Notre Dame Football has over 900 victories, won 11 national championships, and had 113 All-Americans throughout its storied history. Photos via Fr. Nate Wills/IG (@praylikeachampiontoday) The most storied program in College Football has seemingly been helped by a divine spirit through its legendary tenure on the gridiron. It is no surprise that the most prestigious Roman Catholic institution would call upon Our Lady and the Saints before taking the field. Furthermore, it is even less shocking that this spiritual intervention is as alive as when it started under legendary Head Coach Knute Rockne. The team chaplain for the Irish, Rev. Nate Wills C.S.C, details the legendary moment in his new book ‘Pray Like a Champion Today’. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Over 30,000 fans crowd the wooden bleachers of Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn, New York, anxiously awaiting the October 13th battle of the undefeated football teams. Army had just won two straight games coming off an undefeated season in 1922. The Black Knights were heavily favored going against the scrappy Notre Dame squad led by the newly dominant Knute Rockne. Rockne was well known for his ability to market games, especially in the Catholic immigrant-dominated, density-rich haven of New York City. The matchup between Notre Dame and Army was heavily anticipated, especially after Army announced a Hollywood star would be kicking off for the Knights. Undaunted, team chaplain (and future cardinal) Rev. John Francis O’Hara C.S.C offered the Notre Dame boys a simple rebuttal in the locker room. "that if they (Army) had this Hollywood star on their side, St. Joan of Arc would be on our side" Father O’Hara then handed out St. Joan of Arc medals to each of the boys. The French warrior Saint ended up helping the Irish that day, as Notre Dame shocked Army in a 13-0 upset. This famous victory sparked Catholic boys from all over the United States to start wearing Saint medals before taking the field. Furthermore, this tradition has been passed down to each Notre Dame team, including the 2026 squad. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Each game features a new and unique saint that Fr. Wills talks about before the team takes the field. Players often keep the medals long after the game as mementos. The saints run on a five-year rotation; that way, seniors won’t get the same medals. Some saints are more helpful than others, as Fr. Wills humorously recalls. “The holy medal in 2023 against Marshall was Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the one for the 2024 loss against Northern Illinois University was St. Rome of Lima- perhaps these great saints from Mexico and Peru mistakenly filed our prayer under futbol instead of “American Football.” Fr. Wills also passes out extra medals to members of the sideline such as the referees, equipment managers, sports medicine professionals, security, and more. The Holy Cross priest then shares the story of the game's saint and why they are relevant for that day's matchup. Fr. Wills has also started an Instagram account displaying the saint of the game after the Notre Dame basketball chaplain Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C (famous voice of the 3rd quarter ‘Call to Mass’) encouraged him to. Fans can follow @PrayLikeAChampionToday on Instagram to know which saint will hopefully intercede for the Irish for the upcoming matchup. 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 looks to strike lightning once again with the 2028 class after landing two back-to-back best classes we've seen in a generation. We have not seen anything like this since the Weis days, when he pulled high-caliber talent such as Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, and Manti Te'o. As impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that in back-to-back classes; in fact, some say the 2026 and 2027 classes are the two best in program history. Below are the 2028 Big Board Defensive Talents that Notre Dame has their eyes on: Edge Asher Ghioto (5-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 3rd overall nationally and 1st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 63 D1 offers. Cassell Cruickshank (5-star) 6-6, 230lbs out of E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 8th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the Edge position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Antonio Thomas Jr. (5-star) 6-3, 240lbs out of Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 14th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the Edge position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Jalanie George (4-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 21st overall nationally and 5th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Landen Wade (5-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 22nd overall nationally and 6th overall at the Edge position. He holds 21 D1 offers. Kameron McGee (5-star) 6-4, 245lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 25th overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Jayden Bell (4-star) 6-4, 210lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 33rd overall nationally and 8th overall at the Edge position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Cam Toomey (4-star) 6-4, 245lbs out of Saratoga Springs High School in Saratoga, New York. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 47th overall nationally and 9th overall at the Edge position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Major Stokes (4-star) 6-6, 240lbs out of Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 54th overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Keoni Snipes (4-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of Saraland High School in Saraland, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 94th overall nationally and 12th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Merrick Ham (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 123rd overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Asa Burch (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Harding High School in Warren, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 130th overall nationally and 16th overall at the Edge position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Jeremiah Figaro (4-star) 6-5, 210lbs out of Dexter Southfield High School in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 233rd overall nationally and 21st overall at the Edge position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Merrick Ham (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 123rd overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line Kellan Hall (5-star) 6-4, 265lbs out of Christian Academy of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 2nd overall nationally and 1st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 27 D1 offers. Tyzon Swann (5-star) 6-4, 250lbs out of Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 10th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 49 D1 offers. Prince Che (5-star) 6-3, 305lbs out of Thomas County Central High School in Thomasville, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 18th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 38 D1 offers. RJ Wyms (4-star) 6-1, 255lbs out of College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 57th overall nationally and 6th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Simon Nuamah (4-star) 6-3, 260lbs out of Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 62nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Christian Webb-Scott (4-star) 6-6, 260lbs out of Westside High School in Anderson, South Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 79th overall nationally and 8th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Ayden Woodruff (4-star) 6-5, 280lbs out of Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 124th overall nationally and 15th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Caleb Tucker (4-star) 6-3, 355lbs out of Mount Carmel in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 147th overall nationally and 18th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Dawson Jacobs (4-star) 6-3, 240lbs out of Blessed Trinity Catholic in Roswell, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 179th overall nationally and 21st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Zylen Little (4-star) 6-2, 300lbs out of Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 186th overall nationally and 22nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Jamir Lee (4-star) 6-2, 275lbs out of Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 237th overall nationally and 26th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Arthur Jones (4-star) 6-3, 250lbs out of Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 285th overall nationally and 31st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Linebacker Tahj Gray (5-star) 6-4, 230lbs out of St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 24th overall nationally and 1st overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Jameer Miles (4-star) 6-3, 200lbs out of Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 52nd overall nationally and 3rd overall at the linebacker position. He holds 15 D1 offers. Andre Alexander Jr. (4-star) 6-1, 220lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 77th overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Gabriel Player (4-star) 6-3, 190lbs out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 93rd overall nationally and 6th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Ryan Peterson (4-star) 6-1, 220lbs out of Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 125th overall nationally and 7th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Brayden Bonik (4-star) 6-1, 195lbs out of Fort Bend Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 158th overall nationally and 10th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Allen Kennett V (4-star) 6-1, 220lbs out of Servite High School in Anaheim, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 206th overall nationally and 15th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Skylar Alston (4-star) 6-2, 210lbs out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 215th overall nationally and 17th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback Nasir Richardson (5-star) 6-1, 165lbs out of Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 11th overall nationally and 1st overall at the cornerback position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Keaton Fields (5-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 15th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Tyler Boyd (5-star) 6-0, 190lbs out of Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 34th overall nationally and 4th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Jai'lil Goley (4-star) 6-1, 175lbs out of Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 38th overall nationally and 5th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Logan Thompson (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Althoff High School in Belleville, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 43rd overall nationally and 6th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Grayden Reid (4-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Atherton High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 58th overall nationally and 7th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Langston Pridgeon (4-star) 6-2, 175lbs out of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 89th overall nationally and 8th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Adrian Woodward (4-star) 6-0, 170lbs out of St Peter's Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 104th overall nationally and 9th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Izayah Vickers (4-star) 6-0, 170lbs out of Florida State University School in Tallahassee, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 107th overall nationally and 10th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 21 D1 offers. Deonte Fleming Jr. (4-star) 6-3, 190lbs out of McDowell High School in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 114th overall nationally and 11th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 14 D1 offers. Phoenix Evans (4-star) 5-10, 160lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 188th overall nationally and 13th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 46 D1 offers. Amir Woodward (4-star) 6-0, 165lbs out of St Peter's Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 126th overall nationally and 14th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Nekhi Lambeth (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 166th overall nationally and 17th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Safeties Casey Barner (5-star) 6-0, 190lbs out of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 5th overall nationally and 1st overall at the safety position. He holds 54 D1 offers. James Foster III (5-star) 6-1, 195lbs out of Lancaster High School in Lancaster, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 20th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the safety position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Giovanni Tuggle (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Winder-Barrow High School in Winder, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 56th overall nationally and 4th overall at the safety position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Jaylyn Easterling-Flores (4-star) 6-2, 180lbs out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 59th overall nationally and 5th overall at the safety position. He holds 35 D1 offers. CJ Craig-James (4-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 73rd overall nationally and 7th overall at the safety position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Jalen Flowers (4-star) 6-2, 185lbs out of Palos Verdes High School in Palos Verdes Peninsula, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 84th overall nationally and 8th overall at the safety position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Athletes Kamieon Compton-Nero (5-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Rejoice Christian High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and 1st overall at the ATH position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Grant Bowen (5-star) 6-4, 220lbs out of Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 51st overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ATH position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Dion Edwards (4-star) 6-0, 160lbs out of Tyner Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 98th overall nationally and 5th overall at the ATH position. He holds 18 D1 offers. Camden Noe (4-star) 6-4, 215lbs out of Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 120th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ATH position. He holds 13 D1 offers. 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! 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Notre Dame looks to continue to strike lightning once again with the 2028 class after landing the best class we've seen in a generation last cycle. We hadn't seen anything like this since the Weis days, when Weis brought in high-caliber talent such as Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, and Manti Te'o. As impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that in back-to-back classes; in fact, some say the 2026 and 2027 classes are the two best in program history. Below are the 2028 Big Board Offensive Talents that Notre Dame has their eyes on: Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Running Back Kevin Hartsfield (4-star) 6-0, 210lbs out of Newton High School in Covington, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 35th overall nationally and 1st overall at the running back position. He holds 47 D1 offers Zaiden Jernigan (4-star) 5-11, 205lbs out of Louisville High School in Louisville, Mississippi. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 51st overall nationally and 2nd overall at the running back position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Currently scheduled to visit Notre Dame Nov. 7th (Miami Game) Micah Rhodes (4-star) 5-9.5, 180lbs out of Klein Oak High School in Spring, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 119th overall nationally and 8th overall at the running back position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Xander Edwards (4-star) 6-2, 220lbs out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 117th overall nationally and 7th overall at the running back position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Acely Brown (4-star) 6-0, 190lbs out of Petal High School in Petal, Mississippi. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 104th overall nationally and 6th overall at the running back position. He holds 19 D1 offers. Elijah Cromwell (4-star) 5-11, 180lbs out of Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 167th overall nationally and 11th overall at the running back position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Jayshawn Mitchell (4-star) 5-11, 195lbs out of San Antonio Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 250th overall nationally and 18th overall at the running back position. He holds 25 D1 offers. Tahmere Brown (4-star) 5-11, 188lbs out of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 169th overall nationally and 12th overall at the running back position. He holds 19 D1 offers. Wide Receiver Brysen Wright (4-star) 6-4, 215lbs out of Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 1st overall nationally and 1st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Jaylen Addai (4-star) 6-1, 170lbs out of Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 12th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Madoxx Davis (4-star) 5-10, 190lbs out of Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 23rd overall nationally and 5th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Deandre Bidden (4-star) 5-11, 170lbs out of Harper Woods High School in Harper Woods, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 22nd overall nationally and 6th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Lorenzo McMullen Jr. (4-star) 6-0, 185lbs out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 29th overall nationally and 7th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Malachi Lee (4-star) 6-2, 185lbs out of Loudon Sports Academy in Leesburg, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 38th overall nationally and 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Troman Isaac Jr. (4-star) 5-11, 175lbs out of Chaminade-Madonna High School in Hollywood, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 88th overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Tyree Mannings Jr. (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Venice High School in Venice, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 93rd overall nationally and 13th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Zyren Menor (4-star) 6-0, 180lbs out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 95th overall nationally and 14th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 15 D1 offers. Derrell Hines Jr. (4-star) 6-1, 175lbs out of Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 98th overall nationally and 15th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Jayce Halasz (4-star) 6-2, 175lbs out of Graham-Kapowsin High School in Graham, Washington. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 130th overall nationally and 17th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 15 D1 offers. Tight End JC Wessel (4-star) 6-6, 225lbs out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 131st overall nationally and 5th overall at the tight end position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Braxton Rein (4-star) 6-6, 230lbs out of Baylor High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 142nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the tight end position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Theo Schott (4-star) 6-4, 210lbs out of Zionsville High School in Zionsville, Indiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 246th overall nationally and 10th overall at the tight end position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Tre Oiler (4-star) 6-6, 220lbs out of Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 274th overall nationally and 11th overall at the tight end position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Jack McNamara (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 337th overall nationally and 16th overall at the tight end position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Maui Tonata (5-star) 6-5, 315lbs out of Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He is ranked by 247 Sports 17th overall nationally and 1st overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Joseph Frierdich (4-star) 6-7, 260lbs out of Carbondale High School in Carbondale, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 67th overall nationally and 9th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 13 D1 offers. Austin Attalah (4-star) 6-8, 270lbs out of Cajon High School in San Bernardino, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 30th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Joey Fleming (4-star) 6-5, 280lbs out of Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 37th overall nationally and 4th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Wyatt VanBoening (4-star) 6-7, 280lbs out of Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 80th overall nationally and 11th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 16 D1 offers. Lincoln Fa'alafi (4-star) 6-8, 360lbs out of JSerra Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 91st overall nationally and 12th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 13 D1 offers. King Pitts (4-star) 6-4, 270lbs out of Kapa'a High School in Kapa'a, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 242nd overall nationally and 15th overall at the ATH position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Ben Coleman (4-star) 6-4, 285lbs out of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 321st overall nationally and 31st overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 10 D1 offers. Apisai Fifta (4-star) 6-6, 220lbs out of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 443rd overall nationally and 37th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 10 D1 offers. 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 new 150,000-square-foot facility is over 50% larger than the 'Gug.' Photo via Notre Dame Athletics In the spring of 2024, Notre Dame Athletics announced the construction of a new, state-of-the-art football facility. The facility was named Shields Family Hall, after a generous donation by Jack and Kathy Shields. Legendary Irish football player Pat Eilers also contributed among multiple other donors who had wished to remain anonymous. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The first segment of the facility, the Patrick Kramer Dining Room, was unveiled in early July. The Dining Hall features an exciting and innovative dining experience for the student-athletes. On July 24th, Notre Dame unveiled the next sector of Shields Family Hall. The Keith and Janet Sherin Locker Room and Pat and Jana Eilers Performance Center were revealed to players and fans alike. The Sherin Locker Room features new amenities such as upgraded player locker decals, leather-stitching chairs, a gaming room, and even a designated barbershop. Notre Dame Football’s social media displayed the players visibly shocked at the countless upgrades they received. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Next, the new Pat and Jana Eilers Performance Center features a more modern display of weights along with an area designated for speed work. On July 31st, Notre Dame Football unveiled the remainder of Shields Family Hall. Stadium Bricks The famous bricks enclosing Notre Dame Stadium are featured throughout the interior of Shields Family Hall. Campus Architecture The Shields Family Hall architecture blends in seamlessly with the neo-gothic campus style of Notre Dame. Each corner tells a story. Golden Dome and Founder’s Lines The famous and distinct Golden Dome is intertwined throughout the facility. In fact, the new updated player locker decals have “custom quilted navy leather with gold accent stitching in each player’s locker”. The iconic ‘Founder’s Lines’ found in Notre Dame's end zones are also seen throughout the locker room. Gold Helmet The legendary gold from the Irish football helmets is found almost everywhere throughout the facility. Coaching History A designated wall displays the complete history of Notre Dame Football helmets. National Championships are indicated with a golden shamrock next to the coach's name. 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!

Now that the 2026 football season is just over a month away, it is time to take a look at this new Notre Dame football roster. To start, let's take a look at the most important position, the quarterback. Going into 2026, the QB position at Notre Dame has never been in a better spot than it is now. For years, Notre Dame fans grew frustrated with inconsistent play and a talent level that did not live up to the extremely high expectations of Notre Dame football. Although the position did deliver fan favorites like Ian Book and Riley Leonard, QBs at Notre Dame seemed limited in their ability to elevate a team. Now, those problems seem to be an element of the past, as CJ Carr returns as one of the best players in the country at the position. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Starter CJ Carr There is no question that Carr is the starter heading into next season. At this time last year, he was still in the middle of a hotly contested QB battle with now Kentucky starter Kenny Minchey. After a successful season in 2025, Carr is now one of the most highly touted QBs in the country. With lofty expectations, Carr will have the eyes of the entire country on him, watching to see if he lives up to the hype. Luckily for him, he has a tremendous supporting cast to help him along the way. He will first be protected by what could be one of the best offensive lines in college football. To add to that, he has a lot of returning weapons on the outside, reinforced by two new, exciting receivers from Ohio State. Coming out of summer camp, the noise circling Carr was focused on the deep understanding and command he now has of this offense. With a year of experience, Carr should be able to rely on his impressive mind for the game much more than his quality arm talent. With both working, there should be a noticeable improvement in his play from last season. Last Season's Stats: 195 Pass Completions | 2,741 Passing Yards | 24 TD | 6 Interceptions Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Backups Blake Hebert Going into his second season with the team, Hebert is likely the second-string QB in the Notre Dame depth chart. With two freshmen behind him, he has the second most experience working with Denbrock out of the entire QB room. While he may not have any elite traits to lean on, Hebert is a natural and fluid passer. In his spring game reps, he looked comfortable and in control of the pocket, proving he is capable of operating an offense. With even more time in Denbrock's system, that level of comfort and knowledge of the offense should only continue to grow. If he is called upon this season, there will be a step down from Carr, but he has shown glimpses of his ability to operate this Fighting Irish offense. Noah Grubbs Grubbs arrives at Notre Dame as a four-star freshman QB who will likely spend his first year on the scout team, learning the ins and outs of college football. Standing at 6'4", Grubbs has the prototypical size to become an elite pocket-passer. He combines that size with underrated athleticism, making him a dangerous playmaker in play-action and improvisational situations. Grubbs does have a lot to work on, however, as he needs to improve his overall arm strength and decision-making. Grubbs is at his best when he is in situations to add touch on the ball, lacking the arm strength to thread balls into tight spaces. Luckily for Grubbs, he will have the time and coaching necessary to continue to improve on these aspects of his game. In time, he may become a candidate to be the conductor of the Notre Dame offense in the future. Teddy Jarrard Outside of Carr, Jarrard may be the most exciting part of this QB room's future. Originally a 2027 prospect, Jarrard reclassified to the 2026 class, starting his college development a year early. Jarrard and Notre Dame surely hope that this decision will fast-track him into contending for a starting spot once Carr decides to head to the NFL. Jarrard is a tall pocket-passer who thrives when he is in rhythm. With fluid and clean mechanics, Jarrard is able to consistently get the ball off on time and on target. He does not project to be an above-average athlete, so he will likely do his damage from the pocket, where he can pick apart a defense with his elite placement. 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? 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On July 28th, Notre Dame Athletics struck a jersey patch deal with finance company SoFi Technologies. The multiyear partnership, rumored to be in the neighborhood of $18 million-$20 million, will be the most valuable patch deal in college sports, according to ESPN. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Unsurprisingly, the shocking announcement upset many Irish fans, including myself. Many didn’t expect the tradition-rich Notre Dame program to cheapen its immortal brand with sponsorships. One of the most defining features of Notre Dame Stadium is the absence of sponsorships, which I would have expected to also include the legendary blue and gold threads the student-athletes don. Several fanatics expressed strongly worded testaments alluding to the sponsorship: “It's short for SoFightingIrishAreForSale” - Cover3shell via Reddit “Notre Dame putting SoFi on the jersey is like seeing Michelangelo sign the Sistine Chapel with Brought to you by TurboTax.” - Jimmygards via X Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! While some expressed a rather harsh outlook, other fans expressed a more mundane outlook over the situation, with several expressing how the jersey patch sponsorship revenue is necessary to compete in today's day and age. “I'm not a big fan of all these patches and stuff to college football, but these are the current times we are living in, and if it helps us open the NIL budget a bit more, I am okay with it.” - Skadoodle32 via X “The size of a sponsorship isn’t a participation trophy—it’s a reflection of brand value. Notre Dame understands that, and so does SoFi. That’s why Notre Dame is one of the top finance schools in the country.” - DerbySuperfecta via X “This is what is meant when they say ND is a conference unto itself. I hate jersey patches on principle, but if it's gonna be done, don't sell the real estate cheap.” - Lesslikely via Reddit Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle I understand that Notre Dame must adapt to truly fit in today's NIL landscape of college sports. However, I am not naive enough to think this new advertisement string will stop at jerseys. It is scary, as a fan, to even consider seeing advertisements plastered across 'The House Rockne Built.' I understand that $18-$20 million is plenty of money. However, is it enough to abandon our morals and principles? The exclusive and protective nature of the brand is the reason why Notre Dame is one of the most valuable programs in all of college football. Perhaps we should take notes from former athletics directors such as Father Joyce C.S.C and Jack Swarbrick by keeping the brand exclusive. The most storied programs in college football are not a sign off the interstate. We are not an advertisement. We are a living, breathing, thriving continuation of what Rockne, Leahy, Paraseghian, Holtz, and Freeman built, along with driven student-athletes. Never cheapen the program. 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!

On Tuesday, the University of Notre Dame and SoFi Technologies announced a multi-year collaboration. Image via Notre Dame Athletics This landmark deal allows SoFi to become the official financial services partner of Notre Dame Athletics, and it will become the first non-apparel brand to appear as a jersey patch on all Irish uniforms. The collaboration will include the following, via Notre Dame release: Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! SoFi Champions Scholarship “As part of the shared commitment to help student-athletes build strong futures, the partnership introduces the SoFi Champions Scholarship, a comprehensive scholarship program dedicated to walk-on student-athletes, annually recognizing one men’s and one women’s student-athlete who exemplify ambition, resilience, leadership and service. Each recipient will receive a one-year full tuition scholarship.” Student-Athlete Financial Success Hub “The collaboration will also include a student-athlete services hub, bringing SoFi’s financial education, planning tools, personalized guidance and products directly to student-athletes, giving them the resources to make smarter financial decisions during their time on campus and prepare for life after graduation.” SoFi Saturdays and Member Experiences “…SoFi members and Notre Dame alumni and fans will have the opportunity to take part in exclusive opportunities surrounding Fighting Irish gamedays and events, including ticket giveaways, tailgates and private events.” Fighting Irish Jersey Patch “SoFi will be featured across all game and practice uniforms for Notre Dame’s 26 varsity teams.” Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Another unique element of this collaboration is that SoFi will be establishing “a new annual $1.4 million fund to support Notre Dame’s “4 for Forever” campaign, which funds scholarships in 26 sports and supports student-athletes through financial education, career development and other opportunities.” Notre Dame Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua stated, “Our ‘4 for Forever’ promise at Notre Dame is paramount to providing the best student-athlete experience in the country…SoFi shares in this commitment to developing strong, ambitious leaders who are set up for success at Notre Dame and beyond. Together, our relationship will create lasting value for our student-athletes and their families for generations to come.” Earlier on Tuesday, Ohio State announced its deal with JPMorgan Chase Bank worth around $17 million. According to Ross Dellenger, Notre Dame’s partnership is between $18-20 million, making it the richest patch deal as we sit right now. The traditional Notre Dame fan will rightfully have their qualms with sticking a patch on such a historic jersey. However, it is a good sign that Bevacqua and the Irish do not intend to be left behind in the everchanging landscape of NIL in college sports. With this deal, Notre Dame can continue carrying competitive teams, like in football, where the price of a championship-caliber roster could exceed $20-30 million with ease. Additionally, this deal helps the University sustain its less-funded and lower-revenue Olympic sport programs for years to come. 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!

EDGE Darieon Prescott announced his commitment to Notre Dame live on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday. Photo via Darien Prescott/IG (@cfk.prescott) A consensus four-star, Prescott chose Notre Dame over Oregon and Texas A&M, among 36 listed offers, according to 247 Sports. 247 Sports ranks the 6-4, 255-pound Irish commit as the #7 overall recruit, #3 EDGE, and #2 player in Illinois in the class of 2028. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Coming out of Bolingbrook, IL, Prescott attends his local Bolingbrook High School, where he dominated the gridiron as a sophomore last season. He finished the year with 65 tackles, 14 TFLs, 5 sacks, 26 QB hurries, 8 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 blocked kicks. Prescott was named to Rivals’s Sophomore All-American Second Team for his efforts. One of the more impressive parts about Prescott is his elite frame and long arms. Just this past offseason, the rising Junior added about 30 pounds of muscle to his physique. He also holds a very high motor, as shown by his willingness to play pretty much anywhere on the defensive line. Additionally, Prescott is a true disruptor against the pass, using his long arms to swat down passes in the event he is not able to get to the QB. All in all, Notre Dame just secured itself a truly elite edge rusher, one that should earn five-star status by the time he steps foot on South Bend. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Prescott becomes Notre Dame’s third commit in the 2028 class, joining S Andre Jones and K Owen Davies. 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!

The story of how Notre Dame recruited a boy from one of Michigan football’s royal families. It is a relatively well-known fact that Notre Dame starting Quarterback CJ Carr had ties to Michigan through his family. His paternal grandfather, Lloyd Carr, had a Hall-Of-Fame career coaching the Wolverines to a 122-40 record, along with a 1997 National Championship. His maternal grandfather, Tom Curtis, was an All-American Safety for Michigan before winning Super Bowl V with the Indianapolis Colts. Both Carr’s parents met as students in Ann Arbor, where his father played QB. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Carr had every reason to continue the family legacy at Michigan. His potential Michigan commitment would have been a huge victory for Wolverine fans, especially in his hometown of Saline, MI, which is less than eight miles away from Ann Arbor. Carr was rated a four-star recruit and top four QB in the 2024 recruiting class by On3 Rivals. Many Michigan fans, along with the actual school itself, felt Carr would simply become a Wolverine based on his family ties. That was not the case. Carr explained this during an interview on the Rich Eisen Show during Notre Dame’s media week. It was pretty obvious the Michigan coaching staff had early eyes on Carr, as they gave him an official offer after the last game of his freshman season, according to Carr. Carr recalls how his father originally hid the offer from him. “He had seen a bunch of kids get offered at an early age, and he always thought it was just unnecessary pressure to be recruited as a freshman." After Michigan State shortly became the second to offer the young QB, his dad finally told him the truth. Carr respectfully turned down the Spartans, as the Wolverines had offered him first. It was understandably a very electric time in the Carr household following then Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s phone call with the young phenom. Despite the shared connection to Michigan, the family remained wholly supportive of the younger Carr. “My family said, “This is your recruiting process. You know we love Michigan.” My mom went to Michigan. My dad went to Michigan. “You got to make a decision for yourself.” I just continued to keep it open and see where it’d take me.” Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Carr kept his options fully open, even if it meant looking into one of Michigan’s fiercest rivals. Carr traveled to various Midwest schools, including Notre Dame. However, the Irish were not a serious contender for the young QB until Marcus Freeman took over as head coach. “I visited, but I wasn't really looking to go there until Freeman got hired. People said great things about him, and I love Tommy Rees, who was at Notre Dame for a couple years then.” According to Carr, he had the perspective that Michigan was already expecting him to go there; due to this, they really had not been recruiting him hard. However, Rees, then Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach, inevitably pursued Carr heavily. “Tommy Rees came in with the approach that until I say no to him, he's going to recruit me as hard as he can. He's going to be in the school, and he's going to show Notre Dame's love and want for me. That meant a lot to me throughout the process. Eventually I visited four or five times, and I said, "This is a place for me. This is home. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." And I made that decision." Following that decision in June of 2022, Carr has led the Irish to a 10-2 record as a Redshirt Freshman in 2025, and has emerged as one of College Football's best talents. In fact, FanDuel currently has Carr (+750) as the favorite to win the coveted Heisman Memorial Trophy this upcoming season. However, it is continually evident throughout Carr’s career that he beats to his own drum. He won’t let outside noise determine his decisions. Nevertheless, the commitment from one of Michigan's golden families has certainly paid off for the Fighting 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 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!

Following a back-and-forth battle with Oregon, Notre Dame received a commitment on Thursday afternoon from highly sought-after Defensive Lineman Brayden Parks. The 6-3, 300-pound DL ranks as a consensus four-star, rated as the #161 overall recruit and #18 DL in the 2027 class, according to 247 Sports. Among over 40 listed offers, Parks committed to Notre Dame over Oregon, Ohio State, Miami, and others. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Parks, a Chicago native, attends Brother Rice High School. The big-bodied DL helped his program win a State Championship this past fall, recording 44 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 2 sacks during the season. Parks is what you are looking for in a DT in 2026. Physically, he is big, powerful, tough, and has a good motor. He is also pretty quick for his size and holds a good pass-rush skillset. However, elite run-stopping is the name of the game for Parks, with an innate ability to dominate the interior. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The Chicago native’s commitment marks the Irish’s third pledge in the 2027 class from a Chicago defensive player, joining DL David Folorunsho and LB Roman Igwebuike. Parks becomes the sixth DL to join the class that now sits at 23 commits. 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!

While Notre Dame seems primed to have a special 2026 football season, it does not mean that this upcoming season will not present its fair share of challenges. Let's take a look at what those potential challenges could be. Living Up to the Hype Marcus Freeman and his coaching staff have been able to build an impressive roster that rivals the very best in college football. This, combined with the results of recent seasons, has caused many to have extremely high expectations for the 2026 football team. And it is not just Notre Dame fans; many pundits around the country share these expectations, as Notre Dame will enter the season as a top-five ranked team. While these are great signs that the program is continuing to level up, it does present the team with a new challenge that they will have to contend with all season...pressure. Yes, as the saying goes, "pressure is a privilege," but it can also rattle a team trying to live up to the expectations that others have set out for them. Looking closer, CJ Carr will feel more pressure than anyone else on this team. He is already in consideration for the Heisman Trophy, a first-round pick, and will be looked at to carry the offense. He is an immensely talented player who has the capability to do all these things, but it is yet to be seen if he can handle all the noise that comes with his success. At the end of the day, this problem is not unique to Notre Dame, and they will have to become used to this sort of pressure if they want to continue elevating to the top of college football. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Battling Complacency Freeman often talks about the lesson learned in 2024 when Notre Dame followed a big win against Texas A&M with an embarrassing loss to Northern Illinois. He stated that the team did not do a good job of dealing with their own success, failing to recognize that they could lose to any team without the proper mindset. In 2026, it is likely they will be presented with a very similar challenge. It is well documented that the Fighting Irish do not have a particularly hard schedule. While that appears to be the case now, a schedule such as theirs can quickly become a tricky one laced with trap games. Notre Dame is favored in every game this season, meaning that talent should not be a problem for them, but every Notre Dame fan knows that there is always at least one game that is closer than it should be. Last year, that game was Boston College. While Notre Dame ended up winning, it was not until Jeremiyah Love's long touchdown run that Irish fans could take a deep breath. This season, Boston College could be a potential trap game once again, as that matchup directly follows the game against Miami. The game against Miami is not only a rivalry game, but it is also the toughest game on Notre Dame's schedule. This game is definitely one that the Irish have circled, and if they win, it may cause them to look past Boston College. Yes, every team is entitled to the occasional "bad game", but they must be careful because the wrong loss could end their hopes of returning to the College Football Playoffs. Luckily for Freeman and his team, the group is filled with experienced players who could be all they need to avoid complacency. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Replacing an Offensive System Last season, Notre Dame was home to two first-round running backs, giving them what felt like guaranteed offense every Saturday. Love and Jadarian Price accounted for 2,046 of the team's 2,441 rushing yards and 29 of 38 total rushing touchdowns. Looking at total offense, the duo scored over half of Notre Dame's offensive touchdowns in 2025, reinforcing the notion that they carried the bulk of the load on offense. Now that the rushing tandem is gone, Notre Dame will have to recreate their offensive philosophy. They can no longer depend on Love and Price to generate big plays and steady production. Upcoming starting running back Aneyas Williams will be responsible for replacing some of the production, but it will be impossible for Notre Dame to run back the same game plan in 2026. The workload will likely shift to Carr's arm. Last season, he thrived in a role that did not rely on him to create the offense or deliver on many big plays. Now, he will likely be asked to do more through the air. While many believe he is ready for that jump in responsibility, it is an unknown that Notre Dame will have to figure out throughout the season. Carr will have a strong offensive line and a plethora of receiving weapons to lean on, giving him a much better chance of successfully shouldering that burden. Only time will tell just how big the hole Love and Price are leaving behind. 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!

Recently, the controversial former coach appeared on ‘The Independent’ podcast to discuss his current feelings toward his former job. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Brian Kelly. The two words that can set off nearly every single Notre Dame diehard. Despite Kelly holding the most wins in Irish history, his image is still largely controversial among fans. Kelly left South Bend for LSU and Baton Rouge in late November of 2021. Notre Dame players found out via a 10 pm text from Kelly, who then expanded on the text with a 10-minute meeting the next morning. Needless to say, public perception of Kelly in South Bend, and elsewhere, is anything but timid. Lou Holtz, the last Notre Dame coach to lead the team to a National Championship in 1988, and Kelly had somewhat of a spotty connection. Holtz reportedly wrote Kelly around eight different letters, all positive, Holtz said, over his time behind the Irish helm. However, Kelly responded to exactly zero of these letters, according to Holtz. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Perhaps this is why it shocked many fans whenever Kelly reemerged on campus for the first time for Holtz’s funeral. Despite Holtz’s remarks, Kelly remembers the connection differently. After being asked about the Holtz funeral by the host of the ‘Independent’ podcast, Kelly said: “Well, first because of the man. You know the legacy that he has left at Notre Dame. I feel like you, as a former head football coach, at minimum you show the respect of the seat that you were in.” Anyone with a good-natured intuition might claim that perhaps the environment of Notre Dame might make revisiting awkward for Kelly. However, the former coach feels different. “Um, it doesn't feel awkward. I think that's probably the best way to put it. I don't feel awkward.” Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Which confused many fans, considering the constant hate thrown at Kelly by Irish fans on the various socials. However, Kelly provides somewhat ample reasoning for why his presence isn’t out of place at Our Lady’s campus. “Obviously, we did a lot of great things for the university through our foundation. And so we feel that we have a connection with Notre Dame that we want to continue within the parameters that we're allowed. So we'll be very cognizant of that. I'm not going to be running around campus for my workouts. But we're going to be seen when we have the opportunity.” Kelly’s seemingly intentional ignorance of how fans perceive him will be put on full display over the next few months, as Kelly also hinted at a visit to his old assistant Marcus Freeman and the rest of the Irish staff in the future. 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!