As the calendar is about to turn to June, college football fans are at the deadest point in the offseason: both far away from the end of spring camp and the beginning of summer ball. Here are three Notre Dame games to satisfy your college football needs. Photo by The Irish Tribune The middle of the offseason. As spring camp and the spring transfer portal movement have wrapped up, this is truly the dead winter for the college football calendar. With recent scheduling news, the addition of Clemson has a rivalry game and the possible subtraction of the USC rivalry, Notre Dame football has still been making waves. This coupled with the new CFP format that deletes automatic bids, and therefore benefits the Fighting Irish, most fans are beginning to get an itch for the upcoming season. While 2025 previews might still be a bit out of reach, here are three games to rewatch to satisfy Fighting Irish fans. CFP Semifinal: Orange Bowl vs Penn State Quite possibly the best game of the 2024-2025 college football season. This game had it all, the great depths of a 3-point first half coupled with a Riley Leonard interception that made it seem like all hope was lost. Even the two interceptions that got called back due to penalties drained Notre Dame fans hope. Then there were the great highs: Jeremiyah Love recorded the most impressive 2-yard touchdown run of all time. Steve Angeli being the hero at the end of the first half, coming in for an injured Riley Leonard to get the first points of the game. Jaden Greathouse breaking a Penn State cornerback's ankles at the line of scrimmage, and then juking the safety out of his shoes to tie the game on a 54-yard touchdown. Then, of course, a play that will live in infamy in Penn State's eyes, Drew Allar forcing a pass late over-the-middle of the field, in which Christian Gray made the biggest play of his career. This set up Mitch Jeter to forever be a Notre Dame legend, in which his 41-yard field goal put the Irish ahead with seven seconds left. 2020 vs #1 Clemson The next game on the list was the matchup between #1 Clemson and #4 Notre Dame. Coming into the game, Clemson's star quaterback Trevor Lawrence got diagnosed with COVID-19, which made him ineligible for the matchup, and forced Dabo Sweeney to turn to freshman DJ Uiagalelei, who had a historic day. This 2OT thriller is in a similar boat to that of the Penn State game, because of the ups and downs of this one. Notre Dame had complete control of the game early on, but couldn't capitalize in Clemson territory, settling for field goals and keeping the Tigers in the game. The longer Clemson was able to stick around, the Tigers finally capitalized and spun the game on its head, taking a 33-26 lead with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter. On the following drive, a Notre Dame turnover on downs appeared to ice the Irish's fate, yet after the defense forced a three-and-out, Ian Book led the Irish downfield on a bomb to Avery Davis. This long pass to Davis set up a four-yard passing touchdown to Davis yet again, and tied the game with 22 seconds remaining. After sharing touchdowns in the first overtime, the Irish bullied the Tigers off the ball in the second overtime period as well to convert another touchdown. On Clemson's rebuttal, the Irish defensive line made a huge splash with back-to-back sacks on 1st and 2nd down to ice the game and have the Irish knock off the top-ranked Tigers. The heroes from this game were Ian Book, who threw for 310 yards, and Kyren Williams who ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns. 2017 vs #11 USC A complete splattering. Just the way one would want against the USC Trojans. Coming into this game, the #11 USC Trojans faced off against #13 Notre Dame, both looking to see which direction there season would go in this mid-season matchup. The Irish were only a three-point favorite at home, and the last time they played the Trojans in 2016, USC ran them off the field. However, in this iteration of one of the best rivalries in the sport, the Irish dominated the Trojans on all sides of the ball. This game derailed USC's hopes of a college football playoff bid, and also destroyed Sam Darnold's Heisman campaign. This was also one of Brandon Wimbush's best games, as he was efficient both as a passer and a runner, but Josh Adams was the key to the Irish offense, rushing for 191 and three touchdowns. Honorable Mentions 2024 vs USC: The back-to-back 100 yard pick sixes 2023 vs #10 USC: The Xavier Watts Legacy Game 2022 vs #4 Clemson: The Benjamin Morrison coming out party 2021 vs #18 Wisconsin: Tyree and Defense Slug Badgers 2018 vs #7 Stanford: Introduction of Ian Book Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame's 2024 team will go down in history as one of the most memorable for many fans who witnessed the unexpected run to the National Championship. With that being said, there were certainly a few areas that held the team back at crucial junctures. Let's take a look at two areas where Notre Dame can elevate their game the most. Photo by The Irish Tribune Passing Game In 2024, Notre Dame's passing attack was led by Riley Leonard. Leonard was a runner, a leader, and a winner, but he was not an exceptional passer by any means. This limited the ceiling of this offense, as opposing defenses never seemed to be threatened by the prospect of Notre Dame moving the ball through the air. The 2024 wide receiver group was also unable to consistently establish themselves as a threat, which never gave Leonard many options. This combination landed Notre Dame at only 198 passing yards per game on average, placing them all the way down at 101st in the country. Even with this, Notre Dame's offense was solid, and great at times, but limited nonetheless. A large chunk of Notre Dame's offensive production came on the ground, which good defenses were able to limit. In 2025, this is an area Notre Dame can and will have to improve upon. The offense will feature a new quarterback, whether that's CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey. Either way, they may both end up being better passers than Leonard was. If so, they will immediately improve the Irish passing attack in 2025. The other part of this is the wide receivers. In 2025, this should be improved upon as well. Notre Dame brought in Malachi Fields from Virginia, who will be an instant starter and Notre Dame's best deep threat weapon. Jaden Greathouse is coming back after he seemed to have found his stride during the playoffs. The group will also feature weapons like Jordan Faison, Micah Gilbert, and Cam Williams, underclassmen who now have more experience under their belt to pair with raw talent. Pass Rushing The bulk of Notre Dame's pass rushing came from their dominant interior duo of Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills. Together, they accounted for 11.5 of the team's 40 sacks. Cross was third on the team in sacks, even after missing multiple games with an injury. These two had been the anchors of Notre Dame's defense for years. The team had always relied on them to generate pressure and sacks through the interior, but with both now in the NFL, replacing that production won't be easy. It is now time for the defense to rely on new players to get after the quarterback. Last season, Notre Dame did have quality pass rushers on the edge to start the season, but by the time the season was over, injuries completely derailed the edge position. As long as the defensive line can remain relatively injury-free, this 2025 group looks like it can be really special. Last season, Notre Dame struggled to provide consistent pressure on the edge, but that should not be the case next season. With players like Boubacar Traore, Jordan Botelho, Bryce Young, and a few others, the Irish defense should have no problem getting pressure on the quarterback. Botelho brings a lot of experience to the group, while Traore and Young bring elite length and athleticism that should make up a dynamic and productive pass rush. This group, if successful, will be able to unlock this team's ability to lock down offenses, especially when they have excellent linebackers and defensive backs behind them. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With the portal closed, the Notre Dame roster is set - and wow, is it ever stacked. There is talent at every level on the offense and defense. Most of the positions have quality depth behind the starters, so there are not a lot of weaknesses or question marks on this team. Finding these question marks is a little like splitting hairs. However, two positions still have things to prove this upcoming season. Photo by The Irish Tribune Quarterback Obvious but important nonetheless. With Steve Angeli heading to Syracuse, CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey will battle it out in fall camp to determine who will be the next starting quarterback at Notre Dame. The quarterback battle has been a hotly contested topic around Notre Dame ever since the 2024 season ended. The spring game brought more clarity to the topic, as Minchey and Carr set themselves apart in the race. Now, their battle will resume in the fall, with the starting position on the line. The concern at quarterback does not go away if either Carr or Minchey wins. Neither player has ever played meaningful minutes at the college level. That means that Notre Dame and this offense will be heading into the complete unknown when they take on Miami in Hard Rock Stadium. With little to no experience, there's obviously cause for some concern regardless of who is named the starter. However, both options bring a plethora of tools with a much higher ceiling than what fans have seen in years past. Carr is a little more of a traditional pocket-passer, whereas Minchey offers more mobility and athleticism at the position. These two could have all the talent in the world, but Marcus Freeman won't truly know what they have until the first whistle is blown. The rest of this roster is plenty good enough to raise the trophy at the end of the year, but it will have to have a quarterback that can get them there. It is yet to be determined if it will be Carr or Minchey who offers them the best chance to do that. They both have the potential to raise this team's ceiling to a National Championship level, but potential doesn't mean much when the lights shine the brightest. Tight End Notre Dame has a long lineage of fantastic tight ends that have come through the program. Most recently, Mitchell Evans' name was called on draft night to represent Notre Dame in the NFL. This season, tight end may be a bit of a question mark. The tight end room, as it stands right now, is solid, but it does seem to lack a true difference maker at the position. The idea of that is livable if the wide receiver group carries the weight of the pass catching, but as most fans are aware, wide receiver has also been a weakness for the Irish over the past handful of seasons. With solid reinforcements through the portal in Malachi Fields and Will Pauling, and proven commodities already on the roster, the tight end position certainly raises bigger question marks. The presumed starter, Eli Raridon, played a backup role in 2024 after suffering a series of injuries. Raridon is a solid player who is good in the run game and offers a reliable set of hands. That may be all Notre Dame needs at the position. If it is, Raridon will do just fine in that role. Freshman Jack Larsen impressed in the spring game as a downfield threat for CJ Carr. At 6'3'', 250 lbs, he certainly looks the part, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him carry that momentum into the season. Denbrock and the rest of the offensive coaching staff may look at this position by committee, where they use different players to execute certain looks on the field. It will be interesting to see how this position group develops over the course of the year and well into the future. Is someone capable of taking that next step and continuing the rich tradition of dominant tight end play? Special Teams Notre Dame once again brings in a transfer kicker to be their starter. This year, it will be Noah Burnette from North Carolina. Burnette follows in the footsteps of Mitch Jeter, who was inconsistent all year due to a nagging groin injury. Although he was shaky, Jeter did hit one of the biggest kicks in Notre Dame history to send the Fighting Irish to the National Championship. The question around Notre Dame's kicker also stems from inconsistency. Burnette's 2024 fell very short of the standard he had set in 2023. In 2023, he made 95% of his field goals with a long of 48. Those numbers made him one of the most accurate kickers in the entire country. The 2024 season was not quite to that same standard, only making 71% of his field goals. Notre Dame just came off a year of dealing with inconsistent kicking that would sometimes put the team in some tough spots. Will Burnette be able to recreate the magic he found in 2023, or will Notre Dame fans continue to grit their teeth every time the field goal team marches out on fourth down? Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

In The Film Room: We dive into the unprecedented talent and abilities of 2026 five-star safety Joey O'Brien, who Notre Dame is in a hot battle to land, competing against Penn State and others. Photo by Joey O'Brien / Johnny DeMasi Due to things like limited roster sizes or a coach recognizing when a certain player is head and shoulders above the competition, many high school football players end up taking snaps on both sides of the line of scrimmage. It is much rarer for a player to be able to carry over that balance to the college level. When Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy in the 2024-25 season, he was the first two-way star to do so since Charles Woodson accomplished the feat in 1997. One of the highest-ranking recruits in the 2026 class hopes to join that elite company when he takes the field in the FBS next season. 5-star Joey O'Brien is the number one player in the state of Pennsylvania and epitomizes what it means to play both sides of the ball, as he racked up a school record 1,029 receiving yards to go along with 16 touchdowns, as well as 13 pass breakups during his Junior season. As the recruitment for O'Brien's services heats up, Penn State appears to be the front runner at this point in time, but that doesn't mean Notre Dame will let up on their end. O'Brien is set to take an official visit to South Bend in June, and with the momentum Head Coach Marcus Freeman and his staff have recently built on the recruiting trail, don't count out the Fighting Irish. The game film is exactly what you would expect out of such a highly touted prospect, and this time around, my player evaluation will include both offensive and defensive breakdowns. As a Wide Receiver O'Brien possesses very good height for the WR position, pushing almost 6'4, but does have more of a slender frame. He plays with good acceleration, getting out of his release without any wasted movement, and has no issues getting through some hand fighting at the LOS to get to his spot. He has elite ball skills, with his natural catch ability separating him from other players in his class. Joey can track the ball on deep post patterns and vertical shots without breaking his stride, and his ability to adjust around his frame to inaccurate passes is one of one. He can do everything from snagging the ball with one hand to going up and high-pointing it over multiple defenders. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Use co de IrishTribune20 for $20 off Two specific areas that make him a threat are on back shoulder throws and in the red zone. O'Brien does an excellent job of selling the go route when he takes an outside release and shows the concentration and manual dexterity to turn around mid route and attack the pass on his back shoulder. In the red zone, his height and leaping ability make him the perfect target on fade routes. He also plays with the courage to go over the middle through traffic and absorb contact while still completing the catch. O'Brien does not have a lot of suddenness in and out of his breaks, which leads to a lack of separation at the top of his routes. This is why his penchant for making contested catches is one of his most valuable traits. He also doesn't always stack the defensive back when he goes vertical, which has not been an issue at the high school level, as he seems to always win the 50-50 balls in the air, but when facing a cornerback with better ball skills, it will not be as easy. I view O'Brien as a very good receiving prospect who has a lot of the physical attributes that could allow him to grow into a prototypical "X" WR role. He will thrive against one-on-one matchups, especially near the goal line, because of his length and ability to go over the top of defenders. He will have some of the best hands on the team from the minute he steps on a campus, and as his route running continues to improve, he will become even more of a threat at all levels of the field. As a Defensive Back There are not many 6'3 cornerbacks that have the type of long speed O'Brien possesses. His ball skills as a WR translate to this side of the ball as well, which is a huge plus. He shows very quick processing as a defender, getting in the backfield to break up screens and bubbles. O'Brien shows that he can be a very physical press corner, using good hand placement on his jam and disrupting the WR's ability to get into his route. He plays with elite awareness in zone coverage, following the eyes of the QB and jumping routes with good anticipation. Very good open field tackler who can differentiate between when to wrap up and when he can go for a big hit. O'Brien may not have the short-area quickness to play man coverage full time on an island, but his awareness and ball skills scream elite cover 3 cornerback potential. The chance to play some off coverage and read the QB will only feed into his strengths, and although he is listed as a safety on most sites, I can definitely see him sticking on the perimeter like he has done plenty throughout high school and making a name for himself there. Enjoying this analysis? Subscribe to Tribune+ to stay in the know for Notre Dame recruiting There is no telling which school, if any, plans to have O'Brien go full-time on both offense and defense, but there is no doubt that he hopes to remain a factor in multiple spots. Penn State, Notre Dame, and Oregon have all discussed special packages with O'Brien on how he can be used, and it seems like that will be one of the biggest selling points for any team hoping to land him going forward. O'Brien would be the second 5-star recruit for Notre Dame this cycle, the first being defensive end Rodney Dunham, but no player in the Irish's current class brings quite the level of versatility O'Brien does. Considering some of the recent misses with WR recruiting, O'Brien would be a crown jewel for wide receiver coach Mike Brown, all while helping fortify a secondary that is already a huge strength for the Irish. Players like Joey O'Brien do not come around very often, and it will be interesting to see where his recruitment stands after his June 20th visit. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The bulk of Notre Dame's roster in the 2025 season is homegrown talent, but Marcus Freeman has supplemented those players with talented transfers once again. Below, I predict who I think will have the biggest impact during the 2025-26 season. Photo by The Irish Tribune Jared Dawson - Defensive Tackle Dawson comes to Notre Dame after playing a total of 38 games for the Louisville Cardinals, a team that has become somewhat of a rival for Notre Dame. I do not think Dawson is the most talented transfer Notre Dame landed, but I do believe he has a good chance to be the most impactful. This is mainly due to the position he plays. Defensive tackle was an important position for Notre Dame to upgrade after Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills moved on to the NFL. Their departures left the position a little barren, and Dawson certainly looks the part in terms of a replacement. He does not seem to be the pass rusher that Cross and Mills were, but he is plenty talented to be a physical presence in the middle of the defense to eat up blocks and stop the run. Notre Dame will have plenty of pass-rushing ability on the edge, so Dawson's role will be well-defined and manageable. Even so, it will be critical that he serves his role well, as they will play a lot of teams that will want to establish the run against their aggressive defense. Malachi Fields - Wide Receiver Fields is probably the most exciting player Notre Dame was able to land in the transfer portal, as he makes his way from Virginia to Notre Dame. Fields was regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the portal after putting up 808 yards and five touchdowns for an offense that struggled all year. Fields is a freak of an athlete, standing at 6'4" and 220 pounds, he offers a huge target on the outside, paired with great speed. He is a perfect target on the boundaries and in the red zone. The other important thing he brings to the Irish offense is parity. Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, Will Pauling, and other receivers on this team offer great route running and reliable hands, but lack some of that athleticism and size that sets players apart. If he continues to progress, he is fully capable of raising the ceiling of this offense with his explosive playmaking, especially with a more polished passer at the helm. DeVonta Smith - Defensive Back Another huge part of Notre Dame's portal haul is DeVonta Smith. Smith comes by way of the University of Alabama as a senior. Smith is slotted to primarily play at the nickel, but that is always subject to change. Smith brings in a wealth of experience to a younger defensive back group, especially after playing in the SEC. Smith will be paired with Leonard Moore and Christian Gray, which should help ease the pain of losing players like Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts, and Jordan Clark in the secondary. Like I said before, the most value he may bring to this secondary is his experience, but that doesn't mean he can't produce. He is a proven commodity in one of the most skilled conferences in the country, and he can keep up with the nation's best receivers. Smith had five pass breakups last season and will hopefully provide the same nose for the football. He is also a willing tackler, which is always an important skill to have for an aggressive defense that demands discipline. Noah Burnette - Kicker Special teams is usually an underrated aspect of a football team, but I think last year showed just how important it can end up being. Burnette transferred to Notre Dame after spending three years kicking for North Carolina. He has had a bit of an up-and-down career so far, kicking anywhere from 95% to 71%. If he can reach anywhere near the production he saw during his junior year, where he kicked at 95%, Notre Dame will certainly have an easier decision-making process on fourth downs. A reliable kicker is sometimes underrated, but it allows an offense to not take unnecessary risks and miss out on easy points. Jalen Stroman - Safety The Virginia Tech transfer, Jalen Stroman, has a chance to give this already talented defense a huge boost in 2025. Stroman is currently still trying to rehab from shoulder surgery, so ensuring he is healthy for when the season kicks off will be priority number one. When he does get healthy, Stroman will bring a new level of physicality to this defense. He is a hard-hitting safety who is not afraid to deliver big hits in the passing and running game. With Adon Shuler, Notre Dame should have no problem in the physicality and athleticism department at the safety position. That is where Stroman's biggest impact will be. He does not have great coverage skills as a defensive back, but there is no denying his ability to tackle and make an impact with his physical brand of football. Will Pauling - Wide Receiver Notre Dame's wide receiver coach, Mike Brown, has been reunited with one of his former players, Will Pauling, after stints with Cincinnati and Wisconsin. Pauling will surely have an impact on this team, with his elite-level route running and great set of hands. Pauling has played a lot of football throughout his career, so he is also bringing with him a wealth of experience to a pretty young wide receiver group. His familiarity with Brown's coaching will also give him a leg up in terms of development and comfort. Pauling has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but when he is healthy, he is an excellent slot player who is great at working the middle of the field. That skillset is incredibly important for any receiver, especially for one playing with a young quarterback. At his best, he can give Kenny Minchey or CJ Carr a reliable and dynamic option in the middle of the field. Elijah Hughes - Defensive Tackle Former Trojan Hughes will now be playing for Notre Dame after playing a total of 15 games for USC during his freshman and sophomore years. Although he played in a fair number of games, he has not seen a whole lot of snaps in his career thus far. It is still unclear how much time Hughes will see on the field, but he will offer depth to a position that Notre Dame saw injuries in 2024. With the 12-team playoff, depth is more important than ever. The season is now much longer, while also playing more skilled and physical teams if Notre Dame makes it to the CFP once again. Notre Dame had to rely on depth for much of last year, so Hughes may see playing time if that depth is called upon again in 2025. Ty Washington - Tight End Speaking of good depth, Ty Washington will also be a solid depth piece at tight end. Washington transferred in from Arkansas after playing three seasons for the Razorbacks. Washington is a long and athletic tight end who projects to be a viable passing threat as he continues to progress. The most important thing for Washington is progress in the offseason, as he has not played all that much football for being in college for three seasons. This is partly due to a shoulder injury in 2023 and being dismissed from the team in 2024. Like Hughes, it is unclear where Washington fits in with the rest of the tight ends on the roster, but Washington's athleticism is a very useful asset at the position and is what could allow him to see the field in 2025. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

On Tuesday, Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua announced the hiring of former Irish basketball alum Pat Garrity ‘98 as General Manager of the Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs. Additionally, he will serve as the Men’s Primary Administrator. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Garrity was a star during his playing days in South Bend, racking up numerous awards including three All-Big East selections and the 1997 Big East Player of the Year. While his teams ultimately struggled to find success during his time, he certainly left his mark with 2,085 career points, the fifth-most in Irish history.   During the 1998 NBA Draft, Garrity was selected 19th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in a draft-day trade. The next summer, the former Irish star was traded to the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster headlined by Penny Hardaway. Garrity would spend the final nine seasons of his NBA career with the Magic, mostly serving as a key role player. Notably, he served seven seasons as the NBPA secretary/treasurer during his time in Orlando.  Following his playing days, Garrity joined the Detroit Pistons front office as Director of Strategic Planning in 2014. Just two years later, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager, a role in which he served for four years before stepping aside in 2020.  According to Notre Dame’s official press release, “ Garrity will be tasked with developing long-term roster management strategies for both programs. He’ll work to establish a clear vision in recruiting and the transfer portal, while working hand-in-hand with the NIL office on a financial asset allocation strategy. As the sport administrator for the men’s program, other key components of Garrity’s role include, but aren’t limited to, the development of annual strategic goals, team personnel management, budget analysis, revenue generation and fundraising, alumni relations and facility management.”  With the recent implementation of general managers in college football and basketball, it was time for Notre Dame to make their move on the hardwood. The addition of Garrity addresses this need with someone who has a real connection to South Bend and an understanding of what it takes to succeed in an Irish uniform. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Last year, Lincoln Riley's comments during the B1G Media Day pointed to a weary future regarding the Irish and the Trojans. The same suspicions came to light earlier this week. Will Riley and the Trojans destroy the greatest intersectional rivalry? Photo by The Irish Tribune In December 2021, both Notre Dame and USC were looking for new faces to take over their highly respected football programs. Both teams eventually "found their guy" in Marcus Freeman and Lincoln Riley. Over the past three years, Freeman and Riley have reignited a rivalry that took a year-long hiatus after not playing in 2020 due to COVID. In 2022, Riley and Heisman-winning quarterback, Caleb Williams, got the best of the Irish on a late November night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A year later, Freeman and the Irish beat the brakes off the Trojans on a cold October night in South Bend, Indiana. In 2024, Freeman marched the No. 5 Fighting Irish into Los Angeles and gutted out a 49-35 victory that punched Notre Dame's ticket to the college football playoff, a feat USC has never been able to accomplish. The intermingling amongst the two programs has also created an unusual dynamic, with Chad Bowen leaving South Bend for Southern California. The two programs also "traded" two players as S Kennedy Urlacher ditched the Blue and Gold, and DL Elijah Hughes made the leap to the Fighting Irish. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Last year, as teams prepared for the upcoming 2024 season, most conferences traditionally hold their media days. The Trojans, who entered their inaugural year in the B1G 10, made waves during their media time. " Let's say you already qualify for the conference championship but maybe you aren't going to be a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed — you already lost a game or two — then you have a marquee game against Notre Dame coming up, like us. How do you handle that?" said Riley. Traditions aside, USC's choice to remove Notre Dame off their schedule would be nothing short of disappointing. Personally, being from Southern California, the Notre Dame-USC rivalry is special for a multitude of reasons. From the storied history of both programs to the sheer number of fans across the country, both universities are blue bloods within the college football world. These two schools have combined for 24 national championships and 15 Heisman trophy winners. Now, looking at it from USC's point of view, why would USC want to remove Notre Dame? Well, in recent years, the Irish have been dominating the Trojans in head-to-head battles. So as USC is continuing to get adjusted to traveling across the country for their B1G Ten schedule; that October trip to South Bend isn't as special. Yet, the tradition of the game itself is something that isn't meant to be tarnished. The Irish and Trojans have played 92 times, with the Irish leading the series 50-37-5. The game is labeled the greatest intersectional rivalry for a reason as it dates to 1926 and is unlike any other rivalry within the sport. These teams aren't in each other's backyards; there is no proximity, yet the Irish and the Trojans still have a strong disliking towards each other. As former USC captain and media personality Petros Papdakis said, "If it could survive World Wars, it should be able to survive the selfishness and the absolute myopic nature of the era we live in." To remove this game from the schedule would be tragic and would be another blow to a historic yearly game. First Michigan. Then potentially the Trojans? No thanks. If you were to tell me that a rivalry was ending, I would've guessed it was Navy. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Former defensive coordinator Al Golden helped lead Notre Dame to back-to-back first place rankings in pass efficiency defense in 2023 and 2024. If his successor, Chris Ash, hopes to keep that streak alive in the coming years, strong recruiting in the secondary is a great place to start. Photo via Chaston Smith, Instagram (@chaz4our), Photo by Colin Cummings (@cmeshoot) 2026 4-star Ayden Pouncey, who committed in April of 2025, has gotten a lot of the attention in terms of new pieces added to the back end of the defense, and rightfully so, but there is another player who committed even earlier that I want to focus on today. Cornerback Chaston Smith, out of McCallie High School in Tennessee, is a prospect I am higher on than most of the recruiting services. Smith was limited to four games in his Junior season due to an injury, which may contribute to his 3-star rating on 247 Sports, but there is enough film on him for me to be confident in my current grade of 94 for him, which would firmly cement him as a 4-star blue chip caliber player. There is a lot to like about his game, and I will break down every facet to give you a better understanding of why I have a loftier projection for him than others. Each trait will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it! Mental Processing: Elite (7) One of the most impressive things about Smith's game is his ability to vary his eye discipline for when he is in Man Coverage vs Zone Coverage, which is rare for a young corner. A lot of times, cornerbacks will play with eyes on the quarterback no matter what in hopes of jumping routes and making plays, which is great for Zone, but watching the QB in Man is an easy way to lose your assignment and become susceptible to double moves. When Smith is lined up one-on-one in coverage, his vision is locked on the WR, and only turns back when it is time to locate the ball in the air. He also has an excellent feel for when offenses are going to the quick game, planting his back foot and driving on WR screens, blowing them up behind the line of scrimmage. Smith occasionally gets burned as a two-deep safety, where he shows an understanding of playing with proper depth and has a good feel for when to break and drive on routes in his area. Smith will come in as a very intelligent player, which will give him a leg up, as that is not an easy trait to develop. Man Coverage: Very Good (6) For me, this trait is at the top end of very good and borders on elite, I just need to see more reps of pure Man Coverage from him on film. He has good patience and mirroring ability at the line of scrimmage, and his length gives him the ability to disrupt and jam WRs coming off the ball. He has a good feel for using outside/inside leverage based off the defensive call. Smith does not have any issue with being left on an island, and has very good timing of when to bail on vertical routes, making it difficult for WRs to get over the top and stack him. He has a special ability when it comes to sinking his hips and breaking in phase with the WR to stay in their hip pocket. He also does a good job of getting underneath post patterns and giving himself a chance to make a play on the ball. One aspect of his game that really ties his Man Coverage efficiency and his mental processing together is when the QB breaks the pocket on scramble drills, he stays physical with the WR downfield, making it hard for him to uncover and limiting where the QB can go with the ball. At the college level, unlike the NFL, there is no illegal contact penalty past five yards, so maintaining that physicality is sure to force some throwaways. Zone Coverage/Range: Very Good (6) When playing from an off coverage Zone look, Smith excels at reading the QB's eyes and timing his break on routes. He has a good shuffle technique when in Cover 3, and doesn't allow himself to bail too early, which would affect his ability to change direction and be in the area to defend Comebacks and out-breaking patterns. When moved to more of a traditional two-high safety, he displays good play speed and the range to be able to get from the hash to the sideline with no issue. As a deep zone player, he understands he is the last line of defense and does not break on underneath routes until everything else is taken away. Overall, Smith is very balanced in terms of his ability to play Zone and Man, and will be able to be used in a variety of ways. Run Support: Very Good (6) Smith's ability to come down and play the run definitely leaves the door open for him moving to safety at some point in his career, but even as a perimeter defender, his skill in beating blocks and cleaning up runs to the outside is pretty special. He plays physical, even at 175 pounds, and is more of a solid tackler than most would expect of a corner. He understands how to fill lanes and is rarely out of position when the ball flows to his side of the field. Smith shows no trepidation about taking on ball carriers one-on-one in the open field, and has not allowed much YAC on tape. It's rare that a player who is so sound in coverage is also ultra reliable in run support, but Smith fits that bill. Ball Skills: Good (5) Smith can track the ball whether in Zone or with his back to the QB in Man. He does a good job of playing through the WR's hands at the catch point. When covering slants and in-breaking routes, he is adept at reaching across with the proper hand to bat down passes to avoid any interference calls. He shows some good awareness on tip drills, locating the ball in the air, which has resulted in some interceptions for him. I don't know if his hands are top-notch, and he may end up with a lot more knockdowns than he does turnovers based on what I have seen, but as long as he is stopping the WR from ending up with the ball in his hands, the coaching staff is not going to complain. With Smith's Zone Coverage ability, range, and run support skills, part of me thinks he projects out as an excellent safety at the next level, who can be relied upon to come down and cover the slot one-on-one in sub packages. If the coaching staff decides to let him stick at cornerback, he has all the tools to be successful on the outside as well. One of the most glaring things about the 2026 class is the versatility each commit brings, and I do not think that is just a coincidence. The more you can do, the more ways a coach like Chris Ash can scheme unique ways for you to be involved in the game, and Chaston Smith is a shining example of that. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The day has arrived: Notre Dame vs Ohio State. Winner takes all. This article gives you expert analysis on what Notre Dame needs to do right to walk away as national champions. Art by The Irish Tribune Everyone knows what this game will be about: Can the Irish continue to pound the rock effectively, and, will man-to-man coverage defensively stay their schematic bread & butter against the likes of Jeremiah Smith & Emeka Egbuka? If so, we’ll have ourselves one heck of a ballgame! And while the -8.5 line seems outlandish (because it is), Ohio State is the favorite for a reason. That being said, if the ND defensive front can get OSU QB Will Howard rattled, they can create opportunities to turn the Buckeyes over. Regardless, expect a physical fight, and one that is lower scoring than many think. With so much at stake, give me the Irish to hoist the trophy, 23-21. - Peter Mulroy / First & Gold Enjoying our content? Subscribe to Tribune+ for intel & support our independent journalism. Head Coach Marcus Freeman will have the Irish ready. Their resiliency all season has led them to this point, a date with Freeman’s Alma Mater, Ohio State in the biggest game of the year. So how does Notre Dame win? The answer is doing what they have focused on all season, running the ball and stopping the run. No doubt the Irish will have their hands full offensively against this elite Buckeyes defense. OSU leads the country in points, passing, and total yards allowed per game. ND QB Riley Leonard must keep the ball away from OSU safety Caleb Downs. The sophomore DB finds ways to make plays at every level defensively and will find a way to have an impact on tonight’s outcome. If Leonard can maintain his poise and accuracy in the passing game, I would suggest targeting OSU starting CB Denzel Burke who has struggled in coverage throughout the year. One of Notre Dame’s top WRs (Faison, Greathouse, Collins) will come through in a big moment tonight.  ND rushers Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Leonard should find success in their outside run scheme. Running up the middle against this OSU D-Line is a tall task, with future NFLers all over the front seven. I expect Love will break off a big run or two assuming he is fully healthy.   Defensively for the Irish, I believe they can control this game if they prioritize stopping the run and pressuring OSU QB Will Howard. The QB has been great all season, especially with a clean pocket. However, his production drops dramatically under pressure. I think ND’s stout front seven is capable of taking advantage of an OSU OL who has lost their starting C and LT during the season. This pressure should force Howard into making mistakes. OSU WR Jeremiah Smith is going to get his. The freshman weapon is ultra-talented and coming off his worst performance of the season, expect the Buckeyes to try and force the ball to Smith tonight. Stopping OSU’s run game is no easy task either. Both RBs Henderson and Judkins are great runners who bring different styles into this Buckeyes offense. ND’s defense has been tested multiple times against teams with multiple great rushers (Penn St., Georgia, Army) and has come up victorious each time.  Look for two forced turnovers from the Irish defense, a 100-plus yard rushing performance from Love, and a Mitch Jeter clutch kick to cap a CFP Championship season for Notre Dame. "Give me Notre Dame" 24-23 - Brenden Duffy / Associate Editor / Senior Staff Writer Celebrate the Irish's success with an ND pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. In order for the Irish to win, it’s not going to require them to reinvent themselves. It won’t even require them to play perfect football. What it’s going to demand is for them to play their best football in the postseason. What does that look like? For starters, it looks like early down success on offense. No procedural errors that drive you into eventual 3rd and longs. With Jagusah now firmly established in the mix at LT, this is perhaps the most talented configuration ND has had along the o-line. This is in hopes that Notre Dame won’t have to lean on Riley Leonard to be the catalyst in the run game, but a complimentary piece. They’ll need that to be the case. Notre Dame’s offense cannot lose the turnover battle like they did against Penn State. Every possession is at a premium. Be aggressive, yes. But don’t be careless. On defense, it’s about managing the first quarter. This is where OSU’s offense has thrived- especially in the postseason. Should Notre Dame manage to do that vs OSU’s offense that is currently clicking, we have a ball game on our hands. If Notre Dame can make this happen, it would benefit them to improve on something they’ve struggled with all season in defense- setting the edge. In all, Notre Dame must dictate the terms of game flow. This has to be a game in which Notre Dame determines how OSU plays, not the other way around. If they can do that, the Irish will come away with their first national championship in nearly 40 years. But it might be too much to ask. I’ve jostled back and forth on this one. It doesn’t feel right, but OSU prevails against a Notre Dame team that is closer than it’s ever been. 28-17, OSU - Clayton Stohler / First & Gold Enjoying our content? Subscribe to Tribune+  and use code "IRISH20" for 20% off all plans. This game will be a tightly contested game in the first half due to an explosive run by Jeremiyah Love and a turnover or two by the Buckeyes. Love seems to be finally getting healthy after a stint of unfortunate injuries/illness that has limited him in the playoffs so far. He is due for a big run and contains enough athleticism to hurt this daunting Buckeye defense. Will Howard has also shown a tendency to throw unwarranted passes, which Notre Dame’s talented defense can make plays on. This will cause a somewhat slow first half with a few big plays to keep both teams in it. In the second half, Ohio State’s tandem of talented running backs finally gets going and will wear on the banged-up Notre Dame defensive line. This will force the Irish to start committing more to the run which will open up lanes for Jeremiah Smith and company. All of this allows Ohio State to pull away in the second half and their defense will seal the deal against a Notre Dame offense that hasn’t shown an ability to consistently put together enough drives to stay in the game. 31-17 Ohio State. - Noah Wehby / Writer Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. The Fighting Irish keep the game close in the first quarter, which will be the biggest game trend to monitor, as Ohio State has to battle through a slugfest of a game. Riley Leonard has some turnover woes similar to his performance against Penn State, but Mitchell Evans and Jeremiyah Love power the Irish to a 10-7 lead. Al Golden throws even exotic looks to confuse Will Howard and Leonard Moore sticks with Jeremiah Smith albeit with one long touchdown catch. In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame stops Ohio State on one fourth down and has a drive similar to the game-clinching one against Texas A&M. The Irish control the clock for the entirety of the fourth, and an ill-advised decision by Will Howard cements the national title for the Irish. 24-17 Notre Dame - Liam Farrell / Associate Editor / Senior Football Writer Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

In a new story series, I'll be breaking down the film of players, recruits, and coaches around Notre Dame Football and give you the insight you deserve, consider this physical intel. Art by The Irish Tribune When Al Golden announced he would be departing for the NFL after the National Championship, it left a defensive genius-sized hole in the Notre Dame program. Speculation did not take long to get underway as to who may step up and fill the role Golden held for the previous three seasons. Some internal and some external options were floated, but when the dust settled, it was Chris Ash's name that was chosen to lead this elite defense. Ash comes equipped with extensive experience as a positional coach, defensive coordinator, and one-time headman at Rutgers University. He spent the past four seasons in the NFL in various roles, and his last time at the college level was back in 2020 as a defensive coordinator for the Texas Longhorns. How his defensive philosophy may or may not have changed since then remains to be seen, just as it is still up in the air as to who will be handling the game-day play-calling duties. I still thought it would be beneficial to go back and scour the film of his last time handling a collegiate defense to help give Notre Dame fans an idea of what may be in store for the 2025 season. Those who watched the Fighting Irish closely over Golden's tenure became accustomed to seeing his defenses lining up in Man Coverage and being very successful doing so. With Ash, I expect to see a much wider variety in terms of coverage as he likes to mix in much more zone. Going back to that 2020 season, he had his defense in a lot of Cover 3 shells, putting a lot of faith in the ability of the linebackers/safeties to be able to work to the outside and take on that curl-to-flat area. As you can see here, the Texas defense starts in a two-high look and roll into a Cover 3 at the snap. One safety goes deep, both cornerbacks are in off coverage and play with open hips so they can bail on anything vertical, and the second safety comes down to play that outside curl to flat zone. He is half a step late getting to his spot, the WR is able to break his tackle and it turns into an easy first down for Oklahoma because the corner on that side of the field wasn't in a good position to come down and help. Get the scoop before your friends with Tribune+ This is one more example of a similar coverage from Ash. There's a single high safety, both cornerbacks are responsible for the deep third of the field on their side, and the weak side safety doesn't get out to his zone quick enough, and it is a pitch and catch for an 8-yard gain. If Notre Dame is going to implement similar looks, the safeties and linebackers will need to have strong spatial awareness and not get outflanked to their zones. Ash will still work in Man to Man, which is good because Leonard Moore is a technician when it comes to playing in a receiver's face and mirroring him off the line. Nobody knows this secondary better than Mike Mickens, and I am sure they will work to the secondary's strengths. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. Ash does a good job of disguising blitzes and bringing pressure from different spots. One subtle thing that he does that I really like on film is he will slant the whole defensive line inside to get the offensive line moving laterally, then bring a linebacker off the edge, in a lot of cases untouched. He also likes to drop edge defenders into zone and bring a blitz from other spots to confuse the opposing o-line. Here, you can see both edge players drop off the line, which threw off the protection for WVU. The line should have slid to the right so the RG could take on the blitzer, and the left tackle could block the 3-tech defensive linemen. Instead, Ash's disguise allowed the middle linebacker to come in untouched for the sack at a critical juncture of the game. Again, on this play, Ash does an excellent job of not tipping his hand as to where the pressure is coming from. Six players are around the line of scrimmage showing rush. The two linebackers both drop into coverage and instead, the nickel corner is sent off the edge. No one on offense accounts for the nickel, and he is able to put enough heat on the QB to force him to get rid of the ball which results in an errant pass that is intercepted by one of the dropping linebackers that the QB just never got eyes on. Notre Dame was among the best in the country at forcing turnovers in 2024 and will need to carry that over into next year. Some other things of note when I went through the 2020 season for Texas's defense are as follows: 1) As shown above, Ash doesn't shy away from using cornerbacks on blitzes. My gripe was how he went about it at times. Blitzing a boundary corner vs noncondensed formations leaves a lot of ground for the corner to have to make up to have any type of effect on the play. A lot of times the corner had to come from the far side of the field and the ball was long gone before he ever got in position to make a play. Texas had 17 sacks that season, which was only good for 70th in the country. Some more efficient ways to bring pressure will be needed. 2) There were some issues with run fits in terms of filling cut-back lanes on the second level. Now a lot of this is based on the players he had at Texas. Notre Dame will have a different group with different skill sets so I wouldn't call it an area of concern quite yet, but if there's an area that needs improvement on Notre Dame's defense from last year it's the run defense, hopefully that isn't something that follows Ash to South Bend. 3) Ash likes to run stunts along the defensive line, which will give opposing offenses a lot more to think about in protection, especially when sending linebackers on a rush at the same time which he favors doing. 4) With how much off coverage he had his corners play, opposing teams were making a living in the short to intermediate pass game. Texas gave up over 400 yards a game in his lone year as DC, and a lot of that came from teams utilizing quick hitters. With how talented the Notre Dame secondary is, I expect a lot tighter coverage to be used throughout the course of games. 5) Red zone defense is a point of emphasis for any defense. Texas was middle of the road in 2020, ranking 51st in the nation. Notre Dame has finished Top 20 in back-to-back seasons and will need to continue that trend to remain one of the best defenses in the country. There is really only so much to take away from how Ash called plays a full five years ago, but I will say it is rare that coaches ever radically change their systems. Mike Mickens being along for the ride in 2025 will definitely help balance what Notre Dame did well before, with what they can improve on going forward. The talent is abundant for these coaches to scheme around and although Al Golden will be missed, the experience Chris Ash brings to the Notre Dame staff, and the rapport Mike Mickens has already built with the players, should not only keep the ship afloat but continue to help flourish the defensive culture the Fighting Irish has cultivated for quite some time. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame has a plethora of incoming freshmen that could see the field early in their career in South Bend. Read who are the most likely candidates. Photo via Madden Faraimo, Art by The Irish Tribune Fresh off the heels of a national championship bid, spring ball is just around the corner for the University of Notre Dame. After the Fighting Irish accounted for the fourth-most snaps by true freshmen last season, it will be interesting to see if the Irish continue to have their top ranked recruits see the field right away. While last season's snaps were jumpstarted due to injuries to Charles Jagusah and Benjamin Morrison, the 2025 team has major holes to fill from the departing seniors. Let's take a look at the candidates most likely to see playing time early for the Fighting Irish. Madden Faraimo The most obvious candidate to get immediate playing time next season is Madden Faraimo, the product of JSerra Catholic High School in Southern California. Faraimo hails from the Trinity League, arguably the most competitive level of high school athletics across the country, where he faced talent comparable to that of smaller Division I schools. The Trinity League is highlighted by Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, which played a key role in preparing Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa for playing time immediately when he stepped onto campus last year as well. This season, the Irish are returning all their linebacking room except for Jack Kiser. Kiser, who now hosts the record for most games played by a Notre Dame football player, is taking the next step to the NFL Draft. Despite the return of Drayk Bowen, Viliamu-Asa, Jaylen Sneed, and Jaiden Ausberry, it will be very hard to keep Faraimo off the field, especially because he is an early enrollee. When Faraimo went through the bowl game walk-throughs, he already looked the part of an elite level linebacker. The 6'2" 220 lb product from Oceanside, Calif. was the fourth ranked recruit in California by Rivals. Even in this experienced room, Faraimo's blend of speed and athleticism can earn him early playing time in his career with the Fighting Irish. JaDon Blair The next most likely candidate to make an immediate impact for the Fighting Irish is another early enrollee S JaDon Blair. Blair was a consensus four-star product from Winston-Salem, N.C. who brings a lengthy frame to the safeties room. His 6'5" build helped Blair receive All-State DB honors during his junior and senior seasons. Blair has a chance to earn playing time early because of the departure of Xavier Watts. Blair is battling against the likes of transfer portal acquisition Jalen Stroman, along with Luke Talich and Kennedy Urlacher to play opposite to Adon Shuler. Stroman has dealt with injuries in the past, so it will be imperative for the Fighting Irish secondary to gain valuable reps especially in spring and summer camp. It should be interesting to see how far Blair's intangibles and naturally athleticism take him while competing for a starting job. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. Will Black Notre Dame's most prized recruit from this 2025 class, Will Black appears to be next in-line for Fighting Irish greats at the offensive line positions. Black is ranked among the Top 10 overall prospects in this cycle, according to On3, yet he is entering Notre Dame's deepest position room. The Irish are returning many offensive lineman including three players who started at tackle for the Golden Domers this season. Aamil Wagner started every game at RT, Anthonie Knapp starting every game at LT besides the national championship, to which he gave the reigns to Charles Jagusah who was the projected starter at the beginning of summer camp before a pectoral injury. The configuration of next season's offensive line should be interesting as the Irish are returning those three superstar talents along with Ashton Craig, Guerby Lambert, and Billy Schrauth. Black could earn a starting role if he dominates during summer practice, but he may need an extra year to break into Notre Dame’s talented offensive line unit. Christopher Burgess Jr. The last player that I could see making an immediate impact for Notre Dame this year is EDGE rusher Christopher Burgess Jr. In a similar route that Bryce Young saw playing time last year, Burgess is an athlete that the Irish didn't really have on the exterior of their defensive line after the injuries to Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traore. While I expect Burgess to get limited snaps due to the emergence of Young coupled with the return of Botelho and Traore, he provides intangibles that may be hard to keep off the field. Burgess also had a fantastic showing at the All-American Bowl in early January that turned many heads. If the Irish are struggling to get edge pressure next year, which I don't see happening, Burgess could be the answer off the bench for defensive line coach Al Washington. Wrap-Up Notre Dame has a young core of players currently on the roster that will make it difficult to crack the lineup for the incoming freshmen. Yet, those are the four most likely players I see making an immediate impact for the Fighting Irish next season. Let me know below which players you think can give Notre Dame a boost next season. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

At the renowned University of Notre Dame, it is tough to name one person who did more to put their sport and team on the map in Irish colors than recently retired Head Hockey Coach, Jeff Jackson. Photo by The Irish Tribune Jackson’s first season behind the Irish bench occurred in 2005-06 and the rest was indeed history. The two-time Spencer Penrose Award Winning (coach of the year) coaching career will go down in Notre Dame and NCAA record books. After inheriting a team that went 5-27-6 the season prior, Jackson completely flipped the program around. In 19 seasons with the Irish, Jackson compiled a 419-291-74 record, giving him the best winning percentage for a Notre Dame hockey coach since Paul Castner went 19-5-1 across four seasons from 1919-1923 over a century ago. Jackson's success includes five Conference Championships and four Frozen Four appearances.   The impact Jackson had on the Notre Dame community most notably stands in the form of the Compton Ice Arena. After nearly just four seasons behind the bench and the program on a meteoric rise, the University announced plans to construct the Compton Ice Arena in February 2009. Before Compton, the Irish played in the North Dome at the Joyce Center, which held 2,857 fans. When Compton opened in October 2011, the capacity was nearly doubled to 5,022, a direct result of Jackson’s success that put the Irish on the same level as some of the elite programs in the country.   Below are some notable seasons and players that Coach Jackson had an impact on as the Irish coach: Best Seasons: 2006-07 Jackson’s 2nd season (Spencer Penrose Award Winner) 32-7-3; most wins in program history CCHA Champions, defeated Michigan in the final Lost to MSU in regional finals, was the furthest ND had been in the NCAA tourney at the time 2007-08 27-16-4 Finished 4th in CCHA Made NCAA Tournament as an at-large, lost in the National Championship to Boston College Defeated Michigan in OT in Frozen Four semifinal 2008-09 31-6-3; best win percentage in program history CCHA Champions, defeated Michigan in the final Upset by Bemidji State in NCAA regional semifinal 2010-11 25-14-5 Finished 4th in CCHA Made NCAA Tournament as an at-large, lost to Minnesota-Duluth in Frozen Four semifinal 2012-13 25-13-3 CCHA Champions, defeated Michigan in the final Upset by St. Cloud State in NCAA regional semifinal 2016-17 23-12-5 Finished 4th in Hockey East Made NCAA Tournament as an at-large, lost to Denver in Frozen Four semifinal 2017-18 1st season in Big Ten 28-10-2 Jackson wins his second Spencer Penrose Award Big Ten Champions, defeated OSU in OT in the final Lost National Championship to Minnesota-Duluth 2018-19 23-14-3 Big Ten Champions, defeated Penn State in final Lost NCAA Regional Final to UMass Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Most Impactful Players: Forwards Mark Van Guilder (2005-2008) 125 GP, 39-51-90 Erik Condra (2005-2009) 159 GP, 48-110-158 ‘09 Second Team All-American Ryan Thang (2006-2010) 159 GP, 57-58-115 Kevin Deeth (2006-2010) 164 GP, 35-79-114 Ben Ryan (2007-2011) 159 GP, 35-62-97 Calle Ridderwall (2007-2011) 156 GP, 57-34-91 Bill Maday (2008-2012) 153 GP, 45-60-105 Anders Lee (2010-2013) 125 GP, 61-55-116 ‘14 Second Team All-American T.J. Tynan (2010-2014) 164 GP, 54-107-161 Tim Taylor Award Winner, aka most outstanding freshman (‘11) Bryan Rust (2010-2014) 161 GP, 43-54-97 Jeff Costello (2010-2014) 145 GP, 41-41-82 Mario Lucia (2012-2016) 151 GP, 61-48-109 Thomas Di Pauli (2012-2016) 145 GP, 30-48-78 Anders Bjork (2014-2017) 115 GP, 40-69-109 ‘17 Second Team All-American Jake Evans (2014-2018) 158 GP, 41-97-138 Senior CLASS Award Winner, aka most outstanding senior (‘18) Andrew Oglevie (2015-2018) 107 GP, 41-48-89 Dylan Malmquist (2015-2019) 150 GP, 40-51-91 Cam Morrison (2016-2020) 149 GP, 44-51-95 Cal Burke (2016-2020) 146 GP, 36-52-88 Trevor Janicke (2019-2024) 175 GP, 44-41-85 Landon Slaggert (2020-2024) 136 GP, 47-45-92 Defensemen Kyle Lawson (2006-2010) 161 GP, 17-73-90 Brett Blatchford (2006-2010) 153 GP, 6-67-73 Ian Cole (2007-2010) 111 GP, 17-48-65 ‘09 First Team All-American Sam Calabrese (2009-2013) 126 GP, 10-44-54 Stephen Johns (2010-2014) 162 GP, 15-42-57 Shayne Taker (2010-2014) 152 GP, 8-39-47 Robbie Russo (2011-2015) 142 GP, 28-66-94 ‘15 Second Team All-American Jordan Gross (2014-2018) 159 GP, 36-85-121 Bobby Nardella (2015-2019) 147 GP, 24-79-103 ‘19 Second Team All-American Andrew Peeke (2016-2019) 119 GP, 12-40-52 Matt Hellickson (2017-2021) 146 GP, 13-39-52 Spencer Statsney (2018-2022) 143 GP, 16-47-63 Nick Leiverman (2018-2023) 147 GP, 23-55-78 Goalies David Brown (2005-2007) 70 GP, .923 SV%, 39-21-7 Senior CLASS Award Winner, aka most outstanding senior, (‘07) ‘07 First Team All-American Jordan Pearce (2005-2009) 94 GP, 59-26-7 Mike Johnson (2009-2013) 99 GP, .901 SV%, 43-34-13 Steven Summerhays (2010-2014) 106 GP, .914 SV%, 57-38-5 Cal Petersen (2014-2017) 110 GP, .924 SV%, 55-39-15 Cale Morris (2016-2020) 106 GP, .931 SV%, 58-35-11 Mike Richter Award Winner, aka most outstanding goalie (‘18) ‘18 First Team All-American Ryan Bischel (2019-2024) 105 GP, .924 SV%, 47-44-7 ‘23 Second Team All-American Other notable players who spent time at Notre Dame under Coach Jackson: Kyle Palmieri Riley Sheahan Vinnie Hinostroza Dennis Gilbert Tim Wallace Christian Hanson Victor Oreskovich Steven Fogarty Alex Steeves Nathan Clurman Wes O’Neill With Jackson's retirement, Notre Dame has followed through on their original plan and promoted Associate Head Coach Brock Sheahan to the lead role. Expect an introductory press conference to occur in the coming days officially welcoming Coach Sheahan. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun