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After assembling one of the greatest classes in the last two decades this past cycle, Marcus Freeman looks to replicate his success on the recruiting trail in 2027. We will be continually updating this commitment tracker as more and more elite athletes pledge their commitment to the Fighting Irish. Photo by The Irish Tribune Offense James Halter - Offensive Tackle Ranking: 4-Star, 83rd Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'6", 270 lbs Location: Pittsburgh, PA Notable Offers: Ohio State, Auburn, Indiana, Duke, North Carolina Stats: N/A Isaiah Rogers - Running Back Ranking: 4-Star, 236th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 205 lbs Location: Springfield, MA Notable Offers: Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State Stats: Junior season: 986 rushing yards in 10 games (7.8 yards per carry), 15 rushing TD, 401 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs. (via Andrew Ivins) Lathan Whisenton - Running Back Ranking: 4-Star, 299th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 194 lbs Location: Waco, TX Notable Offers: Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Michigan Stats: Junior season: 1,502 rushing yards in 11 games (9.1 yards per carry), 24 rushing TD, 102 receiving yards (MaxPreps) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defense Xavier Hasan - Cornerback Ranking: 4-Star, 38th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 195 lbs Location: Raleigh, NC Notable Offers: Michigan, Penn State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State Stats: Junior season: 17 total tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 kickoff return TDs. (MaxPreps) Ace Alston - Cornerback Ranking: 4-Star, 85th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 175 lbs Location: Cincinnati, OH Notable Offers: Miami, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 53 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, 16 PBU, 1 interception (via Andrew Ivins) Khalil Terry - Safety Ranking: 4-Star, 218th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'0", 185 lbs Location: Tustin, CA Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 62 total tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions. (MaxPreps) Amarri Irvin - Linebacker Ranking: 4-Star, 295th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'0", 220 lbs Location: Bradenton, FL Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 3 interceptions, 4 sacks (MaxPreps) Richie Flanigan - Defensive Line Ranking: 4-Star, 384th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'3", 265 lbs Location: Green Bay, WI Notable Offers: Michigan, Duke, Wisconsin, Stanford Stats: Sophomore season: 24 total tackles, 1 sack (MaxPreps) Special Teams Sean Kraft - Long Snapper Ranking: 3-Star, 1,411th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'4", 215 lbs Location: Swannanoa, NC Notable Offers: North Carolina, Wake Forest Stats: N/A 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 hasn’t touched a Heisman since 1987, or a national title since 1988. Jeremiyah Love has the numbers, the moments, and the aura to change that. In 2025, he isn’t just chasing yards, he’s chasing history. Graphic by The Irish Tribune The Irish line up, first and goal at the 2-yard line. 4th quarter. Tie game. Everything on the line. Riley Leonard sets up in shotgun with Jeremiyah Love at his hip. Across from them, a stacked box with 7 men crowding the line of scrimmage. Jaden Greathouse motions across the formation just before the ball is hiked. Leonard jumps to grab the high snap and hands the ball off to Love in one swift motion. That’s when time slows down. Love cuts left, bodies falling around him as he searches for space. A diving defender breaks through the line and spears his battered right knee. As his legs get taken out from underneath him, he goes airborne, planting a single hand on his opponent’s back — the only thing keeping him from going down. This is where the play should have ended. As he falls toward the ground, Love plants his foot on the turf, the rest of his body flailing, momentum sending him downward for a loss. Yet somehow, he rights himself, planting his other foot down and backpedaling towards the goal for just a second. He fights to stay upright before turning his shoulders back to his mission. Another defender meets him dead on, the collision standing him completely upright and driving him backward once more. This is where the play should have ended — but it doesn’t. Love powers into his opponent’s chest, breaking the stalemate and driving forward inch by inch. Just as he gains the edge, the flood arrives. A second defender lunges at his legs, another flying in over the top for a punch at the ball. He is completely engulfed — three men, six arms, a pile of momentum driving him down. This is where the play should have ended. But once again, it didn’t. With a man draped over his shoulders, he drives his legs into the ground and launches himself, with every last bit of determination in his tank, towards the goal line. Against all odds, Love lifts off the ground, fully horizontal, and dives with the ball at complete extension. And that’s where the play finally ends, with the ball breaking the plane, and the Irish taking the lead. This isn’t just a career-defining play; this is what Jeremiyah Love does — the impossible, again and again. Now, in 2025, Love carries that same mission against the impossible. The Irish ended last season in the National Championship, their first shot since 2012. They fell short. The drought stretches on — no title since 1988, no Heisman since Tim Brown in 1987. Both have seemed impossible at times. But with Jeremiyah Love in the backfield, Notre Dame finally has its best chance in decades to end at least one. The 2024 Breakout Season Every Heisman story begins with a breakout. For some players, it’s a gradual rise: a freshman spark, a sophomore step forward, a junior leap. For Jeremiyah Love, the jump came in Year Two, and it wasn’t just a step into the spotlight; it was an explosion that shook the Notre Dame record book. Love’s sophomore year wasn’t about chasing 30 carries a game like Ashton Jeanty or Derrick Henry. It was about squeezing the most out of every single touch, and more often than not, those touches ended in the end zone. On just 163 carries, Love stacked 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, and he added 28 catches for 237 yards and 2 more scores. That’s 19 total TDs at a nasty 6.9 yards per carry — better per-carry juice than Derrick Henry’s Heisman year and right in the neighborhood of Reggie Bush’s highlight-reel prime. Jeremiyah Love — 2024 Season Stats Rush Yards: 1,125 (163 carries, 6.9 YPC, long of 98) Rush TDs: 17 (scored in 13 straight games — ND record) Rec Yards: 237 (28 receptions, 8.5 avg, long of 32) Rec TDs: 2 (Louisville, Army) Total TDs: 19 (2nd-most in single-season ND history, trailing only Jerome Bettis’ 20 in 1991) And it wasn’t empty numbers, it was moments. Against Virginia, when the passing game sputtered, Love carried the load with 137 yards and two scores. Against Army, he turned seven carries into 130 yards and three touchdowns, like he was playing backyard ball. In the playoff against Indiana, he ripped a 98-yard touchdown run that’s already legend in South Bend’s deep lore. And in the Orange Bowl vs Penn State, when it mattered most, he muscled in a score that showed his nose for the end zone never disappears, even against elite competition. That’s who he was all year: the guy who showed up when the lights were brightest. He scored in 13 straight games, setting a school record. He wasn’t a “volume back,” but he didn’t need to be. He was the efficiency assassin, waiting for his moment to strike and never missing when it came. National Context — The Elite Backs College football is a quarterback’s game now. The Heisman has gone to a quarterback in 21 of the last 24 seasons, and wide receivers have stolen the spotlight twice. Running backs, once the heartbeat of the award, are nearly extinct in the trophy race. Since 2000, only two have carried home the trophy: Reggie Bush in 2005 (later vacated) and Derrick Henry in 2015. That context makes Jeremiyah Love’s rise all the more remarkable. In 2024, the headlines were dominated by backs like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who racked up 1,916 rushing yards and 569 receiving yards, and UNC’s Omarion Hampton, who battered his way to All-American honors. Love didn’t lead the nation in yards. He didn’t need to. His efficiency and scoring punch kept him in their orbit while carrying fewer touches, and by season’s end, the whispers were already starting: this kid might be next. Now, entering 2025, the whispers are gone. Love is at the top of every list. ESPN, FOX, CBS — all of them have him as the nation’s consensus No. 1 running back. Top 5 Running Backs Heading into 2025 (ESPN) Jeremiyah Love — Notre Dame (1,125 rush yds, 19 total TDs, 6.9 YPC) Nicholas Singleton — Penn State (1,099 rush yds, 12 rush TDs, 375 rec yds, 5 rec TDs) Kaytron Allen — Penn State (1,108 rush yds, 8 TDs, 153 rec yds, 2 rec TDs) Makhi Hughes — Oregon (via Tulane) (1,401 rush yds, 15 TDs, 176 rec yds, 2 rec TDs) Isaac Brown — Louisville (emerging ACC star) That jump matters. In 2024, Love was an underrated sophomore. In 2025, he’s the consensus No. 1 back in America. That’s the kind of preseason narrative Heisman campaigns are built on. Notre Dame RB History & Records At Notre Dame, running backs aren’t just athletes; they’re lore. George Gipp. The Four Horsemen. Pinkett. Bettis. Denson. To play running back in South Bend is to carry not only the football but the weight of the past. It’s about more than production. It’s about becoming a chapter in a story written over a century. Jeremiyah Love is only two years in, and already, the numbers say he belongs in that story. His 1,125 rushing yards in 2024 didn’t quite crack the top 10 — but at just 67 yards shy, he’s right outside, chasing names like Ferguson and Walker. His 17 rushing touchdowns tie him for 2nd all-time in a single season, alongside Vagas Ferguson (’79) and Allen Pinkett (’83). And when you add in his two receiving scores, Love’s 19 total touchdowns rank 2nd in Notre Dame history, trailing only Jerome Bettis’ 20 in 1991. Notre Dame Single-Season Leaders (Selected Categories) Rushing Yards (Single Season) Vagas Ferguson — 1,437 (1979) Josh Adams — 1,430 (2017) Allen Pinkett — 1,394 (1983) Reggie Brooks — 1,343 (1992) Audric Estimé — 1,341 (2023) Julius Jones — 1,268 (2003) Autry Denson — 1,268 (1997) Darius Walker — 1,267 (2006) Darius Walker — 1,196 (2005) Vagas Ferguson — 1,192 (1978) — Jeremiyah Love — 1,125 (2024, just outside Top 10) Rushing TDs (Single Season) Audric Estimé — 18 (2023) T-2. Vagas Ferguson — 17 (1979) T-2. Allen Pinkett — 17 (1983) T-2. Jeremiyah Love — 17 (2024) T-3. Jerome Bettis — 16 (1991) Total TDs (Single Season) Jerome Bettis — 20 (1991) Jeremiyah Love — 19 (2024) Allen Pinkett — 18 (1983, 1984) What does this mean? That Love, with just one season as the feature back, already sits shoulder-to-shoulder with Notre Dame’s immortals. Bettis, Pinkett, Ferguson, Estimé, Love’s name is already etched beside theirs. And yet, the most important thing is what comes next. Notre Dame running backs aren’t remembered for one good season. They’re remembered for their careers, for consistency, for carrying the Irish through entire eras. Love’s 2024 was the spark. 2025 is the chance to turn it into a fire - the kind that makes history. Career Trajectory vs Irish Legends When you measure a running back at Notre Dame, you don’t just look at the single season. You look at the arc. Can he sustain greatness? Can he stack seasons? Can he climb the mountain that Autry Denson and Allen Pinkett once climbed? Through two years, Jeremiyah Love’s arc looks historic. He’s already at 1,510 career rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns. By comparison, Josh Adams, who nearly earned a Heisman invite in 2017, had fewer touchdowns at the same point. Darius Walker, Julius Jones, and even Vagas Ferguson all trail Love’s current pace. The only names who matched him in scoring punch were Allen Pinkett and Jerome Bettis, two of the program’s all-time great finishers. Jeremiyah Love Career Projection (if he repeats 2024 production) 2023: 385 rush yds, 2 TD (career: 385 / 2) 2024: 1,125 rush yds, 19 TD (career: 1,510 / 21) 2025*: ~1,200 rush yds, ~19 TD (career: ~2,710 / 40) 2026*: ~1,200 rush yds, ~19 TD (career: ~3,910 / 59) The math is staggering. If Love repeats his 2024 production over the next two seasons, he’ll graduate with nearly 3,900 career rushing yards (Top 3 all-time) and 59 total touchdowns, smashing Pinkett’s long-standing career TD record of 53. This is what separates Love from “great back” to “greatest ever” territory. By the end of 2025, he could already be in the Top 5 in touchdowns and yards with a senior season still to come. By the end of 2026, he could be Notre Dame’s all-time touchdown king, and within striking distance of Autry Denson’s rushing yardage crown. In other words, Love doesn’t just belong in the conversation with Notre Dame’s greatest. He’s on pace to eclipse them. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Heisman Benchmarks — What It Takes The Heisman has always been cruel to running backs. Quarterbacks put up video game numbers. Wide receivers make viral highlights. Backs, even great ones, get overlooked. To win, a running back has to be undeniable. History tells us what that looks like. Derrick Henry, the last back to win, bulldozed his way to 1,986 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2015. Mark Ingram won with 1,658 yards and 20 total TDs in 2009. Reggie Bush dazzled in 2005 with 1,740 yards on the ground, 478 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns, averaging an absurd 8.7 yards per carry. Before them, Ron Dayne pounded his way to over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 1999. Recent RB Heisman Winners 2015: Derrick Henry — Alabama (1,986 rush yds, 23 TDs, ~91 rec yds → 23 total TDs) 2009: Mark Ingram — Alabama (1,658 rush yds, 17 rush TDs, 334 rec yds, 3 rec TDs → 20 total TDs) 2005: Reggie Bush — USC (1,740 rush yds, 16 rush TDs, 478 rec yds, 2 rec TDs → 18 total TDs) 1999: Ron Dayne — Wisconsin (2,034 rush yds, 20 TDs) Heisman RB Average : ~1,800 yards, ~20 touchdowns, 6.0 YPC, plus 250–400 rec yards. But big stats alone aren’t enough. Just ask Ashton Jeanty. Boise State’s star put up video-game numbers in 2024 — 1,916 rushing yards, 19 rushing TDs, 569 receiving yards, 5 rec TDs. The Broncos even made the playoff, but when it came to the games that mattered most, Jeanty’s production dipped. Against top-tier defenses and playoff competition, he ran well under his season pace and never delivered a single season-defining moment. Jeremiyah Love flipped the script. He ripped a 98-yard TD in the CFP vs Indiana, scored an impossible run from the 2-yard line vs. Penn State in the Orange Bowl, and found the end zone in 13 straight games. Where Jeanty’s résumé felt inflated by soft weeks, Love stacked real moments against real teams, the stuff voters remember. And that’s where the comparison gets real: in 2024, Love logged 1,125 yards, 19 total touchdowns, and 6.9 yards per carry. He’s already in the efficiency range of Bush, Ingram, and Henry. The only thing missing is volume. To win in 2025, Love will need to hit: 1,750–2,000 rushing yards 23–26 total touchdowns Keep YPC at 6.0+ 300–400 receiving yards for versatility That’s the bar. And with Notre Dame’s offense shifting to a redshirt freshman quarterback, Love will have every opportunity to be the engine. The 2025 Heisman Blueprint If 2024 was the breakout, 2025 is the proving ground. Every Heisman season has a blueprint, a combination of raw production and signature moments that voters can’t ignore. For running backs, that blueprint is brutally clear: you need the yards, you need the touchdowns, and you need to shine under the primetime lights. Notre Dame’s schedule gives Jeremiyah Love that stage. The Irish open at Miami in a nationally televised night game. Two weeks later, they welcome SEC heavyweight Texas A&M to South Bend for a Saturday night showcase. The midseason brings the rivalry with USC, always one of college football’s marquee events. And if the Irish make another playoff push, voters will have a season’s worth of evidence that Love isn’t just productive, he’s defining the year. Jeremiyah Love — 2025 Heisman Pace Projection (Defensive tiers based on 2024 performance — the most reliable projection heading into 2025) Season Totals on This Pace ~1,750–1,805 rushing yards 300–350 receiving yards, 3–4 TDs 24–26 total touchdowns 6.0+ YPC maintained That’s the Derrick Henry / Mark Ingram neighborhood. But more importantly, it’s the kind of balanced stat line, consistent 100-yard games with a few monster primetime nights, that shapes a Heisman campaign. Heisman Math Even with a sub-100-yard grind against Texas A&M, Love’s blueprint still clears the 1,750-yard, 24-touchdown threshold voters look for. What seals the deal is one historic performance, a 200+ yard, 2-TD night at Stanford to close the season. That would be Notre Dame’s first 200-yard rushing game since Audric Estime in 2023, and the kind of headline stat that cements a Heisman case. For Love, the USC game in mid-October looms largest. A 160-yard, 2-touchdown night in the rivalry under the lights could become the clip voters see replayed every Saturday. The same goes for the season opener at Miami and the NC State showcase in the middle of the year. He doesn’t need 200 yards every Saturday. He just needs a handful of 150-plus, 2–3 touchdown statements in front of the country, with ruthless efficiency everywhere else. The blueprint is there. Now it’s about execution. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle here ! The Image Factor Heisman winners aren’t chosen on stats alone. They’re chosen on moments, stories, and images that stick in voters’ minds. Tim Brown had his double punt return game against Michigan State. Reggie Bush had his jaw-dropping cutbacks and video game YPC, while Derrick Henry had his endless highlight reel of defenders bouncing off his 240-pound frame. Jeremiyah Love has the makings of that kind of image. His running style is violent, but his demeanor off the field is almost serene. He celebrates with a signature heart-shaped gesture, a symbol that’s as brandable as it is memorable. In an era where NIL matters as much as stat lines, Love has already inked a deal with New Balance, positioning him as both a national face of the program and a marketable star beyond South Bend. What makes Love unique is the duality. Between the tackles, he runs like a storm, lowering his shoulder, dragging defenders, fighting for every inch. After touchdowns, he flashes that heart, reminding fans and voters alike that he plays not just with power, but with passion. It’s the kind of branding that fits perfectly in a Heisman race: highlight-reel runs backed by a signature symbol. Heisman campaigns need three things: Production — the numbers that stack against history. Moments — primetime highlights voters can’t forget. Image — a hook that tells the story. Love already has the first. He’s on pace to deliver the second. And thanks to his style and presence, he might just have the third. 2025’s mission will be tying them all together en route to another shot at the National Title. Legacy Stakes Notre Dame doesn’t just want a Heisman. It needs one. The Irish haven’t won a national championship since 1988. They haven’t produced a Heisman winner since Tim Brown in 1987. For decades, both achievements have loomed as ghosts over South Bend, reminders of glory days that fans fear may never return. Marcus Freeman has given the program proof that it belongs in the playoff fight. But it’s Jeremiyah Love who represents the chance to exorcise at least one of those ghosts. His 2024 season already rewrote chunks of the record book, and his 2025 campaign could put him on track to topple the program’s most hallowed marks. He isn’t just stacking numbers; he’s chasing names that have defined Notre Dame football for generations. Notre Dame Career Leaders Rushing Yards: Autry Denson — 4,318 Rushing TDs: Allen Pinkett — 49 Total TDs: Allen Pinkett — 53 (49 rush, 3 rec, 1 KR) Love’s Projected Totals (through 2026) ~3,900 rushing yards → Top 3 all-time, within striking distance of Denson. ~59 total TDs → Passing Pinkett, becoming Notre Dame’s all-time touchdown king. That’s not just production. That’s rewriting the hierarchy of Notre Dame football. Bettis, Pinkett, Denson, Estimé; Love could surpass them all. And it’s not just about New York. If Love delivers the Heisman, he ends a 37-year drought. If he delivers a national title, he ends both droughts at once. The stakes are bigger than a trophy. They’re about South Bend itself. For a fanbase that has lived on memories of yesterday for too long, Jeremiyah Love offers a chance at tomorrow, a chance to be more than a star, to be the bridge between Notre Dame’s past and its future. The Payoff It always comes back to that play. First and goal. Defenders draped over him. Balance broken. Destiny still reached. That’s Jeremiyah Love in a single snapshot, the back who refuses to fall, the player who makes the impossible look inevitable. Every Heisman case ends with an image. For Tim Brown, it was back-to-back punt returns. For Reggie Bush, it was a cutback that broke physics. For Derrick Henry, it was a stiff-arm that looked like a truck plowing through traffic. For Love, it’s that dive across the goal line — the ball outstretched, time standing still, the stadium frozen in disbelief. The Heisman isn’t won in one game, but in the way a player makes time stop. Jeremiyah Love has already done that, and in 2025, he just might do it all the way to New York. The Blueprint Recap Production: 1,700+ rushing yards, 24–26 total TDs, 6.0+ YPC. Moments: Miami, USC, and Stanford circled as primetime statement games. Image: The heart celebration, the duality of storm and serenity. Legacy: A chance to end Notre Dame’s 37-year Heisman drought and etch his name alongside the program’s all-time greats. When voters sit down with their ballots in December, they won’t just see numbers. They’ll see the image of Jeremiyah Love breaking free for 98, diving across the goal line against all odds, and reminding them what Notre Dame football is supposed to feel like. And if 2025 unfolds the way it can, that image won’t just be a play; it’ll be the moment that brings the Heisman back to South Bend. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

*Updated April 7th, 2026 Notre Dame is off to a strong start as usual on the defensive side of the football in the Class of 2027. Here's our updated big board with prospects to keep an eye on. We hadn't 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. Be that as impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that; in fact, some say the 2026 class is the best in program history. Notre Dame looks to continue that momentum in the 2027 class and is already on their way with notable commitments like 4-star OT James Halter, 4-star CB Xavier Hasan, 4-star CB Ace Alston, 4-star S Khalil Terry, 4-star LB Amarri Irvin, and 4-star DL Richie Flanigan. Below are the Big Board Defensive Talents that Notre Dame looks to land: Edge Zyron Forstall (5-star) 6-3.5 225lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 42 nd  overall nationally and 5th overall at the Edge position. He holds 27 D1 offers. KJ Green (5-star) 6-4 215lbs out of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain Gap, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72 nd  overall nationally and 9th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports 27 th  overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Abraham Sesay (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 63 rd  overall nationally and 8th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Mekai Brown (4-star) 6-7 230lbs out of Greenwich Country Day High School in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 49th overall nationally and 6th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Wyatt Smith (4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 75th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Aidan O’Neil (4-star) 6-5 240lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 127th overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 27 th  overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Rashad Streets (4-star) 6-4 230lbs out of Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 61st overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Frederick Ards (4-star) 6-5 225lbs out of Jones High School in Orlando, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 77 th  overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 23 D1 offers.   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line David Folorunsho (4-star) 6-4 280lbs out of St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 103 rd  overall nationally and 13th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Brayden Parks (4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 179th overall nationally and 20th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Santana Harvey (4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 286th overall nationally and 34th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Luke Starcevic (4-star) 6-5 250lbs out of Kindred High School in Kindred, North Dakota. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 218th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Karlos May (4-star) 6-3.5 305lbs out of Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 124th overall nationally and 16th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Joseph Buchanan (4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of McDonogh High School in Owings Mill, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 221st overall nationally and 22nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Jon Ioane (4-star) 6-3 295lbs out of Tustin High School in Tustin, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 268th overall nationally and 13th overall as an ATH/defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Alifeleti Tuihalamaka (4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of Oaks Christian High School in West Lake Village, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 254th overall nationally and 26th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers.   Linebacker Kaden Henderson (4-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 24th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the linebacker position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Toa Satale (4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 60th overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Noah Glover (4-star) 6-1 205lbs out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 204th overall nationally and 16 th  overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Roman Igwebuike (4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 147th overall nationally and 11th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Mikahi Allen (4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports 215th overall nationally and 19th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Antwoine Higgins (4-star) 6-3 2185lbs out of Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 386th overall nationally and 30th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback John Meredith III (5-star) 6-2 175lbs out of North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 2nd overall nationally and 1st overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Joshua Dobson (5-star) 6-1 185lbs out of Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 11 th  overall nationally and 2nd overall at the cornerback position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Hayden Stapp (5-star) 6-3.5 185lbs out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 33 rd  overall nationally and 5th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Danny Lang (4-star) 5-11.5 160lbs out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 104 th  overall nationally and 12th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Tavares Harrington (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 109 th  overall nationally and 13th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Duvay Williams (4-star) 5-10.5 148lbs out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 178th overall nationally and 24th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Safeties Gavin Williams (4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Damien High School in La Verne, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 151st overall nationally and 13th overall at the safety position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Zayden Gamble (4-star) 5-11 190lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 195th overall nationally and 18th overall at the safety position. He holds 46 D1 offers. Jailen Hill (4-star) 6-2 170lbs out of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 249th overall nationally and 21st overall at the safety position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Myles Baker (4-star) 6-1 185lbs out of Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 264th overall nationally and 24th overall at the safety position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Kenaz Sullivan (4-star) 6-1 190lbs out of St. James High School in Springfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 331st overall nationally and 33rd overall at the safety position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Athletes Xavier Saab (5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 37th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Marcus Fakatou (5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 35 th  overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath/defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Tee Walden Jr. (4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 125 th  overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Myson Johnson-Cook (4-star) 6-2 235lbs out of East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 46th overall nationally and 4th overall at the rb/ath position. He holds 48 D1 offers. Corey Hadley, Jr. (4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 86th overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Brayton Feister (4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Matthew Gregory (4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 108th overall nationally and 17th overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Cade Cooper (4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43 rd  overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 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. 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* Updated April 6th, 2026 There has been plenty of movement on Notre Dame's recruiting big board these past few weeks. Here are some offensive prospects to keep an eye on, and where they stand in their recruitments. As impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that; in fact, some say the 2026 class is the best in program history. Notre Dame looks to continue that momentum in the 2027 class and is already on their way with notable commitments like 4-star OT James Halter, 4-star CB Xavier Hasan, 4-star CB Ace Alston, 4-star S Khalil Terry, 4-star LB Amarri Irvin, and 4-star DL Richie Flanigan. Below are the Big Board Offensive Talents that Notre Dame has their eyes on: Quarterback   Peyton Houston (4-star) 5-10.5 200lbs out of Evangel Christian Academy High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 88 th  overall nationally and 8 th  overall at the quarterback position. He is currently committed to LSU (9/15/2025) and holds 31 D1 offers.   Davin Davidson (4-star) 6-6.5 215lbs out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 155 th  overall nationally and 13 th  overall at the quarterback position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on the weekend of March 21st-22nd   Kamden Lopati (4-star) 6-3 215lbs out of West High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 122 nd  overall nationally and 9 th  overall at the quarterback position. He is currently committed to Illinois (7/27/2025) and holds 23 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 27th Wonderful Monds IV (4-star) 6-2 224lbs out of Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 212 th  overall nationally and 19 th  overall at the quarterback position. He currently holds 34 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 18th Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Running Back   Lathan Whisenton (4-star) 5-11 194lbs out of Waco Midway High School in Waco, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports ranked by 247 Sports as 299th overall nationally and 19th overall at the running back position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Committed to Notre Dame on 3/25/2026   Isaiah Rogers (4-star) 5-11 205lbs out of Springfield Central High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 238th overall nationally and 15th overall at the running back position. He holds 17 D1 offers. Committed to Notre Dame on 3/30/2026 Notre Dame has cancelled all other running back visits for this spring.   Wide Receiver   Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Indiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 12th overall nationally and 68th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 10th-12th Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th   Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 244th overall nationally and 32nd overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers.   Quentin Burrell (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports 73rd overall nationally and 14th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame 4/1/2026-4/2/2026 Remains a Top Target for Notre Dame   Julian Caldwell (4-star) 6-0 185lbs out of Argyle High School in Argyle, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 89th overall nationally and 15th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 schools he's considering on 4/1/2026 On campus for Notre Dame's annual Junior Day Event over the weekend of March 19th-21st   Tight End   Jaxon Dollar (5-star) 6-5 222lbs out of East Lincoln High School in Denver, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 36th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the tight end position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on the annual Junior Day Event over the weekend of March 19th-21st   Seneca Driver (4-star) 6-6 234lbs out of Boyle County High School in Danville, Kentucky. He is currently committed to Oklahoma (3/7/2026) and ranked by 247 Sports as 56th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the tight end position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Committed to Oklahoma on 3/7/2026   Jack Brown (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Missouri. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 100th overall nationally and 5th overall at the tight end position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Committed to Missouri on 3/17/2026   Grant Haviland (4-star) 6-4 215lbs out of Milon High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 275th overall nationally and 13th 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   Mark Matthews (5-star) 6-5.5 300lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 3rd overall nationally and 1st overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 35 D1 offers.   Kennedy Brown (5-star) 6-4 285lbs out of Kingwood High School in Humble, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 8th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 45 D1 offers.   Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports 14th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st   Kellen Wymer (4-star) 6-5 265lbs out of Liberty Center High School in Liberty City, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 82 nd  overall nationally and 6th overall at the interior offensive tackle position. He is currently committed toas Ohio State (11/2/2025) and holds 15 D1 offers.   Jake Hildebrand (4-star) 6-5.5 300lbs out of Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 90th overall nationally and 9th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Offered (No. 78) on 3/17/2026 for Pot of Gold Day   Terrance Smith (4-star) 6-6 260lbs out of Lansdale Catholic High School in Liberty Lansdale, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 267 th  overall nationally and 14th overall at the interior offensive tackle position. He holds 33 D1 offers.   Cameron Wagner (4-star) 6-6 300lbs out of St. Joseph-Ogden High School in St. Joseph, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 317 th  overall nationally and 32nd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st 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 season ended for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women’s Basketball Team this past Sunday with a loss to the number one team in the country and presumptive favorite to win the National Title, the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies, by the score of 70-52 in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame Season Review One month into 2026, it looked as if the Irish might not make the NCAA tournament, let alone their first Elite Eight since 2019. A 3-6 record in January prompted this belief. Entering the turn of the new year, the Irish were 10-2 overall with an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record of 2-0; the Irish had reasonable expectations to compete for a conference championship. However, a Knee injury suffered by Senior Guard KK Bransford on December 14th against Moorhead State exacerbated a team lacking depth. Losses to Duke (regular season and conference tournament champions) and Georgia Tech kicked off the New Year, then an 85-47 home loss to UConn on January 19 put the season's hopes on life support. The return of Bransford in February, along with contributions from transfer players Vanessa de Jesus and Iyana Moore, began a surge for the Irish, as they finished the season on a 9-2 run (only losing to Virginia and Duke in the ACC Tournament semi-finals). This included a signature victory coming on the road against then 10th-ranked Louisville 65-62 on March 10th. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Notre Dame was powered all season by a do-everything, perennial National Player of the Year contender, Junior Guard Hannah Hidalgo. Hidalgo finished the season with a stellar stat line of 25.3 Points Per Game (PPG), 6.9 Rebounds Per Game (RPG), 5.2 Assists Per Game (APG), and shot 47.5 percent from the field. She also won her second consecutive ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Key Departures: PLEASE NOTE-THIS ONLY INDICATES PLAYERS THAT ARE GRADUATING, NOT POSSIBLE TRANSFER PORTAL DEPARTURES . Iyana Moore (12.2 PPG) Vanessa de Jesus (8.6 PPG) Malaya Cowles (8.0 PPG) Gisela Sanchez (6.0 PPG) All of Coach Niele Ivey's transfer portal recruits from the end of last season will depart this offseason. These losses will be twofold. First, they had experience and offered a great deal of leadership for the team. Secondly, during the Irish late-season surge, their contributions allowed Hidalgo to operate more freely and opened the offense. Forward Iyana Moore was especially key as she gave the Irish some size for rim protection and rebounding (averaging 5.3 RPG). Moore's 11.8 PPG will be heavily missed as well. One thing to keep an eye on is ACC Most Improved Player Cassandre Prosper and Bransford, both of whom have one year of eligibility remaining. If they decide to return to South Bend, that would be two veterans to provide suitable help for Hidalgo next season. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Recruiting Class: PF Jacy Abii ***** SF Bella Ragone **** PF Amari Byles **** SG Jenica Lewis **** PF Isabella Sangha This is arguably the best recruiting class under Coach Ivey, with it being ranked as one of the best in the country by many recruiting experts, with two McDonald's All-Americans. It is led by Jacy Abii, a 6’2" forward with great range and length. Another top get for the Irish is Guard Jenica Lewis. Lewis led Johnston to 3 consecutive state championships and was named Iowa Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year. This season's size was a concern for the Irish; this class solves that. Four out of the five players are 6’2" or taller. Notre Dame will also welcome 2025 McDonald's All-American Leah Macy into the fold. She missed all of this past season with a knee injury suffered during her senior year of high school. 2026-27 Outlook: Notre Dame should be a force to be reckoned with next season, if for no other reason than the return of Hidalgo (she will not be draft eligible). If Bransford and Prosper return, then that will be a solid foundation for Ivey to build upon. Having that core would allow this stellar recruiting class to ease into the rotation and be experienced come tournament time. It should also be expected that the Irish will hit the transfer portal for additional experience to make up for what will be leaving. 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!

While Billy Schrauth's playing seasons were marked by a couple of serious injuries, his time on the field showed why he could be a serviceable piece to an NFL offensive line. Billy Schrauth is not considered to be anywhere near one of the top offensive line prospects, but he does possess the capability to be a solid player with his strong pass protection and some work to do in the run game. As a guard, Schrauth could come in and immediately offer some decent depth for any team that drafts him, which is valuable for a projected day-three pick. With that said, how far he waits to hear his name will likely come down to his injury history and if teams think his weaknesses are fixable. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! During his time in South Bend, Schrauth found playing time early as a freshman. In mostly a backup role, Schrauth was still able to log valuable minutes early in his career. Just one year later, Schrauth earned his way into the starting lineup on a team that played for a National Championship in 2024. While he did finish the season, he did miss a chunk of the season as the result of a sprained ankle he suffered in a blowout against Purdue. Even with the missed time, Schrauth proved he was a high-level starter for a great team. In 2025, he continued to show off his tough, rugged, and consistent play style, as Notre Dame's offensive line routinely mauled opposing defenses. In the offensive line's best game against USC, Schrauth's toughness was put to the ultimate test when he suffered a knee sprain. Despite the sprain, Schrauth finished the game, but he would be sidelined for multiple games. Although his season did not go the way he probably expected, it was another data point for the consistency of Schrauth's game. Like any prospect, there are highs and lows to Schrauth's playstyle and skillset. Despite his lighter frame for a guard in the NFL, he does possess excellent strength. Throughout his years in college, he showed time and time again that if he gets his hands on a defender, he can move them. The problem is, he does not always use his hands well, which is something NFL teams will have to correct. The biggest strength of his game is his excellent pass protection. In 2025, he did not allow a single sack, which will be very attractive to any NFL team. In the NFL, it is becoming increasingly more common for pass-rushers to slide inside to generate pressure from the interior. In that case, Schrauth could be a valuable asset. To go along with his pass-blocking, Schrauth also has great versatility and football IQ. At Notre Dame, he played at both left and right guard, displaying his ability to adapt and provide depth at multiple positions. This is a direct result of his high football IQ. Schrauth shows a true understanding of blocking schemes, situational football, and as a team captain, pre-snap communication. When looking at his weaknesses, a lot of it revolves around his footwork and agility, mainly in the run game. Although strong, he can sometimes struggle to change direction and set his feet to make the correct block. NFL teams will have to judge if that is a technique or athleticism concern. If it is technique, teams can likely fix that problem. If it is athleticism, then there may be cause for more concern regarding Schrauth's overall quickness. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Best Fits Round 4, Pick 126: Buffalo Bills The Bills would be the perfect fit for Schrauth. Picking right in the range of his projection, the Bills are in some need of guard depth. While not needing a day-one starter, they do have holes in their depth chart that Schrauth could fill, offering not only depth, but also a player with some high-floor potential. The Bills are towards the top of the league in pass attempts per game, meaning their offensive line is often in pass-protection. This bodes well for Schrauth, as pass-blocking is his biggest strength as a guard. Josh Allen is an MVP type of player but was beaten up a lot last year. It is time for the Bills to continue to sure up ways to protect him. Round 4, Pick 101: Tennessee Titans Much like the Bills, the Titans are also in some need of guard depth. Last season, the Titans ranked 24th in offensive line PFF grades. As one of the bottom units in league in that category, it is crucial the Titans continue to rebuild their line. With their rookie QB Cam Ward, there is some new optimism in Nashville that they have a bright future. With that bright future, they also must protect him, which they did not do a very good job of in 2025. With Schrauth's strengths, he could be a solid player for them as a depth piece. 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!

As a two year starter at Notre Dame, Wagner became a team captain and a staple of the Notre Dame offensive line. While he thrived at with the Irish, he is only considered to be a late-round pick, but with huge upside. While right tackles are valuable in the NFL, Wagner is not considered to be anywhere near the top of that list in this draft. There is a considerable amount of top-end talent at the position, but Wagner also does not possess the talent or tape to warrant a pick in the early rounds. With that being true, Wagner does have an athletic frame with long arms and a quick burst. All of that together, combined with the fact that he has only played for two seasons, may project to some interesting upside for a player like Aamil Wagner. That puts him in a spot where a team could take him as a depth piece with the hopes that he can turn into a role player or even a starter. That may be a long shot, but it is what Wagner will be looking to pull off over the course of his career. Wagner arrived to Notre Dame as a four-star prospect that did not see any time during his freshman season. From there, he served as a reserve during his redshirt freshman season, mainly playing in garbage time during Notre Dame blowouts. As sophomore, Wagner finally cracked the starting lineup, becoming an integral part of an offensive line that bullied their way to the National Championship game. Following that season, Wagner was voted a team captain as a junior. The season got off to a bit of a rough start against Miami. In that game, Wagner was dominated by Miami's powerful pass-rushing tandem of Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. Yes, they are both going to be first rounders, but Wagner struggled against the best competition he saw all season. From there, Wagner largely controlled the rest of the season, but he continued to show where his game still needed improvement. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Standing at 6'6", Wagner has great size for the position. With that stature, he has long arms that he often uses well to keep pass-rushers at a distance. He does this with active and fast hands that he uses to redirect defenders, making him a solid pass-protector. With that length, Wagner also has a quick first-step off the line of scrimmage to kick out to his defender. Combining all of this, it is easy to see why there is some potential that he could become a serviceable pass-blocker in the NFL. While he is tall, Wagner is also light for his size, making strength a concern. That concern was amplified during the NFL combine, where he only posted a 21 on the bench press. This area of weakness usually presents itself when Wagner is run-blocking. He sometimes struggles to stay engaged in his block and move his defender. Besides the strength, Wagner also exhibits some room to grow with his footwork and ability to engage moving targets. Against Miami, it was evident that Wagner struggled to stay in front of the type of player he will see every Sunday in the NFL. In that game, Bain Jr. was able to beat Wagner consistently with bull rushes, swim moves, and speed getting to the outside. Wagner simply could not stay in front of Bain Jr. and Mesidor. With Wagner, these are all the reasons he most likely won't hear his name called until the last day of the draft. It is his positives that will get him drafted and why there is some hope that Wagner is still a raw prospect and has a lot of untapped potential. One thing that should not go unsaid is his intelligence. People around Notre Dame constantly spoke to the type of man and student Wagner was at Notre Dame. That means Wagner may be able to become a fast learner in the NFL, or at the very least, be an excellent locker room presence. Best Fit Round 6, Pick 192: New York Giants The New York Giants have largely been a disaster for the better part of a decade. Last season, they were finally able to put together a somewhat functional offensive line, but they still have some long term needs at right tackle. In free agency, the Giants were able to ink out a three-year deal to bring back their starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. Eluemunor was a huge part in the Giants' offensive line improvements last season, but that three-year deal will likely be the last contract he signs with the Giants. This means that down the road, the Giants will be looking for a replacement at the position. While it is bold to assume Wagner is the successor to Eluemunor, it is not bold to think that the Giants could use a late-round pick to take a chance on a player with upside at the position. At its worst, they would only be burning a sixth round pick. At its best, the Giants draft Wagner, give him the time he needs to develop, and then he becomes a beneficial player for the Giants 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!

Another chapter of the Notre Dame - UConn rivalry was added on Sunday afternoon when the Huskies ended the Irish’s March run with a 70-52 thumping at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth in an Elite Eight matchup. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame (25-10) and UConn (37-0) met during a regular season matchup on January 19th in Storrs that saw the Huskies obliterate a short-handed Irish squad 85-47. In this first matchup, the Irish were without KK Bransford and utilizing a six-player rotation while Malaya Cowles picked up two first-quarter fouls, creating early pressure on an already depleted Notre Dame roster.  Since that meeting, the Irish have been healthier and playing better basketball. Two reasons Notre Dame earned a six-seed and has advanced to the Elite Eight. Elsewhere, the next highest remaining seed is a three, a testament to Head Coach Niele Ivey and her staff’s abilities. To reach the Elite Eight, the Irish defeated 11-seed Fairfield before pulling off upsets against three-seed Ohio State and two-seed Vanderbilt. This game marks Notre Dame’s first trip to the Elite Eight since 2019, when the Irish reached the National Championship, and it is the first under HC Ivey’s tenure.  On the other hand, UConn has been the most dominant team in the country all season long, and they have not slowed down. The Big East Regular Season and Tournament Champions earned the overall number one seed in the NCAA Tournament and are looking to complete a perfect 40-0 season. They have been on the right track, entering the Elite Eight with dominant wins over 16-seed UTSA, nine-seed Syracuse, and four-seed UNC, all by at least 21 points. In addition to a perfect season, the Huskies are also seeking to repeat as NCAA Tournament Champions. UConn proved its star power and depth are no joke on Sunday. Strong performances from Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd can be expected, as the superstar duo combined for 34 points on 11-24 shooting from the field. Blanca Quinonez’s bench performance is what put the Huskies over the top, though. The freshman from Ecuador tallied 20 points, including four threes, eight rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 30 minutes played off the bench. Hidalgo did all she could for the Irish, recording 22 points and 11 rebounds as UConn held her to 7-19 shooting from the field with five turnovers. No other Notre Dame player reached double-digit scoring as the Irish shot 39.1% from the field and an unimpressive 12-19 from the free throw line. Additionally, the Irish’s 18 made field goals equaled their 18 offensive turnovers, a formula that will never lead to success. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The first quarter was a Quinonez showcase as the UConn sixth-man out-scored Notre Dame 12-11 in just six minutes played. The Irish were able to keep it within one possession for nearly the first six minutes of the game until a 6-0 Huskies run pushed their lead to 10-5 with 4:04 on the clock. Cowles was able to respond with a hookshot for the Irish, but Quinonez responded with a three to extend UConn’s lead to 13-7 with 2:57 left in the quarter. UConn went on to close the quarter on a 7-4 stretch, including an easy Quinonez layup in the final seconds off a turnover from Hidalgo that made it a 20-11 game after one. Cassandre Prosper and Cowles led Notre Dame’s first-quarter efforts with four points apiece as the Irish struggled to find an answer for Quinonez. Notre Dame came out strong defensively to open the second quarter, and Hidalgo was able to get her offense going after a 0-4 showing in the first frame. The Irish held the Huskies scoreless for the first 3:35 as Hidalgo picked up four points and a steal, helping cut their deficit to 20-15 with 6:41 on the clock. Hidalgo scored the first nine Irish points of the quarter, with a three making it a 24-20 game with 4:46 left in the half. Following Hidalgo’s three, UConn responded with a 6-0 run led by Quinonez and Strong that pushed the Huskies' lead to 30-20 with 2:56 remaining in the quarter. Notre Dame had a strong finish, featuring a 5-0 stretch with a three-pointer from Bransford, wiped away as UConn was able to hit another last-second shot off an Irish turnover. Hidalgo’s nine points paced the Irish offense as Notre Dame was able to out-score UConn 14-12 in the second quarter. However, the Irish still trailed 32-25 at the half as they entered the break with the same amount of field goals made as turnovers lost (ten). Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle UConn came out of the half strong, going on a quick 6-1 run to open the third quarter and extending their lead to 38-26 just 1:17 into the frame. After Hidalgo hit a pair of free throws and a pull-up jumper on back-to-back possessions, both sides went scoreless for 4:01 as UConn held a 38-30 advantage. The Huskies were able to break the drought with easy points off a Hidalgo turnover that pushed UConn’s lead to ten with 3:51 on the clock. Hidalgo was able to respond with a tough and-one layup where she buried the free throw to make it a 40-33 game with 2:42 left in the quarter. UConn was able to close the quarter on a 7-3 run, with a Vanessa de Jesus three-pointer bailing the Irish with 26 seconds remaining, that sent the Huskies into the final frame with a 47-36 lead. Hidalgo’s eight points led an Irish offense that only scored 11 in the quarter. The Irish saw their offensive struggles continue, converting just 3-9 shots from the field and adding another five turnovers to their total in this quarter.  Both sides went back and forth to open the final quarter with UConn opening the frame on a slight 7-6 stretch in the first 2:51 that made it a 54-42 contest. The Huskies then opened up the game, going on a 9-2 run featuring two threes from Quinonez that extended UConn’s advantage to 63-44 with 5:43 on the clock. Notre Dame was able to respond with a 6-2 run led by Hidalgo that cut the Irish deficit to 65-50 with 3:57 left in the quarter. Notably, Prosper fouled out at the 4:23 mark. Needing to build on this late-game run, the Irish unfortunately went scoreless for a 2:14 stretch that saw UConn build their lead to 68-50. A pair of traded free throws sealed the Irish’s fate, sending Notre Dame back to South Bend with a 70-52 defeat at the hands of the number one team in the country. Iyana Moore led the Irish offense with seven fourth-quarter points as Notre Dame consistently struggled to find production outside of Hidalgo on Sunday.  With Notre Dame’s season officially concluded, UConn’s bid to repeat as NCAA Tournament Champions remains alive. The Huskies will take on the winner of South Carolina/TCU on April 3rd in this season’s edition of the Final Four in Phoenix. Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo: 22 points (broke ACC single-season scoring record) , 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 40 minutes played  Key Team Stats Field Goal Percentage: UConn (44%)  - ND (39%)   Three Point Percentage: UConn (35%)  - ND (33%) Free Throw Percentage: UConn (80%)  - ND (63%) Turnovers: ND (18) - UConn (14) Points off Turnovers: UConn (19) - ND (7) Rebounds: UConn (35) - ND (29) Bench Points: UConn (32) - ND (7) 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!

For the first time since 2019, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women’s Basketball team has advanced to the Elite Eight. All that stands in the way of the Fighting Irish and a trip to the Final Four in Phoenix is the juggernaut University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies. The two former Big East rivals played this season on January 19, 2026. In that game, UConn outclassed the Irish, beating them 85-47 (the largest in the series). This is also the eighth time they have squared off in the NCAA Tournament (the Irish hold a 5-2 record in the tournament). Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Notre Dame faced one of the best offensive teams and top scores in the country in the Sweet Sixteen, the Vanderbilt Commodores, and Sophomore Guard Mikayla Blakes. The Irish held the Commodores to 35 percent shooting for the game and Blakes to one of her worst shooting performances of the season (7-26 from the field). Since KK Bransford returned from injury, Notre Dame has been better defensively. Of course, this is spurred on by Junior Guard Hannah Hidalgo. Hidalgo was a superstar against Vanderbilt, dropping a triple-double, scoring 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! UConn Huskies: What can be said about the defending National Champions that isn’t known? They are on a 53-game winning streak, with an average margin of victory of nearly 38 points. As dominant as that sounds, they have been even more dominant in the tournament. They are by far the most complete team in the nation, led by Senior Guard Azzi Fudd, who scores 17.6 Points Per Game (PPG), and Sophomore Forward Sarah Strong, who leads the team with 18.4 PPG. She also leads the team in Rebounds (7.5 per game), Steals (3.3 per game), and blocks (1.6 per game). Depth is a major asset for them as well; they have 10 players who have played in at least 30 games this season. Notre Dame Keys to Victory: If UConn has a weakness, it is that they tend to start slowly. They did so against North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen, except North Carolina could not capitalize fully on it. Notre Dame can provide defensive pressure on guards Fudd and KK Arnold. If they can do that and force UConn to rely on their frontcourt, where they lack some depth, the Irish would be able to make this a game played to their strengths. They will need contributions from everyone, but Hidalgo must have a game like the one against Vanderbilt. Simply put, she must take over and do it throughout most of the game. UConn Keys to Victory: As great as the Huskies are offensively, they are that much better defensively. They hold opponents to a paltry 50.1 PPG. They force mistakes (forcing 15.7 steals per game), crash the glass (averaging 37.8 rebounds per game), and they take away what you want to do. First and foremost, UConn is taking away Hidalgo. They will more than likely utilize a  game plan to neutralize her. They will do this by doubling her at half court and trapping her. They will also try to force Notre Dame to be a jump shooting team to avoid their frontcourt getting into foul trouble (a spot where they do not have depth). Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Prediction: Can Hidalgo deliver one of the greatest performances of her career, and in turn, Notre Dame pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history? ESPN Predictor gives the Irish a minuscule 5.7 percent chance of victory. I do think Notre Dame can force a slow start out of UConn; the issue is, can they maintain it for 40 minutes? The Irish have vastly improved since the last meeting; I just feel this is too steep a hill to climb. I suspect Hidalgo will have a good game, but not the legendary performance Notre Dame would need to pull off this upset. UConn is too deep and has too many ways to win this game. Final Score: Notre Dame 51, UConn 68 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 continues to bust brackets. This time, the Irish defeated Vanderbilt 67-64 in Friday afternoon’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Head Coach Niele Ivey and the Irish are no strangers to the Sweet 16, with this year’s visit marking their fifth-consecutive trip to this round. Six-seed Notre Dame (24-10; 14-7) earned their spot in this round after defeating Fairfield and upsetting Ohio State in Columbus. On the other side, the two-seed Vanderbilt Commodores (29-4; 13-4) are amidst their third-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance following a nine-year postseason drought. The Commodores finished second in the SEC’s regular season standings before falling in an upset to Ole Miss in the conference’s quarterfinal round of the tournament. They earned their spot in the Sweet 16 with dominant victories over High Point and Illinois in Nashville. After forgettable performances in her previous two Sweet 16 appearances, Hannah Hidalgo made sure this year was different. The Irish superstar nearly had a quadruple-double, recording 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and seven assists in a heroic effort. As a team, Notre Dame was able to overcome a 1-17 day from three-point land with gritty defense. The Irish held Vanderbilt to 35% shooting from the field and forced 23 turnovers, 16 of which came in the first half. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Hidalgo began a defensive-minded first quarter with a steal leading to a layup for the Irish star. Vanderbilt was able to respond with a 5-0 stretch to go up 5-2 2:30 into the game. A short jumper from Cassandre Prosper got the Irish rolling on both sides of the ball, kickstarting an 11-0 run featuring five different scorers that put the six-seed on top 13-5 with 2:13 left in the quarter. A pair of free throws from the SEC Player of the Year, Mikayla Blakes, stopped a 5:28 scoring drought for the Commodores, but Hidalgo responded right away with a circus-type layup that somehow found the net. Vanderbilt was able to close the last minute on a 4-0 stretch, including a short second-chance jumper in the final seconds, that sent the Irish to the bench with a 15-11 lead after one. Hidalgo led the Irish with six points on 3-5 shooting from the field and four steals, breaking the DI NCAA single-season steals record. Combined, the Irish secured six steals and a block as Vanderbilt struggled offensively, shooting 2-12 from the field and turning the ball over 10 times in the quarter. The Irish carried a strong first quarter into the start of the second, beginning the frame on an 8-0 run with Hidalgo adding a quick four points and three steals. Notre Dame held Vanderbilt scoreless for the first 4:05 of the quarter, ballooning their lead to 23-11 with 6:12 on the clock. Blakes got the Commodores on the board with a quick jumper, but Hidalgo was able to respond with a short jumper of her own to make it a 25-13 game with 5:26 left in the quarter. After Hidalgo’s second foul sent the game to a media timeout, the Commodores came out of the short break on fire, going on a 12-2 run with Aubrey Galvan hitting two three-pointers during the stretch as Vanderbilt cut their deficit to 27-25 with just over two minutes left in the half. A couple of turnovers and fouls from both sides led to the Irish ending the quarter on a 4-1 run to enter halftime with a 31-26 lead. Hidalgo, as usual, did the heavy-lifting in the second, tallying 10 points on 5-9 shooting from the field and three steals, bringing her halftime totals to 16 points and seven steals. Again, the Irish did a relatively good job shutting down the Commodores' offense, forcing them to shoot just 4-14 from the field in the second quarter. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The Irish started the second half with a 4-0 stretch, which was countered instantly with a 5-0 stretch from the Commodores, capped by a three-pointer that cut Vanderbilt’s deficit to 35-31 1:40 into the third. From 7:23 to 5:55, both offenses caught fire in a bottle as Notre Dame out-scored the Commodores 8-5 during this stretch with four different Irish scorers getting involved as they extended their lead to 43-36. After a short drought, a Hidalgo steal led to a Malaya Cowles layup, but that was answered right away by a Vanderbilt layup. Hidalgo was then able to finish a tough and-one layup and knock down the free throw to push Notre Dame’s lead to ten, 48-38, with 2:56 on the clock. Vanderbilt was able to close the quarter on a 6-2 run with Galvan’s four points leading the Commodores as they trailed 50-44 heading into the final frame. Once again, Hidalgo led the way for Notre Dame as she added seven points, four assists, and two steals in the third.  After Hidalgo got her driving layup to fall to open the fourth, Vanderbilt went on a 5-0 run led by Blakes that made it a one-possession game, 52-49, 1:23 into the quarter. Following a pair of traded baskets, Vanessa de Jesus hit a huge three for the Irish to extend their lead to 57-51 with 7:41 on the clock. However, the Commodores did not go away at all and went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 57, with Blakes converting an and-one layup followed by a Galvan three, with 5:52 left in the game. Hidalgo was able to halt the opposition’s run with a layup to put the Irish back on top by two; however, a Vanderbilt block led to an easy fast-break opportunity for the Commodores as they tied the game back up at 59 with 4:36 to play. After another slight offensive dry spell, de Jesus picked up her fifth and final foul, sending Blakes to the free-throw line where she converted one of two tries to put Vanderbilt up one with 2:16 left. Iyana Moore put the Irish right back in front after she buried a mid-range shot to put them up 61-60 on the next possession. However, Blakes came down and hit a jumper of her own to give Vanderbilt a 62-61 advantage with 1:48 remaining. Prosper was able to draw a foul with 1:28 on the clock, but only converted one of her two free throws, tying the game at 62. On Vanderbilt’s next possession, Hidalgo picked up another steal off a bad Commodores pass, which led to an easy basket on the other end, putting the Irish up 64-62 with 1:06 left. Hidalgo then picked up her fourth foul as she sent Galvan to the line where she hit both of her free throws to tie the game at 64 with 56 seconds on the clock. After a Notre Dame timeout, Prosper came up with the ultra-clutch second-chance bucket following a Hidalgo miss to put the Irish back up 66-64 with 22 seconds left. Notre Dame forced Blakes into a lost-ball turnover, and that essentially sealed the game, with Vanderbilt needing to foul to extend the contest. Prosper went to the line with 14 seconds left and again went one of two from the charity stripe, extending the Irish lead to 67-64 but still allowing Vanderbilt a chance to tie. The Irish were able to stave off the Commodores as they missed two potential game-tying threes, securing their 67-64 victory. Hidalgo’s team-high eight points were just enough to keep Notre Dame dancing. Notre Dame will play the winner of UConn/North Carolina in the Elite Eight on March 29 in Fort Worth. Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo: 31 points (14-25 FGs, 3-3 FTs) , 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 10 steals (broke NCAA single-season and NCAA single-Tournament record) , 1 block, +5, 39 minutes played Cassandre Prosper: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, +7, 34 minutes played Key Team Stats Field Goal Percentage: ND (42%)  - VAN (35%)   Three Point Percentage: VAN (28%)  - ND (6%) Free Throw Percentage: VAN (84%)  - ND (77%) Turnovers: VAN (23) - ND (13) Points off Turnovers: ND (23) - VAN (4) Rebounds: VAN (44) - ND (30) Points in the Paint: ND (54) - VAN (20) 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!

For the fifth consecutive year, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women’s Basketball Team has made it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Standing in the way of their first Elite Eight appearance since 2019 (and the first under Head Coach Niele Ivey) is a well-rounded and dangerous Vanderbilt Commodores squad. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: The Irish upset the region's three-seed, the Ohio State Buckeyes, on Monday afternoon. Impressive was the fact that it was on the Ohio State campus. Even more impressive was the performance by Junior Guard Hannah Hidalgo with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight steals. Over the first two games of the tournament, Hidalgo has averaged a double-double with 24.5 Points Per Game (PPG) and 11 Rebounds Per Game (RPG). She has also chipped in with eight steals per game (setting a new single-game tournament record for the Irish in the first round against Farfield).  Senior Guard Cassandre Prosper continued her strong contributions with 17 points against the Buckeyes. Vanderbilt Commodores: Vanderbilt is led by Sophomore Guard Mikayla Blakes (recently named one of four finalists for the Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Award), who leads the nation in scoring, averaging 27 PPG while shooting a touch over 46 percent from the field. She is not alone in the backcourt. Freshman Guard Aubrey Galvan (averaging 13.2 PPG) provides the Commodores with one of the best backcourts in the country. This allows them to average an eye-raising 84.9 PPG (good for eighth nationally). They play at a frantic pace on both ends of the floor, which allows them to get out in transition and disrupt their opponents' game plan. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame Keys to Victory: Playing a team with four players who average double-digit points per game is going to be a difficult task for the Irish. Couple that with the dynamic pace Vanderbilt plays at, and one would think that the Irish would be at a significant disadvantage. However, Teams that can disrupt the high-powered guard tandem of the Commodores with strong defensive guard play and keep it a half-court game have had great success against them. This plays right into the Irish's hands, with Hidalgo and Prosper being very active on the defensive end and the ability to slow the game down because of this. If the Irish can do this against the potent Commodores, they have more than a puncher's chance. Vanderbilt Keys to Victory: The Commodores have thrived this season with a pick-your-poison philosophy. Does a team try to limit Blakes, or do they take away her supporting cast? That is going to be a decision that they are going to want to impose on the Irish. By doing this, they will spread Notre Dame out and make them defend one-on-one and not rely on the defensive backcourt to control the game. Eventually, this would force a thin Irish lineup to play at the up-tempo pace Vanderbilt wants, and that would be a death sentence in hopes of Notre Dame advancing. Prediction: Notre Dame has been on a roll since a loss to Virginia over a month ago. A key to that has been others finding ways to contribute and taking pressure off of Hidalgo; this makes her able to play freer, and the stats show what this can do for the Irish. Vanderbilt presents the very challenges that have been kryptonite for Notre Dame this season. However, Hidalgo is playing at another level, and her supporting cast has found ways to be there when they are needed most. I think the Irish can do just enough defensively to shut down the explosive backcourt of the Commodores. Give me the Irish in another upset. Final Score: Notre Dame 79, Vanderbilt 75 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!

“Often those who criticise others reveal what they themselves lack.”- Shannon Adler. Notre Dame Athletics draws intense attention in college sports. For fans, the history and expectation of excellence fuel loyalty; for detractors, they provide frequent criticism. Words like 'irrelevant' and 'overrated' can leave wounds that last for decades. On December 7th 2025, the Notre Dame Football Team declined an invitation to presumably play the Brigham Young Cougars (BYU) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. This decision was made after Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoff, despite being ranked in the top 10 week after week, until the final week, when they were bumped down two spots, and a team that lost in embarrassing fashion less than 24 hours earlier (the Alabama Crimson Tide) stayed in their recent spot of nine. When this occurred, Notre Dame made a significant impact in the sports world. Analysts, including Stephen A. Smith, argued Notre Dame should join a conference and criticized the University's response. Other commentators echoed these views, claiming the decision could affect the game. Fast forward to March 15th 2026, Selection Sunday. This grand day is when the participants for both the men’s and women’s NCAA Division One Basketball tournaments are announced. Every year, there are snubs and those left out that feel they should have been included; this year was no exception. However, four teams took it a step further. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Indiana, Belmont, San Diego State, and Florida State declined invitations to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), which is for the next 32 teams not selected for the NCAA Tournament. In past years, the NIT was once even more significant than the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame supporters expected critics to react to these teams as they did to Notre Dame's decision, anticipating outcries of selfishness or brand attacks aimed at these schools for opting out, just as Notre Dame experienced. Over a week has passed, yet there is still no hint of public criticism toward these teams. This contrasts sharply with the strong reaction Notre Dame received. All things being equal, being invited to NIT and then being declined is nothing new. They have been happening for as long as I can remember. The table below lists the metrics the Selection Committee uses to determine which teams advance to the tournament. There are some metrics, such as Indiana's 38th-ranked Strength of Schedule (SOS), that would make you raise an eyebrow. Then it is diminished by their 218th-ranked out-of-conference SOS (out of 362 teams). With all four of these teams, the minuses outweigh the pluses. RESUMES FOR THE FOUR TEAMS THAT DECLINED NIT INVITES. COURTESY OF BRACKETOLOGISTS.COM Also, there were many bid stealers this year. These are teams that would not make the tournament but won their conference tournament, which earns them an automatic bid. Couple that with Miami of Ohio being 31-1 and not winning their conference tournament with a suspect resume, and this created an unheralded situation for the committee. Personally, I did not admonish these teams for sitting out because, at the end of the day, it is their choice. Just as it was for the Notre Dame Football team. I will also say I didn’t see any prominent Irish supporters attack them or question their character either. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The fact is, Notre Dame is not irrelevant; they are not overrated. As a matter of fact, they are needed. These individuals, including ESPN, Stephen A. Smith, Dan Dakich, ON3, Pat Forde, and the countless social media pundits, need Notre Dame to maintain their own relevance. They know that the moment they say those two words, they get more clicks, views, and conversations. Notre Dame bears the weight of high expectations in college sports. This also attracts prominent critics, ready to offer their opinions. What they do not realize is that Notre Dame is built to withstand them. Bullets weakened with hypocrisy; disingenuous statements merely make flesh wounds, and that is what has been exposed over the past week. All detractors of Notre Dame are just chasing clout, attempting to tarnish the Golden Dome we hold dear. And using it to prop up their own paper popularity. 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!