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Notre Dame just signed the highest-ranked class in a generation when the class of 2026 put ink to paper last week. And if landing the No. 2 overall-ranked class for 2026 wasn't enough, they continued to hit the ground running with an early star-studded 2027 class, with four 4-star recruits already committed to the Irish. Today, they landed yet another highly touted recruit in 4-star CB Ashton "Ace" Alston. Art by The Irish Tribune Alston is a 5'11", 175lbs dual-sport athlete in both football and basketball at Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is currently ranked in football by 247 Sports as the No. 2 overall recruit in the state of Ohio, the 11th-best cornerback in the country, and ranked 115th-overall recruit nationally. This past season, he amassed 53 tackles (1.5 tackles for a loss), 16 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions, and averaged 10 points per game in 16 varsity games as a 10th grader in basketball. Before committing to the Irish today, Alston held 42 offers from such notable schools as Indiana, Ohio State, Tennessee, USC, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among many others. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! 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!

The results are in. Alabama and Miami in, Notre Dame out. Despite having the Irish as a member of the field a mere five days ago, they're now on the outside looking in. What in the hell happened? Where's the logic? Well, the "logic" employed by the committee is flawed. And a subtle switch they made in the penultimate installment of the CFP rankings set Notre Dame up for failure. Photo by Tyler Wong Now, to state the obvious, Notre Dame lost two football games, and the only reason they find themselves in this position is because of that very fact. When you leave yourself vulnerable to chaos by sowing the seeds of doubt in your resume, you can't be too surprised when chaos rears its ugly head at you. However, when there is a clear agenda set up by the committee at the 12th hour of the season that defies their entire argument up to this point, it's simply an inconceivable and irrevocable indictment on the state of college football, full stop. Let's get into what exactly the committee did this week to set up Notre Dame to fall on the sword. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! To start, the Irish were ranked ahead of Alabama and Miami prior to rivalry week, the last data point on the resumes of both Notre Dame and Miami, with Notre Dame ranked 9th, Alabama ranked 10th, and Miami ranked 12th. Notre Dame and Miami both handled business, with the Irish winning decisively on the road by 29 points, and the Hurricanes winning by 31, albeit by running up the score needlessly with their starters in the game. At Jordan Hare in the Iron Bowl? Well, Alabama had just choked away a 17-point lead against a 5-win Auburn team. They would ultimately win in what would be described as a "gutsy" performance by committee chairman Hunter Yurachek. With that win, Alabama, which has two losses and is sitting behind Notre Dame, would face Georgia in the SEC championship. Miami, Notre Dame, and Alabama would all finish the season 10-2. Despite another unimpressive performance in November for Alabama, a stretch that saw the Crimson Tide finish 3-1, with a loss to Oklahoma and two sloppy performances against LSU and Auburn, the wheels were already in motion behind closed doors to seal Notre Dame's fate. The release of the penultimate rankings sewered the Irish, and everyone with eyes could see it. Alabama (+1) Notre Dame (-1) BYU Miami After limping past Auburn in unimpressive fashion, the Tide inexplicably jumped Notre Dame in Tuesday's rankings. According to Yurachek, the fourth-down call to put the Tide ahead in the Iron Bowl was enough to sway committee members to swap the two teams. This was in spite of Notre Dame's 29-point victory over Stanford. In hindsight, this set up a championship weekend scenario that gave Notre Dame zero chance to make the playoff. If Alabama were to win, and BYU were to lose, this would place Notre Dame and Miami in a direct head-to-head scenario. The outside noise from the ACC, ESPN, and other talking heads had put enough pressure on the committee to swap the two teams. Notre Dame's only perceived hope was for both Alabama and BYU to lose and drop, ensuring that both Miami and Notre Dame would slot in. Alabama was obliterated by the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, losing by three touchdowns in a game that saw Alabama amass -3 total rushing yards. By far the most unimpressive and inept showing all season. BYU would get clobbered by Texas Tech for the second time, ending any hope for the Cougars to make the field. It appeared to be a best-case scenario for Notre Dame, and one that would see both Miami and Notre Dame make the playoff, with Alabama being excluded after an abhorrent month of football. It was common sense. Instead, the selection committee used their trump card, didn't drop Alabama at all, and swapped Miami and Notre Dame after BYU fell in the rankings. While we're at it, how come BYU dropped, and Alabama didn't? Well, the answer is simple - to ensure Notre Dame never had a chance. The play for the committee since Tuesday was to unseed Notre Dame. What started as a subtle swap between the Irish and the Crimson Tide was the first domino to ensure Notre Dame would not make the field. Alabama was protected because of their conference championship, BYU wasn't solely so they can move Miami up, and now Miami had head-to-head, so they swapped the teams. An incredibly gutless move that defied all other logic displayed by the committee, which had insisted that Miami and Notre Dame had already been compared. The real travesty was the committee bending the knee and not sticking to their criteria throughout the last month. It was unfair to punish BYU and not to punish Alabama. It was unfair to call Notre Dame the better team up until Tuesday, and then arbitrarily switch them with a Miami team that lost two games in the middle of the season after saying the head-to-head was only one data point to consider and not the whole story. The playoff committee has completely shifted the goal posts and caved to the pressure of outside noise. The outside noise is an entirely different story. The lobbying from ESPN pundits yesterday during games was blatant and ridiculous. Kirk Herbstreit watched Alabama get absolutely dogwalked by Georgia to punctuate one of the worst months for any of the teams in consideration, and then decided to throw Notre Dame on the chopping block while the entire country watched. It's one of the most shameless things I've ever seen from a network. Now, ESPN doesn't get to line their pockets with Notre Dame's bowl game money, as the Irish have opted out - and rightfully so. The bottom line is that Notre Dame shouldn't have lost two games. But the biggest takeaway should be that the system is broken. Notre Dame will miss the playoff, robbing one of the best 12 teams in the country of an opportunity to play for a national championship. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LiamGaudetIT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 10 Notre Dame is sitting in an uncomfortable position on conference championship weekend not only because of their poor play to start the season, but also because of the CFP committee's lack of logic. Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame has already completed its résumé, finishing the year on a 10-game winning streak with every single victory being double-digit triumphs. Last Saturday, the Irish seemed to solidify their upward trend with a 29-point win over Stanford, yet the College Football Playoff committee disagreed. Instead of rewarding the Irish's four-touchdown victory on the road during Rivalry Week, the decision was made to have Notre Dame fall a spot behind Alabama, whose seven-point win over Auburn was unconvincing at best. When asked about the change in the ranking, Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek claimed the Tide's 17-point first half lead and "gutsy" call on 4th down after giving up the aforementioned lead were enough to have Alabama leapfrog the Irish. Make it make sense. If the CFP committee acted with logic over spontaneity, the whole process would receive far less discourse. If the committee didn't overreact to Miami's loss at SMU or the Tide's loss against Oklahoma, then there would be no one up in arms about their rise that has been backed without a true understandable reason. This weekend ultimately should boil down to two conference championship games for the Fighting Irish: The Big 12 and the SEC. Let's quickly break down the outcomes for these games. BYU Wins, Alabama Wins Verdict: OUT Realistically, this would be the worst-case scenario for Notre Dame. A BYU win would have the Cougars get an automatic bid and skyrocket up the standings, which the same could be said about Alabama. Neither Texas Tech nor Georgia would fall out of the rankings, and Oklahoma would be the last team in the field. BYU Wins, Georgia Wins Verdict: OUT Any BYU win would be the death sentence for Notre Dame's college football hopes. If this situation was presented before Tuesday night, the Irish might've felt comfortable cracking the playoff under these circumstances. Yet, with Alabama's ascension over Notre Dame on Tuesday, the committee safeguarded the Tide. Barring an absolute blowout, Alabama would still be safely in the field. The Tide would simply fall behind BYU who would assume the No. 9 spot in the rankings with the Crimson Tide falling to No. 10. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Texas Tech Wins, Georgia Wins Verdict: IN This is the most favorable outcome, and the one Notre Dame fans need to be rooting for. A BYU loss would kick the Cougars to the curb in terms of making the playoffs, while an Alabama loss would certainly, at least, have them fall a spot behind Notre Dame. If the committee were to keep Alabama in the same position but drop BYU, it would be a ludicrous decision despite the fact that the Tide would've already had a matchup win against its conference champion foe. In the end, this is the outcome that has highest likelihood for Notre Dame to be in the playoff. Texas Tech Wins, Alabama Wins Verdict: CHAOS This outcome would make for the most stressful watch come Sunday morning/afternoon. If the scenarios of these two conference games were to unfold exactly like they did in the regular season, a sizable Texas Tech win and a close Crimson Tide victory, how would the committee address the last spot? Logic would point to the fact that if on Tuesday, Team A is ranked higher than Team B, and two teams DO NOT PLAY a single down of football between that night and Sunday night, then the higher ranked team would remain in that position. How can the feeling of those two teams be manipulated if neither one had the opportunity to show something different from the last time the committee voted on Tuesday night? The most sensible answer would be it should be impossible for Miami to be moved ahead of Notre Dame because neither team did anything this Saturday to change that outcome. Miami and Notre Dame have been in the same competitive pool for the last three weeks, and the people in Grapevine, Texas, have come to the consistent conclusion that Notre Dame is the better team. Yet, this finding is based on the assumed fact that the CFP committee would act in a logical manner, which is a trait they have yet to display. Ultimately, Miami and Notre Dame are both capable of winning a national championship. It is a shame this discussion has come to an either/or rather than both teams making it in and having the opportunity to display their talent. The 12-team playoff is still in its infancy, and there are certainly corrections that need to be made, but the committee acting without reason has been the biggest red flag throughout this process. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The College Football Committee has released the newest installment of the CFP rankings just days before the conference championships are set to be played and Selection Sunday. Notre Dame saw itself drop one spot to No. 10, prompting many to consider a reality where Notre Dame is left out. Here, we'll break down the rankings and the possible results that see Notre Dame making it or being left out of the field. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! First, let's break down the most recent rankings where Notre Dame was jumped by Alabama. This may be one of the controversial parts of the rankings regarding Notre Dame. In this past weekend of play, Notre Dame, albeit sloppily, dominated Stanford in a 49-20 rout. On the other hand, Alabama squandered an early lead and needed a 4th and goal touchdown to take a late lead against Auburn. Strangely, the committee chairman referenced that conversion as a positive for the Crimson Tide, even one that may have decided the Notre Dame-Alabama argument. Yes, that play was a crowning moment for Alabama and one that sealed their chance to play for an SEC championship, but it is also important to remember that Auburn is only a five-win team. Should Alabama have even been in that situation? One other important factor to explain Notre Dame's fall in the rankings is the Texas A&M loss. Now, the committee never mentioned this, but the Aggies' drop in the rankings likely played a part in Notre Dame's decline. So, with Notre Dame not participating in a conference championship, they will act as bystanders as the final games before Selection Sunday unfold. It is safe to say that Notre Dame no longer controls its own destiny to the playoffs, so the Irish will be looking for some help on Saturday. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle First, Notre Dame absolutely needs Texas Tech to take care of BYU. If not, it seems almost certain that it would mean the end of Notre Dame's playoff hopes. Right now, BYU sits on the outside looking in at No. 11, but with a Big 12 championship win, they would jump the Fighting Irish. Texas Tech, even with a loss, would remain in, effectively pushing Notre Dame out of the final spot in the playoffs. If Texas Tech wins, the door stays open for Notre Dame to make it to the CFP. Now, this is not a certainty, but it is the only way for Notre Dame to remain in the hunt. That scenario would look something like a BYU loss either drops them or keeps them at No. 11. Either way, Notre Dame stays put at No. 10, and as long as nobody jumps them, they will safely be in the playoffs. Although the Texas Tech-BYU game is a must for the Irish, it is not the only outcome they need to keep their eyes on. The Georgia-Alabama SEC championship matchup is another game that could impact Notre Dame's seeding. It is still up for debate whether this outcome will officially knock Notre Dame out, but it is important either way. With a Georgia win, Alabama may not drop out of the playoffs, but it could put them behind Notre Dame, giving the Irish some cushion from a side-by-side ranking to Miami. That means the bigger the Georgia win, the better for Notre Dame. If the game is close, the committee may feel inclined to keep Alabama at No. 9, as they would not want to punish the Crimson Tide for playing in the SEC championship game. The last aspect of all of this is, of course, Miami. These two teams have been the talk of college football ever since the first CFP rankings came out. It is only fitting that it will come down to the final week. Like Notre Dame, Miami will also not be playing this weekend, meaning if there is any change, it will purely come from the perception the committee has of these two teams. Notre Dame and its fans can hold on to the idea that it appears the committee has already made up its mind on the two. The committee has ranked Notre Dame ahead of Miami for weeks now, so on a week that neither team plays, it would be hard to imagine anything changes. With that being said, it is not out of the question, however. This would really only be a scenario with a BYU loss. As stated earlier, a BYU loss could drop them out of the No. 11 spot, allowing Miami to move up a spot next to Notre Dame. If that is the case, both teams could be fighting over the No. 10 seed. The committee chairman has already revealed that Notre Dame and Miami have already been directly compared, with Notre Dame winning that debate. The question is, would that answer change if they were directly next to each other in the rankings? It could be that the committee did not use the head-to-head matchup in previous rankings because they could not justify Miami jumping other teams to pass Notre Dame. In this scenario, there would be no other team to jump, which could be all the committee needs to finally rank Miami ahead of the Irish. Of course, these are all hypotheticals. The only thing Marcus Freeman, his team, and the fans can do now is wait and see how it all unfolds. As a smaller note, Notre Dame can also root for Boise State to win its conference championship to boost the Irish's strength of schedule. Other than that, Irish fans are Texas Tech and Georgia fans for the upcoming weekend to ensure the best odds for Notre Dame to reach the playoffs and continue playing for a National Championship. 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!

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have officially signed the future of their offense. And now, we can officially announce the offensive side of this historic class of 2026! Recruiting is a roller coaster ride for both the coaches and the fans who follow it. There is a lot of work for the coaching staff. They spend months building relationships with the recruits and their families, visiting them at their high schools, and hosting them for games on campus, all while preparing the current team for success on the football field. The payoff for all this hard work comes on signing day when the recruits put pen to paper and officially announce their commitment to play for the Fighting Irish. This year's class comes in as the 4th overall class in the country according to 247Sports, and is loaded from top to bottom with impressive talent on both sides of the ball. Get to know the class of 2026 offensive signees. Ian Premer - TE Standing at 6'5", 225 lbs, Ian Premer is built to be the next great Notre Dame Tight End, and his play backs up the praise. Playing out of Great Bend High School this past season, Premer racked up 734 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns, while also rushing for 620 yards and 14 additional scores on the ground. Premer's best performance of the season came against Liberal High School, where he hauled in four receptions for 126 yards and 3 touchdowns. Premer is a 5-star TE ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the No. 1 overall recruit in the state of Kansas, the 2nd-best TE in the country, and the 21st-best overall recruit in the nation. Prior to signing with the Irish, he held 26 offers from such notable schools as Florida, Indiana, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and Notre Dame, among others. Ben Nichols - OT Ben Nichols is a 6'6", 335lbs interior lineman from Davison High School in Davison, Michigan. He is a 4-star OT who is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 3rd overall IOL in the state of Michigan, the 10th overall IOL in the nation, and the 201st overall best player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, he held 19 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Penn State, Florida State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Iowa, and Notre Dame, among others. Grayson McKeogh - OT Grayson McKeogh is a 6'8", 280 lbs. 4-star offensive tackle out of La Salle College in Glenside, Pennsylvania. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 6th overall recruit in the state of Pennsylvania and the 145th overall recruit in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he held 15 D1 offers from such notable schools as Penn State, Indiana, Missouri, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Duke, Boston College, and Notre Dame, among others. Jonaz Walton - RB Jonaz Walton is an extremely talented, versatile running back out of Central High School in Carrollton, Georgia. This past season, he rushed for over 1200 yards on 128 carries and 14 touchdowns with an average of 9.7 yards per carry and averaged 100 yards per game on the ground. He had 31 receptions for 475 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 13th best player in the state of Georgia, the 11th best RB in the country, and the 118th overall player in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he held 32 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, USC, and Notre Dame, among many others. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Javian Osborne - RB Javian Osborne burst onto the scene during a sophomore season that saw him amass a staggering 2154 yards on the ground, paired with 39 total touchdowns and nearly 8 yards per carry over 14 games. He would continue to roll in his junior season, collecting close to 1100 yards with 21 touchdowns in just nine games. This past season, he rushed for 2,015 yards on 249 carries and 32 touchdowns while averaging 8.1 yards per carry. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 16th best player in the state of Texas, the 10th best RB in the country, and the 111th overall player in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he held 42 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, USC, and Notre Dame, among many others. Devin Fitzgerald - WR Fitzgerald is the son of former NFL Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Devin, a 6’2", 205lbs WR out of Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona, looks to carve out his own legacy at the position his father dominated for so many years. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 397 overall recruit nationally and the No. 4 overall recruit in the state of Arizona. This past season, Fitzgerald hauled in 82 receptions for 1230 yards and 15 touchdowns at Brophy College Preparatory High School, averaging 15.0 yards per reception. Before signing with the Irish, he held 32 offers from such notable schools as Arizona State, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina, Stanford, and Notre Dame, among many others. Tyler Merrill - IOL Merrill is a 6’5”, 340lbs interior offensive lineman from Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 7th-best player in the state of Pennsylvania, the 9th-best interior offensive lineman in the nation, and the 200th overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, he held 27 D-1 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others. Gregory Patrick - OT Patrick is a 6’5”, 275lbs offensive tackle from Portage Northern High School in Portage, Michigan. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 2nd-best player in the state of Michigan, the 20th-best interior offensive lineman in the nation, and the 192nd overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, he held 23 D-1 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Penn State, Stanford, and Notre Dame, among others. Kaydon Finley - WR Finley is the son of former NFL star tight end and Super Bowl XLVI Champion Jermichael Finley. Kaydon, a 6’2", 195lbs wide receiver out of Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, is a star in his own right and one of the top WRs in the nation. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 129th overall recruit nationally, and the No. 18 wide receiver in the country. Before signing with the Irish, Finley held 31 D1 Offers from such notable schools as Texas, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others. Bubba Frazier - WR Frazier is a 5’10", 175 lbs speedy wide receiver from Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia. He quickly caught Notre Dame’s eye back in February when he clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash at the Under Armor Next Football Camp in Atlanta, sparking an offer from the Irish shortly after. In 2025, he had 42 receptions for 631 yards with 15.0 yards per catch and 10 touchdowns. He rushed the ball for 235 yards with 6.4 yards per carry and 3 touchdowns. Before signing with the the Irish, he held 23 D1 offers from such notable schools as Georgia, Clemson, Auburn, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame, among others. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Brayden Robinson - WR Robinson is a 5’8", 160lbs, wide receiver out of Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 424th overall recruit nationally, and the 62nd overall wide receiver in the nation. Robinson is a speedy wide receiver who has been clocked at 10.44 in the 100m dash. This past season, Robinson hauled in 72 receptions for 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns in his senior season at Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas. Before signing with the Irish, Robinson held 49 D1 Offers from such notable schools as Miami, Arizona, Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others. Charlie Thom - OT Charlie Thom is a 6’6”, 275lbs offensive tackle from Avon Old Farms High School in Avon, Connecticut. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 1 player in the state of Connecticut, the 36th-best interior offensive lineman in the nation, and the 372nd overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, he held D-1 offers from such notable schools as Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, and Notre Dame, among others. Noah Grubbs - QB Noah Grubbs is a 6’4”, 205lbs pro-style QB for Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. In 12 games as a senior, Grubbs threw for 2,593 yards along with 35 touchdowns. He completed 58% of his passes on 319 attempts and amassed a QB rating of 109.1 for the season. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 27th-best QB in the country, and the 377th overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, he held 26 offers from such notable schools as Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others. Preston Fryzel - TE Preston Fryzel is a 6'4", 220lbs, tight end from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 16th-best player in the state of Ohio, the 19th overall TE in the country, and the 347th overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, Fryzel held 29 offers from such notable schools as Auburn, Cincinnati, Indiana, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame, among others. Sullivan Garvin - IOL Garvin is a 6’5", 300lb interior lineman from Allegan High School in Allegan, Michigan. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 11th-best player in the state of Michigan, the 53rd overall IOL in the country, and the 628th overall player in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, Garvin held 12 Division-1 offers from schools such as Indiana, Purdue, Washington, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame, among others. Dylan Faison - WR Dylan Faison is the brother of current Notre Dame wide receiver and Notre Dame lacrosse player Jordan Faison. Dylan, a 5’11", 170lbs WR out of Saint Andrew's High School in Boca Raton, Florida. Dylan, like his brother Jordan, is also a dual-sport athlete in both football and lacrosse. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 91st-best player in the state of Florida, the 121st-best wide receiver in the country, and the 857th overall player in the nation. In lacrosse, however, he ranks as the No. 1 overall player in the nation. This past season, Faison hauled in 53 receptions for 849 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season at Saint Andrew's High School in Boca Raton, Florida. He committed to the Irish on March 18, 2024, just one day after receiving an offer from them. 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!

Notre Dame has put together one of the most impressive recruiting classes in recent memory, and it's highlighted by some incredible talent on the defensive side of the football. Let's officially meet the defensive side of the historic class of 2026! Recruiting is a roller coaster ride for both the coaches and the fans who follow it. There is a lot of work for the coaching staff. They spend months building relationships with the recruits and their families, visiting them at their high schools, and hosting them for games on campus, all while preparing the current team for success on the football field. The payoff for all this hard work comes on signing day when the recruits put pen to paper and officially announce their commitment to play for the Fighting Irish. This year's class comes in as the 4th overall class in the country according to 247Sports, and is loaded from top to bottom with impressive talent on both sides of the ball. Get to know the class of 2026 defensive signees. Joey O'Brien - S 5-star safety Joey O'Brien was always a top target for Notre Dame in the class of 2026. It was a back-and-forth battle between Notre Dame, Penn State, and Oregon for the elite prospect. Freeman and the coaching staff never gave up on landing the highly touted safety and continued to recruit him until he signed with the Irish. He is considered by many as the crown jewel of the 2026 class. O'Brien is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the best player in the state of Pennsylvania, the 2nd-best safety in the nation, and the 31st overall player nationally. Before signing with Notre Dame, he held 28 offers from many of the most notable schools in the country, such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Penn State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame, among many others. Rodney Dunham - EDGE Dunham is a very dynamic playmaker and a great addition to the defensive line at the edge position. Dunham is a 5-star edge rusher at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 2nd-best player in the state of North Carolina, the 2nd-best edge rusher in the country, and the 8th overall player in the country. Before signing with the Irish, Dunham held 31 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country to include Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame, among others. Dunham is a very talented prospect who is sure to make a huge impact for the Irish at the next level. Khary Adams - CB At 6'2" 175lbs, Khary Adams is a very intriguing prospect and is already one of the best cornerbacks in the country. He is a composite 5-star corner out of Loyola Blakefield High School in Towson, Maryland. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 3rd-best player in the state of Maryland, the No. 1 Cornerback in the country, and the 24th overall recruit in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he had 39 offers from some of the most notable schools in the country, such as Clemson, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Louisville, Duke, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. He committed to the Irish on July 5, 2024, and has been very vocal about how much he loves the University. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Ebenezer Ewetade - EDGE Ebenezer Ewetade, a 6'4", 221lbs edge, is another dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, and a great addition to the defensive line at the edge position to complement the 2026 class with Rodney Dunham. Ewetade is a 4-star edge at South Garner High School in Garner, North Carolina, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 9th-best player in the state of North Carolina, the 13th-best edge in the country, and the 119th overall player in the country. Before signing with the Irish, Ewetade held 23 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country to include Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. Ayden Pouncey - S Pouncey is a 4-star playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, and a great addition to the secondary at the safety position. Pouncey is a 6'2.5", 160lbs, safety at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in the state of Florida, the 8th-best safety in the country, and the 81st overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, Pouncey held 47 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country, including Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. Chaston Smith - CB Chaston Smith is a talented cornerback out of Knoxville Catholic High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who has a knack for the ball and seems to always be in the right spot, which often results in interceptions. Smith is a 4-star cornerback ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 7th-best player in the state of Tennessee, the 22nd-best cornerback in the country, and the 216th overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, Smith held 37 offers from such schools as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Penn State, Oregon, USC, and Notre Dame, among others. Elijah Golden - DL Elijah Golden, at 6'4", 275lbs, is a big-framed defensive lineman who has experience at multiple front-line spots. He is a 4-star defensive end at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 22nd-best player in the state of Florida, the 16th-best DL in the country, and the 154th overall player in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, Golden held 41 offers from many big-name schools across the country, such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Thomas Davis Jr - LB Thomas Davis Jr, a 4-star linebacker, is the son of former NFL linebacker Thomas Davis, who played at Georgia, where he was a 2x All-SEC selection, a consensus All-American, and a 3x Pro Bowler at the professional level. Davis Jr is a talented player in his own right at Weddington High School in Matthews, North Carolina. Davis Jr is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in the state of North Carolina, the 14th-best linebacker in the country, and the 250th overall player in the nation. Before signing with the Irish, he held 33 offers from notable schools such as Auburn, Clemson, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, USC, and Notre Dame among many others. Tiki Hola - DL Tiki Hola, a 6'2", 285lbs defensive lineman, has been another impressive recruit on the defensive side of the ball for the Irish. Hola is a 3-star DL at Bastrop High School in Bastrop, Texas. In his Junior year, he recorded 102 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 3 forced fumbles, and 9 QB hurries. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 48th-best player in the state of Texas, and the 40th-best defensive lineman in the country. Before signing with the Irish, Hola held 25 offers from such schools as Arizona State, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, and Notre Dame, among others. Nick Reddish - S Nick Reddish is a fiesty DB at Independence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Reddish is a 3-star safety ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 30th-best player in the state of North Carolina and the 75th-best safety in the country. He is a great addition to an already star-studded backfield with 5-star Joey O'Brien and 4-star Ayden Pouncey to secure depth in the secondary for the Irish. Before signing with the Irish, Reddish held 21 offers from such schools as Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Indiana, Cincinnati, Louisville, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others. Jakobe Clapper - LB Jakobe Clapper is 6'1.5", 215lbs, 3-star linebacker at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 23rd-best player in the state of Ohio, the 38th-best linebacker in the country, and the 475th overall player nationally. Before signing with the Irish, Clapper held 23 offers from notable schools like Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others. He was selected as an All-Star in the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. Kia has been committed to the Irish since January 15, 2024. 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. 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After beginning the season with back-to-back losses, it was easy to consider Notre Dame’s year over by mid-September. Two and a half months later, the Irish have rattled off ten straight victories and have forced the CFP Committee to strongly consider Marcus Freeman’s squad for the playoffs. So, how did they turn this seemingly sinking ship around? When talking about “best losses” among CFP contenders, the Irish’s early-season faults appeared to have aged nicely. Miami finished the year 10-2 and is in a similar spot to Notre Dame in regard to being a “bubble team.” Meanwhile, Texas A&M completed an 11-1 campaign and appears to be a lock for the CFP.  Following the two losses by a combined four points, Notre Dame’s ten-game winning streak did not occur against nobodies. They handled Boise State, which is set to play for the Mountain West Championship this weekend, then fought off ranked foes in USC and on the road at Pitt. The Irish also did not just beat teams on this streak; they dominated them. Notre Dame finished the season with an average scoring margin of 24.4 points, the 4th-best in the nation, and ranked 1st across the last three weeks, defeating opponents by an average of 38 points.  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Below is a table displaying how Notre Dame has statistically improved since the loss against Texas A&M: Stat   Value (through 9/13) National Rank (through 9/13) Value (through 11/29) National Rank (through 11/29) Total Offense 371.5 yards per game 80 458.5 yards per game 18 Scoring Offense 32 points per game 60 41.8 points per game 5 Total Defense 413.5 ypg allowed 108 312.7 ypg allowed 24 Scoring Defense 34 ppg allowed 117 17.6 ppg allowed 13 Red Zone Defense 87.5% 83 84% 69 3rd Down Conversion % 45.8 46 48.1 18 3rd Down Conversion % Defense 33.3 53 35.2 38 4th Down Conversion % Defense 75 110 45.5 30 Passing Yards Allowed 282.5 per game 124 213.4 per game 56 Passing Efficiency Defense 142.78 103 108.8 13 Rushing Offense 114.5 ypg 115 203.4 ypg 18 Rushing Defense 131 ypg allowed 68 99.3 ypg allowed 11 Sacks 0.5 131 2.92 per game 9 Sacks Allowed 2.5  111 1 per game 11 Tackles for Loss 2 132 5.8 47 TFLs Allowed 6.5 106 4.42 per game 28 Turnover Margin -1 107 +1.08 per game 4 Below are players who have had a direct impact on Notre Dame’s turnaround: CJ Carr While Carr probably does not deserve too much blame for Notre Dame’s early-season faults, he has steadily improved throughout the year and quieted any previous QB concerns. In the first two contests, Carr threw two of his six total interceptions and took five of his 12 total sacks. Across the past ten games, Carr has thrown 21 touchdowns to just four interceptions. His passer rating of 168.06 finished 5th among FBS QBs and 2nd among freshmen, behind North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker. Carr’s future is exciting for all of Notre Dame as he is on a fast track to become the first Irish QB selected in the First Round of the NFL Draft since Brady Quinn in 2007. Jeremiyah Love & Jadarian Price Whatever Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock gameplanned against Miami was truly a fireable offense. Credit to the Hurricanes for only allowing 3.32 yards per carry, but the Irish ran the ball 28 times in the loss, the second-fewest carries in a game this season behind Syracuse. The worst part is that just 16 of those carries were taken by the Irish’s elite duo. Luckily, Denbrock did not make that mistake again. However, the run game was flat against Texas A&M, averaging 3.49 yards per carry despite adding three rushing scores. Since averaging 3.42 yards per carry in the losses, the Irish have feasted on the ground, averaging 6.11 yards per carry and 221.2 yards per game across the past ten games. Love has had at least six games with either 100-plus rushing yards or multiple rushing touchdowns on the Irish’s streak. Additionally, he has averaged 7.5 yards per carry with 17 rushing scores across the past ten games. In general, the Irish’s rushing game is capable of opening up the playbook with both of these talented runners able to bust a big play at any moment. Jordan Faison, Malachi Fields, & Will Pauling Notre Dame fans knew what Faison was capable of, with his shifty abilities known for turning a seemingly small play into a big gain. However, I am not sure how many would have guessed he would be the Irish’s leading receiver before the season, with Jaden Greathouse returning and Fields entering via the transfer portal. Faison and Fields played relatively well in the losses, with a drop by Faison against Texas A&M the only noticeable error. Pauling started the season off the bench with a healthy Greathouse taking the majority of slot reps, and saw no targets in the season opener at Miami. Against A&M, the Notre Dame Captain caught both of his targets for a modest 13 yards. Once Greathouse was officially out with his injury, Pauling pounced on the starting opportunity and impressed with a five-game touchdown streak, proving he can be a reliable option for the young QB.  Anthonie Knapp, Ashton Craig/Joe Otting, Guerby Lambert, Aamil Wagner As mentioned earlier, this offensive line allowed five sacks during the Irish losses. Since then, the Irish front has allowed just seven sacks in ten games. As a group, you could argue Notre Dame was snubbed from being named a Joe Moore Award semi-finalist. The Irish’s one sack allowed per game finished tied-11th among all FBS teams. This is impressive for a group that has been highlighted by injury, and everyone has filled their role, but the big men listed above deserve extra praise in my opinion. Knapp has held it down all season at LT after allowing three of his nine total pressures against Miami and Texas A&M. Knapp has allowed one sack this season and is even better as a run blocker. Before his season-ending knee injury, Craig was playing relatively well at Center with a strong performance at Miami coupled with a struggling effort against A&M. Otting has stepped in, and the OL has not seemed to miss a beat with the sophomore having allowed just four pressures and no sacks across his six starts. When news broke in early fall of Charles Jagusah’s injury, questions immediately arose about the RG position. Lambert has stepped in and shown out all year after allowing his only sack in the Irish’s season opener. The freshman has allowed eight pressures across 329 pass block snaps this season. Similar to Lambert, Wagner has also gone on to have a good season after a brutal season-opening performance where he allowed four pressures, including a sack. Since then, the RT has allowed just three pressures with no sacks across the past 11 games. This group’s ability to keep their young QB out of harm's way has undoubtedly contributed to Carr’s success this season. Finally, I would add that the return of Billy Schrauth at LG would be huge for a deep Irish CFP run.     Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Drayk Bowen The LB Captain had Irish fans worried after four missed tackles at Miami overshadowed his eight-tackle performance. Luckily, this did not become a trend with Bowen finishing the season with a team-high 67 tackles and just 11 misses. Additionally, after recording no TFLs, sacks, or PBUs in the losses, the LB finished the year with 4.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and four PBUs. All-around, Bowen has proven to be reliable against the run, as a pass rusher, and in coverage. Boubacar Traore You could argue that Notre Dame’s premier edge rusher has not had a bad game this season. I would probably agree. Traore is one of the few Irish players whose performance consistently stood out. The sophomore finished the season leading the team in pressures (31), including at least one in every game played, and sacks (7.5). Traore recorded the Irish’s lone sack in the losses when he brought down Carson Beck in the season-opener. The edge rusher’s pass-rushing prowess has lent a hand to the success of the following DBs to be mentioned.  Christian Gray & Leonard Moore Notre Dame’s starting CB duo split solid performances in the team’s losses. Gray held his own against Miami despite facing 12 targets, recording two PBUs. Moore bounced back from an uncharacteristic performance at Miami with a lockdown game against Texas A&M, where he recorded two PBUs and an interception. For Gray, outside of the USC game, he has been pretty consistent. In recent performances against Pitt and Stanford, the junior CB combined for three PBUs while allowing 46 yards on two receptions across ten targets. Not much needs to be said about Moore. The sophomore CB is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe and Bronco Nagurski Awards, with five interceptions and seven PBUs in ten games played. The fact that we get to watch Moore for another season can not be appreciated enough. Adon Shuler & Tae Johnson After tough games against Miami and Texas A&M that featured five of Shuler's 11 missed tackles, he has seemed to turn a corner. He is rarely burned in coverage, with three PBUs and an interception this season, and has been reliable against the run. With DeVonta Smith dealing with his lingering injury, Johnson has stepped in nicely as a freshman and looks to be the next great Irish DB. After barely playing at Miami and allowing a big play against A&M, Johnson finished the year with four interceptions and three PBUs. The freshman’s return from a hand injury could be vital to a deep CFP run for the Irish. 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!

Coming into this game, Notre Dame needed to do everything it could to impress the Playoff Committee by demolishing Stanford. Like it or not, this has become the way of college football where "style points" matter. Notre Dame came out of the gates swinging and appeared to be well on their way to another huge win as they racked up 35 points in the first half. It seemed it would be an easy night for the Irish. But in the midst of the dominance, Jeremiyah Love took a knee shot to the ribs and had to leave the game. As Jeremiyah Love lay on the ground, grabbing his midsection in extreme pain, Irish fans across the land were both angry at the cheap shot and worried about the damage that Love may have sustained while holding their breath, hoping for a positive outcome. Jeremiyah Love would remain out of the game for most of the first half but was seen smiling on the sideline before heading to the locker room, leaving many hopeful he was okay. He would return a short time later in full gear and eventually found his way back into the game, proving just how much of a warrior he is. Jadarian Price stepped right in for the injured Love and took the game over. This is what makes this RB tandem so dangerous and hard to defend, and arguably the best in the nation. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Notre Dame had about as good a first half as you could have, with multiple key plays resulting in a touchdown, but none bigger than the fake punt inside the Irish's own 20-yard line, when Josh Burnham took the direct snap and found a wide open Luke Talich, which resulted in an 84-yard Touchdown. Talich continues to get better each and every week. The game seems to have slowed down for him as he gets more comfortable and confident in his role, where he seems to come up with a huge play when called upon. Jeremiyah Love would return, but in a very limited role; however, the Irish would stumble in the 3rd quarter, suffering one of the worst quarters of football they've had all season. This left Marcus Freeman struggling to run the score up, as you could clearly see he was trying to do. That's not a shot at Marcus Freeman, as that has become the new norm for College Football, and this was Notre Dame's last shot to impress the committee before they set the final table with their playoff rankings. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Did Notre Dame accomplish last night what they needed to against Stanford? Well, that depends on how you look at it. Sure, anytime you score 49 points, it's a great thing and shows you can score at will on an opponent, but allowing a bad Stanford team to put up 20 points on your defense (when a team you already lost head-to-head to and are being compared to held that same team to just 7 points) isn't exactly a screaming endorsement. What this will all boil down to is whether the committee stays true to what they've said in the past about judging on the eye test. If they do, Notre Dame will be in after going on a 10-game win streak, mostly in dominating fashion, with their only losses coming from two ranked teams with a combined margin of only 4 points. With that being said, for the past three weeks, media pundits, multiple college coaches, and even the ACC social media pages have been screaming at anyone who will listen in hopes of bullying the committee into keeping Notre Dame out of the playoffs. Will the committee cave? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain: If Notre Dame is left out of the playoffs, they only have themselves to blame. Every person in the Notre Dame world said coming into this game that they had to at a minimum split between Miami and Texas A&M, and they didn't. Notre Dame was always going to have to play from behind and need some help along the way to make the playoffs. They did all they could do by winning 10 games straight, and now their fate lies in the hands of a committee to decide if Notre Dame is indeed one of the best teams in the country. Is Notre Dame one of the best teams in the country? In my opinion, absolutely they are, and they deserve to be in the playoffs, but if the committee decides that those first two losses of the season are enough to keep them out, can anyone really complain? I think if that happens, you just have to take it on the chin and place blame where blame is due, and that's on Notre Dame. This may not sit well with some, but it's an honest opinion on the situation. And now we wait. 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!

No. 9 Notre Dame continued their dominant string of performances by finishing the season on a ten-game winning streak with a 49-20 victory over the Stanford Cardinal. Photo by The Irish Tribune PALO ALTO, Calif. - No. 9 Notre Dame could only control one thing on rivalry week: dominating their opponent. In a game that Marcus Freeman described as "The Super Bowl", Notre Dame came out with urgency and certainly looked the part of a complete football team. "You are talking about a team that's playing as well as anyone right now," said Freeman. While it was impossible to better the 63-point victory from a week ago, the Irish put together another double-digit victory by playing complementary football on all three phases. Mike Denbrock and the Notre Dame offense were excellent early on with four first half touchdowns that were powered by a plethora of contributors. It was all Jeremiyah Love early on as the Heisman candidate had eight rushes for 54 yards and a touchdown on the opening series of the game. While a second quarter injury scare appears to not be significantly serious, Love's absence from the game early on halted his Heisman hopes and his quest for Notre Dame's single season rushing record. When asked about the severity of the injury, Love explained it was just a bruise and the X-rays came back negative. With Love's absence, it was time for one of Freeman's institutional pillars to take shape once again: delayed gratification. In relief for Love were Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams. Price ended today's game with only 15 rushing yards but two touchdowns. Williams, who has shown remarkable maturity and patience taking a lesser role this season, made the most out of his first half drive. Williams' sole second quarter drive he accounted for five carries, 25 yards, and a touchdown. Later, Williams made the most of his fourth quarter carries by breaking off a 51-yard touchdown run. "It's like every time he goes in the game, he scores a touchdown... he practices and works and embraces his role." said Freeman about Williams. Through the air, CJ Carr had an impressive game that showed his growth as a first year starting quarterback. Carr finished 17-27, for 205 yards, and two touchdowns. His ability to effectively throw the ball downfield still is his best weapon, yet he is making strides not trying to hit the home run every pass. With Carr's abundant football knowledge and ability to dissect a defense pre snap, Carr has exceeded all expectations entering this season. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensively, Chris Ash's unit shined in the first three quarters of the game. In that span, the Irish held the Cardinal to only two field goals, and kept them out of the end zone. However, in the fourth quarter, the Irish allowed two touchdowns, which made the game appear closer than the final score may have indicated. In their first game without star Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, the linebacking room for Notre Dame shined. Captain Drayk Bowen led the Irish with seven total tackles, while Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry impressed in elevated roles. Madden Faraimo didn't receive much playing time early, but flashed in his ability to rush the passer. The secondary continued their hot streak as well, with Devonta Smith and Leonard Moore leading the defensive charge. Smith, since he fully recovered from a lingering injury early in the year, has been a great addition at the nickel position both in coverage and as a tackler in space. Smith was the leading solo tackler (5) for the Fighting Irish today. While Jeremiyah Love was unable to bolster his Doak Walker and Heisman award pushes in this game, Leonard Moore added to his Jim Thorpe campaign. Moore finished the game with three pass breakups, and added an interception to bring his season total to five. If there's one certainty about the Notre Dame defense, it's that they have a true lockdown corner. "I'm prepared to play many more games," said Moore. In terms of special teams, Marty Biagi and Freeman continue to be ultra-aggressive in their fake punt play calls. Tonight, the Irish elected to run a fake pass from defensive lineman Josh Burnham to Luke Talich from their own 16-yard line. The gamble paid off as Talich took the pass 84 yards to extend Notre Dame's lead to 21. In terms of the rocky kicking game, Erik Schmidt provided a bit more stability making all of his PATs with good height. While the rivalry weekend didn't give the Irish enough upsets to be locked into the College Football Playoff, they handled their business and capped off their ten-game win streak on an emphatic note. "You are talking about a team that's playing as well as anyone right now... You talk about, 'Who are the best teams now?' It's hard to argue we're not one of those 12 teams," said Freeman. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame's final regular-season game kicks off tonight at 10:30 PM EST at Stanford, and with chaos set to ensue around the Irish in the rankings, can they do their part to close out the season strong? Let's jump into our staff picks for this week! Clayton Stohler - Podcaster: 52-10 Notre Dame It's the end of the season. A usual bittersweet feeling, is it not? But this time, it's strictly sweet. Because ever since that dreaded loss against A&M, the fan base has echoed the locker room's sentiments for the remainder of the games the Irish have played.  It's never good enough. Things to work on. It's all love, but it's all been within the lense of winning a title. And now, the fans and the program are on the precipice of making the run they've so craved. But first? A late-night game at Palo Alto.  Jeremiyah Love cements his Heisman campaign and breaks the single-season rushing record for an Irish running back. Jerome Bettis, Vegas Ferguson, Reggie Brooks, Ricky Watters... all the names you can think of, Jeremiyah Love may stand above them all in the record books.  As much as this game is about Jeremiyah Love, it's about the work this team has put in to become the dominant force that it's becoming. It will be a culmination of Chris Ash and the defensive staff's efforts to show this is indeed a title-worthy unit.  Offensive line driven program? Let's see it in the red zone. Serious about winning a title? The Irish start by getting serious about beating the absolute breaks off of Stanford. And they will.  Marcus Freeman alluded to them "never having a lead versus Stanford after the first quarter" during his tenure. That changes on this night.  It will start fast, furious, and the Irish will have punched their ticket into the playoffs. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Liam Farrell - Editor/Senior Sportswriter: 49-10 Notre Dame The Irish will be in a tight game in their regular-season finale, for about a quarter. An early Stanford scoring drive raises the nerves a bit, but CJ Carr will thrash a rather poor Stanford passing defense. Notre Dame will want to feed Jeremiyah Love the ball as much as possible for him to be cemented as the greatest Notre Dame single-season running back. Love will do just that by breaking the record and adding two touchdowns to his Heisman campaign. The Notre Dame defense will stiffen out as the game rolls on and will shut out the Cardinal in the second half. The Irish will not kick a field goal in this game, but rather hang seven touchdowns on Stanford to cap off the regular season with a bang. Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Insider/Sports Writer: 42-7 Notre Dame Notre Dame looks to run the table to end the regular season after going 0-2 to start the season. It appears after hearing the playoff committee chair Hunter Yurachek talk, a win against Stanford will place Notre Dame into the playoffs.  Even though Stanford isn't anywhere near the Stanford of old when Andrew Luck led the team to an impressive 31-7 record in three seasons, there still is no such thing as an easy win.  Especially after having to travel across the country and face a Stanford team with nothing to lose with a 7:30 pm kickoff, West Coast time. I think it hurts fans more than the players, as the players will be ready no matter what. The fans will be yawning their way through a very late night, especially on the East Coast.  With the travelling and late start, I could see the Irish starting slow, allowing Stanford an opportunity to score, but if that happens, I don't see it happening for very long, as Notre Dame has become a well-oiled machine. I see another blowout in Notre Dame's favor to end the season.  Notre Dame has one job, and that's to take care of business in a big way and leave no doubt for the playoff committee when they meet again to set the table for the path to a championship. Brenden Duffy - Editor/Sports Writer: 42-7 Notre Dame Notre Dame has one last impression to make on a CFP Committee that will be faced with some tough questions over the next two weeks. Chris Ash and his defense should be set up for another lights-out performance against a Stanford offense that has been underwhelming, to put it lightly. The Irish offense is probably going to try and force Jeremiyah Love down the Stanford’s throat with the RB being just 132 yards shy of breaking the Notre Dame single-season rushing record.  If they want, though, CJ Carr and the Irish could just air it out over a Stanford secondary allowing nearly 285 passing yards per game (the 2nd-most in the country). Fields, Faison, and Pauling should be able to find open space all night long. Stanford’s run defense is probably their strongest phase, ranking top-25 among FBS teams in rush yards per game allowed. However, as we witnessed against Pitt, this does not matter. Love is going to get his 150 yards and probably find the end zone more than once in his final push for the Heisman. Overall, Stanford’s offense has struggled but their passing game is a bit more productive than their rush. WR CJ Williams is a special talent, but there is not much help behind him. Notre Dame’s ball-hawking secondary will come away with at least two interceptions. As hinted above, the Cardinal really have not run the ball effectively at all this season. With an average of just 2.56 yards per carry, this is a good spot for Freeman and Ash to see what the defense and linebacking core can look like with the unfortunate loss of KVA. Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst/Sports Writer: 42-14 Notre Dame The late kickoff time may lead to a slow start for the Irish, but the talent gap will be too big for Stanford to overcome. The playoff race is almost guaranteed to be chaos depending on some results from throughout the country, but for Notre Dame, it's all about finishing on a strong note and letting the cards fall where they may. I'm sure Marcus Freeman and Mike Denbrock are aware of Jeremiyah Love's outside shot at a Heisman, and when you factor in the state of Stanford's defense, I expect Love to get fed the ball early and often. Another 200+ yard game isn't far-fetched for the future first-round draft pick. Notre Dame suffered a big blow on the defensive side of the ball with linebacker KVA tearing his ACL in last week's game. Notre Dame still has talent at the second level, but this is a good spot to give some looks to multiple players and figure out the best rotation going forward for what is hopefully another extended playoff run. 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!

No. 9 Notre Dame heads to California to take on the Stanford Cardinal, as the Irish look to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics While it may not be as concrete as a season ago, the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are able to finish out the regular season on a ten-game winning streak to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff. Last season, the Irish sweated out a victory against the USC Trojans on the back of two pick sixes by Christian Gray and Xavier Watts. This season, the Irish strut into California coming off one of the most impressive victories in program history and are a 31.5-point favorite in Palo Alto against the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal enter the game off an emotional victory against their rival, the Cal Golden Bears, and with a revamped offensive approach since turning the ball over to quarterback Elijah Brown. Brown is tremendously careful with the ball and limits many negative plays with his athleticism in the pocket. While Brown's box score, and Stanford's offensive production, isn't quite eye-opening, the Cardinal's defense is the strength of their team. Even with their stout defensive numbers, Notre Dame's talent far exceeds that on the Stanford sideline. With that being said, here are three keys pertinent to the Irish's attack tomorrow evening. Start Fast & Start Hot Last week against the Syracuse Orange, Notre Dame got out to the most improbable 21-point lead. Two interception returns and a blocked punt touchdown had the Senior Day festivities rolling early. This week, the Irish will be traveling across the country and playing at an abnormal start time, 7:30 p.m. PT, but 10:30 p.m. EST. Marcus Freeman noted in his press conference early this week that the Irish's performance staff has manipulated the players' routines to account for the later start time. Especially in a game where the CFP committee will unlikely watch for the entirety, if the Irish can make a statement early, they will have a lasting impact. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Maturing the Depth Pieces The season-ending injury to linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is a major blow to a dominant Notre Dame defense unit. Viliamu-Asa was undoubtedly Notre Dame's most versatile linebacker, with his unique ability to fit run schemes and rush the passer. There is not a singular replacement for the production Viliamu-Asa created for the Notre Dame defense. Freshman Madden Faraimo is a clear and obvious solution, yet he hasn't seen snaps at linebacker in the Irish's biggest contests of the year against Miami, Texas A&M, and USC. Faraimo will have his perfect opportunity to get his feet wet this Saturday against the Cardinal. In terms of other areas on the field, it will be a good opportunity for many other younger players. Will Erik Schmidt attempt his first field goal since Boston College? Can Jalen Stroman build off his performance last week? These are two questions that can be answered by this Sunday morning and can explain how legitimate of a run the Irish could make in the CFP, if they make it. Leave No Doubt This will be the Irish's last performance before the committee makes their final announcement following conference championship weekend. Knowing this, Notre Dame has to make a statement, continuing to display their dominant play. Especially with as much pressure Notre Dame has behind them, even with a dominant victory, there is absolutely no guarantee the Irish will be in this year's playoff. Marcus Freeman said this game was "The Super Bowl." The Irish must come out and play to the occasion to cement their legitimacy. One would expect Jeremiyah Love to attempt to break Notre Dame's single season rushing record, an achievement the offensive line can also hang onto in the history books. I'd expect a full-team effort and, knowing the situation, a performance similar to that of a week ago. If the Irish can play mistake free football, under the peculiar situations of the late game kickoff, then they will leave no doubt about their credibility to be a part of the College Football Playoff. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

For the fourth week in a row, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are ranked ahead of the Miami Hurricanes despite having the same number of losses, and Miami holding the head-to-head advantage after beating Notre Dame at home by three in week 1. With Miami fans and media pundits, including the official ACC X account, clamoring for justice, now would be a good time to really dive into this argument. Who deserves to be on top? Photo via Miami Athletics Acknowledging the Obvious Let's start here: Yes, Miami emerged victorious over the Irish at home in week 1 of the college football season. This is a win that should bolster Miami's resume. This is a loss that should hurt Notre Dame. Both of these things are true. The other truth, however, is that a college football season is equal to the sum of its parts and is not played in the vacuum of a single game. And my goal is to convey, rather objectively, that the sum of data points for both of these teams' seasons points to an obvious answer. Peak of Play Timing Given the choice, would you rather play your best football at the beginning of the year, looking like the team to beat, before eventually trailing off? Or, would you rather start slow before eventually hitting your stride at the right time, and look like one of the best football teams come playoff selection? Without even mentioning the quality of losses, there shouldn't be an ounce of hesitation in who anyone would choose given the scenario. And funnily enough, this is the exact same scenario both Miami and Notre Dame found themselves in a year ago. The Irish dropped an inexplicable contest to Northern Illinois at the beginning of the season, before rattling off 10-straight victories on the road to a National Championship appearance. Miami, led by Heisman candidate Cam Ward, went scorched earth to start the year, starting 9-0 before dropping two of their last three games to middle-of-the-road ACC opponents, causing them to miss both the playoff and the ACC championship game. Sound familiar? No Miami fans were up in arms about Notre Dame at that point in the season last year. For the second year in a row, Miami has proven that it can't handle success, and Notre Dame has proven that it can elevate in the face of elimination. Notre Dame is trending up at the right time. Miami, once again, started to trend down at the wrong time. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Statistical Considerations Here, a table which conveys the teams' statistical comparisons to date is shown. Since the committee likely uses an algorithm that combines plenty of these metrics to create a baseline for their rankings, it isn't hard to see why they have Notre Dame in front of Miami. In a majority of advanced metrics sourced directly from ESPN, Notre Dame trumps Miami. The analytics point to a team that not only has had a more difficult schedule, but one that has managed it better up until this point in time. Notre Dame's three-point loss to the Hurricanes is a single data point that doesn't tell the whole story - much like Notre Dame's early-season loss to NIU did not mean that by December, Notre Dame wasn't deserving or good enough. The loss is simply that: a data point to be lumped in with many others to be considered while evaluating a team's true resume. The Losses Miami's "gotcha" moment when it comes to comparing losses is that Notre Dame lost to Miami, so the other losses shouldn't matter. That is flawed logic that doesn't hold much water this late into the season. The transitive property doesn't exist in college football, and by losing games they shouldn't have, Miami was a harbinger of its own demise. Notre Dame, which has a greater strength of schedule, lost two games to ranked teams by a combined four points at the beginning of the season. Miami, with an objectively weaker schedule, lost two games to far inferior teams by a combined nine points. I hate to keep mentioning the idea of data points, but that is how the committee and algorithms alike compare the teams. Miami's "poor" data points are far more damaging to their resume than Notre Dame's. Instead of being angry about Notre Dame, they should direct that frustration inward at their program, which has proven again and again that it can't build momentum and will sleepwalk once it hits its peak, leading to devastating losses that derail the season. By this point in the season, both of these teams are far removed from who they were when they faced off in week one, backed by both metrics and the eye test. And now with Miami and Notre Dame both in the same "comparative pool", it's clear that the committee and algorithms favor this Irish, and it's not a coincidence. One team is trending up, with incredible metrics and better data points. The other hit a slump at the top, with worse metrics and far worse data points. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LiamGaudetIT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!