Stadium is a very different scenario than hosting Stanford in sunny Southern California. The Big Ten also features many elite programs within its 18-team conference. Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon were all ranked inside the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s Top 5 at the end of the season. Michigan, Iowa, Washington, Penn State (despite a major midseason collapse that led to their coach being fired), Nebraska, and Illinois, among others, were all ranked at various points throughout the year. USC’s schedule was no longer a Big Ten season opener, cupcakes, conference games in the same time zone, and one game every other year travelling to South Bend. It became a gauntlet—not just because of the opponents, but because of the toll it took on players and staff. Flying to Ann Arbor on a Wednesday night or Thursday morning, spending days acclimating to the weather, playing Saturday, taking a roughly four-hour flight home that night, and still being expected to practice or meet Sunday or Monday, only to possibly repeat the cycle the following week. In doing so, they would also be playing in some of the toughest atmospheres in the country. Oregon, Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan, and Iowa are notorious for hostile environments. Those programs have posted a combined 59–13 record at home over the past two seasons. On top of that, USC would still have to play Notre Dame. Playing such a taxing schedule, potentially travelling to Rutgers and Maryland in back-to-back weeks before facing a consistently strong Notre Dame team, is difficult to stomach, especially for a program with College Football Playoff aspirations. Ross Dellenger stated; “USC officials determined that the game date was not ideal considering past decisions from the CFP selection committee punishing schools for losses, especially late in the season.” Officials from both universities attempted to negotiate an extension to the rivalry. USC offered to move the game to September or host it at a neutral site, with the possibility of airing it on Netflix. Those proposals did not resonate with Irish officials, who wanted to preserve the longstanding agreement of rotating between October games in South Bend and season finales in Southern California. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua, who has seen his name appear throughout national headlines following the CFP committee’s decision to exclude Notre Dame from the College Football Playoff, stated in an interview that he was confident the two schools would reach an agreement. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Moving Forward Notre Dame wasted no time finding its 12th game for the 2026 season, securing a matchup with a program that faced a similar fate to the Irish earlier in December. BYU will host Notre Dame in 2026 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, before traveling to South Bend in 2027. Dates, times, and broadcast information have yet to be announced. The most recent meeting between the two programs occurred in 2022 during the Shamrock Series at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Notre Dame won 28–20 over No. 16 BYU, improving to 7–2 in the all-time series. That season also marked the last time the Irish finished unranked in the AP Poll. The game will draw additional attention due to comments made earlier this month by Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, who publicly argued that BYU deserved to be ranked ahead of Notre Dame in the CFP and called Bevacqua’s comments regarding the ACC’s social media campaign promoting Miami “egregious.” Notre Dame's withdrawal from the Pop Tart Bowl (Which would have seen them match up against BYU) will also be a major focal point. History of the Rivalry Notre Dame leads the all-time series against USC 51–37–5 and is 3-1 against the Trojans under head coach Marcus Freeman. But the rivalry represents far more than a ranked non-conference matchup. Since its inception in 1926, Notre Dame–USC has captured the essence of college football. Combined, the two programs boast: 23 National Championships* 15 Heisman Trophy winners 1,818 All-time wins 190 Consensus All-Americans 69 Unanimous All-Americans 1,071 NFL Draft Picks 157 First Round NFL Draft Picks 28 NFL Hall of Famers 83 College Football Hall of Famers In short, it is not only one of the greatest rivalries in college football history, but one of the greatest rivalries in American sports—alongside Michigan/Ohio State, Yankees/Red Sox, the Iron Bowl, Duke/UNC, Bears/Packers, Celtics/Lakers, and Army/Navy. *Indicates titles claimed by each university Will the Rivalry Ever Return? To put it bluntly: we don’t know. Officials from both schools have expressed interest in restoring the series by the 2030 season, but nothing has been confirmed. What is certain is that the programs will not meet for at least the next two seasons. The state of college football itself remains uncertain heading toward 2030. Five years is a long gap between rivalry games. Excluding postseason matchups or special eligibility circumstances, only a small group of current underclassmen—those able to redshirt and potentially receive medical waivers—would have a chance to face USC again. The only players currently meeting that criteria are Jordan Botelho and Jake Tafelski*. *Tafelski transferred to ND from Central Michigan Other Historical Rivalries Impacted by Realignment USC is not the only rivalry affected by conference realignment. Notre Dame stopped playing Michigan annually after partially joining the ACC in 2014 and has faced the Wolverines just twice since. Michigan State will play Notre Dame in 2026 for the first time since 2013. Purdue, Pitt, and Boston College are also no longer annual matchups—despite Purdue remaining a frequent opponent. The Stanford series is also up in the air, as the Cardinal face similar travel challenges under the ACC and increasingly unfavorable scheduling circumstances. The schools have not extended their agreement beyond 2026. The most notorious rivalry cancellation in Notre Dame history remains the “Catholics vs. Convicts” series against Miami in the late 1980s. Between 1987 and 1989, the winner of that game went on to claim the national championship. The series was ultimately discontinued due to escalating hostility between fanbases. The Lone Survivor With the annual matchup against USC ending, Navy will be the only rivalry on Notre Dame’s schedule played every year. Independence and How it Correlates to the Decision At the center of the disagreement lies a fundamental difference: USC is bound to a conference schedule, while Notre Dame is not. As a Big Ten member, USC has limited flexibility. Conference obligations dictate travel, timing, and opponent quality—demands that intensify late in the season. Notre Dame, by contrast, retains control of its schedule. Independence allows the Irish to balance competitive opponents while avoiding the cumulative toll of conference-heavy travel. However, that flexibility now presents a new challenge. For decades, USC served as a built-in strength-of-schedule anchor for Notre Dame. The rivalry provided an annual, late-season matchup against a nationally recognized brand that consistently carried weight with voters, media partners, and the CFP selection committee. Regardless of record, USC offered résumé value that few non-conference opponents could replicate. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle With the rivalry gone, Notre Dame loses one of its most dependable pillars of national credibility. While the Irish can, and will, continue to schedule strong opponents, replacing USC’s annual brand value is difficult. Rotating non-conference matchups lack the cumulative impact of a yearly rivalry long viewed as a benchmark. This matters more than ever in the playoff era. Strength of schedule is frequently referenced—explicitly or implicitly—when comparing teams with similar records. USC often served as a late-season data point that helped define Notre Dame’s résumé. Without it, the Irish become more dependent on ACC opponents, neutral-site games, and one-off matchups that may fluctuate widely in quality. Independence cuts both ways. It gives Notre Dame freedom, but also responsibility. With one fewer elite opponent annually, the margin for error shrinks. A single loss now carries more weight without USC to offset it. Navy and five ACC opponents remain locked in each season, and Notre Dame still can schedule marquee games. In 2025, excluding USC, those opponents include Miami, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Purdue, and Boise State—proof that the Irish are still willing to challenge themselves. But the loss of USC reshapes the equation. Independence remains an advantage, yet the absence of Notre Dame’s most iconic rivalry forces the program to rethink how it builds—and defends—its strength of schedule in a rapidly evolving sport. Issues with Future Matchups Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule has faced significant scrutiny following its exclusion from the College Football Playoff. The schedule is as follows: 9/6 Wisconsin (Shamrock Series) 9/12 Rice 9/19 Michigan State 9/26 at Purdue 10/3 at UNC 10/31 Navy (at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA) 11/7 Miami 11/21 Boston College TBA SMU TBA at Syracuse TBA at BYU TBA Stanford On paper, it appears weak. But context matters. The Wisconsin game was originally scheduled for 2020, with the agreement signed in 2017, when Wisconsin finished 13–1, went undefeated in the regular season, ranked No. 6 in the final CFP standings, and defeated Miami in the Orange Bowl. Michigan State was announced in 2024 as a continuation of a historic rivalry. However, the Spartans have not met Notre Dame since 2017, and the Megaphone Trophy has not left South Bend since. The core issue is this: Notre Dame cannot control whether opponents are elite when the games are played. Without conference affiliation, elite matchups are not guaranteed annually. USC, by contrast, will play Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon in 2026, not as non-conference challenges, but as built-in conference games. All three finished inside the Top 5 of the final 2025 CFP rankings. Similarly, South Carolina will face Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, Clemson, and Texas A&M—every one ranked inside the Top 13 nationally in Blue Chip Ratio*, with four CFP participants. So while Rice, Purdue, and Boston College may not be perennial contenders, Notre Dame is constrained by long-term scheduling agreements. In 2025, the Irish played only three ACC teams ranked inside the Top 10 (Miami, Pitt, and NC State), going 2–1. The issue? Wins over Georgia Tech, Virginia, or Duke would have strengthened their CFP argument considerably. Joining a conference is not the only solution. But Notre Dame must adapt how it schedules. The Irish recently announced a 12-year agreement with Clemson—only for Clemson to follow it up with its worst season since 2010. *Ratio of 4/5 Stars to non-4/5 Stars Why This Isn’t Just About a Rivalry The end of the Notre Dame–USC rivalry is not simply the loss of a historic matchup—it is a case study in how modern college football increasingly rewards conference depth over independence. While the game has long been one of the sport’s most iconic non-conference fixtures, its cancellation highlights a growing structural imbalance: conference members are guaranteed elite opponents through league play, while independents must forecast competitive relevance years in advance. For Notre Dame, the ripple effects go far beyond tradition. Strength of schedule, playoff optics, and late-season résumé value are now more volatile than ever. And in a system where margins are razor-thin, volatility can be the difference between postseason inclusion and exclusion. The Math Behind the Loss For decades, the USC matchup functioned as one of Notre Dame’s most reliable strength-of-schedule anchors. Regardless of outcome, the game carried national relevance, brand equity, and late-season timing—three elements that historically influenced how the Irish were evaluated by voters, media, and the College Football Playoff selection committee. Removing USC from the calendar strips Notre Dame of an annual opponent that combined competitive equity with perceived weight. While the Irish can replace the game with quality opponents, replicating the cumulative résumé value of a yearly rivalry against a traditional power is far more difficult. In an era where conference champions accumulate elite matchups by default, independence now requires precision scheduling rather than tradition. A Rivalry Lost in the Modern Game College football has never been more national, and never less forgiving. The end of the Notre Dame–USC rivalry is not the result of apathy or institutional failure, but a reflection of a sport reorganized around conference incentives, playoff optimization, and logistical efficiency. What was once a cornerstone of late-season evaluation has become a liability for programs navigating rigid conference schedules. USC adjusted to those realities. Notre Dame, independent by design, must now recalibrate within a system increasingly structured against programs operating outside conference alignment. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!