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Notre Dame’s run at an ACC Championship has come to an end following Saturday’s Semifinal 65-63 loss to the conference’s regular-season champions, the Duke Blue Devils. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Five-seed Notre Dame and the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils met on Saturday in an ACC Semifinal matchup at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia. The Irish earned their spot in the semis after defeating 12-seed Miami in the Second Round on Thursday, followed by an 81-63 victory over four-seed NC State in Friday’s Quarterfinals. After receiving First and Second Round byes, the Blue Devils defeated nine-seed Clemson 60-46 in their Quarterfinal appearance on Friday. The Irish and Blue Devils most recently met in Durham on January 4th, when the Blue Devils bested Notre Dame 82-68. With the Irish seeking revenge for the regular-season loss at Duke, they were able to give the Blue Devils a run for their money on Saturday. Ultimately, Duke’s size advantage was too much for Notre Dame, getting repeatedly dominated in the paint and out-rebounded by 15, which left easy second-chance opportunities for a talented Blue Devils team. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! A somewhat sloppy, yet tightly-contested, first quarter saw Duke dominate the first four-to-five minutes, looking like they were going to put the game away early. The Blue Devils started the game on a 10-0 run, led by the ACC’s runner-up for player of the year, Toby Fournier, and Taina Mair. Multiple Irish turnovers, including two from Cassandre Prosper, led to easy Blue Devils points to begin the contest. Hannah Hidalgo knocked down the Irish's first points with a jumper with 5:02 on the clock; however, these points were taken away during the quarter break after a review determined it was a shot-clock violation. Iyana Moore got the Irish’s first (real) points with 4:44 on the clock with a pair of free throws. Unfortunately, Duke’s early rush was not done as Delaney Thomas rattled off five straight points to extend the Blue Devils' lead to 15-2 with 3:58 remaining in the quarter. Notre Dame was able to make it a bit of a game near the end of the quarter, going on a 9-0 run with seven points coming from Moore, to cut their deficit to 11-15 with 25 seconds remaining. Duke was able to tip-in a buzzer-beater to give the Blue Devils a 17-11 advantage after one. Moore led Irish scorers with nine points in a quarter that was highlighted by seven Notre Dame turnovers and just 3-12 shooting from the field. The Irish opened the second quarter with a pair of back-to-back baskets to cut the deficit down to two early in the frame. After a couple of traded buckets, the Blue Devils opened their lead back up with a 14-4 stretch, featuring a pair of threes, that lasted from the 6:13 - 2:30 mark. This run extended Duke’s lead to 33-23. Then, Prosper and Duke’s Arianna Roberson exchanged converted-and-one opportunities with the Blue Devils holding their ten-point advantage with 1:52 left in the half. Hidalgo was able to go on a quick 5-0 run, including a converted and-one chance, to cut the Irish deficit to 31-36 with 48 seconds on the clock. Duke was able to finish a second-chance basket to close out the half with a 38-31 lead. Hidalgo paced the Irish offense with 11 of their 20 second-quarter points on 5-6 shooting from the field. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Prosper and Fournier kicked off the second-half scoring with back-to-back second-chance tip-ins, with the Blue Devils holding their seven-point lead with 8:41 on the clock. Notre Dame then woke up, going on an 8-0 run capped by KK Bransford’s fourth three-pointer of the season that gave the Irish their first lead of the day, a 41-40 advantage with 6:20 left in the third quarter. Duke’s Mair took the lead right back, though, going on a 5-0 burst by herself to put the Blue Devils back on top 45-41 with 3:32 left. Then, Vanessa de Jesus buried a three, and Moore hit two free throws to put the Irish up 46-45 with 1:33 remaining. After Duke’s Jordan Wood and the Irish’s Bransford each made one free throw, Gisela Sanchez closed the quarter with a layup off a Duke turnover to send Notre Dame to the final quarter with a 49-46 lead. Six different Irish players etched their names in the scoring column in the third, with De Jesus’s six points on 2-2 shooting from deep leading the way. The Notre Dame defense forced six Duke turnovers as the Blue Devils managed just eight points in the frame while shooting 3-12 from the field. ‘Grand Theft’ Hidalgo got the fourth quarter started with a steal leading to an easy layup to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 51-46. Duke was able to tie the game quickly with a 5-0 run with 8:46 to play. After de Jesus converted a layup to put the Irish back in front by two, the Blue Devils went on a 6-0 stretch featuring three different scorers to put the one-seed in front 57-53 with 6:46 on the clock. Moore was able to make it a one-point game after she hit a three with 5:53 remaining. The ACC’s top two players, Hidalgo and Fournier, then traded a couple of baskets with Duke still holding a 61-60 advantage with 2:04 left. Mair was able to hit a clutch three for the Blue Devils to put them up by four, but Hidalgo responded right back with a three of her own off a steal by Prosper to keep the Irish within one, 63-64, with 1:10 to play. With 52 seconds left, Malaya Cowles fouled a Duke shooter, and she hit one of two free throws to give the Blue Devils a late 65-63 lead. Unfortunately, the Irish were unable to convert on their final possessions after missing two three-point attempts, and Fournier blocked Moore’s last-second game-tying two-point attempt to send Duke to the ACC Championship. Hidalgo led the Irish’s fourth-quarter offensive efforts with nine points as the team shot just 6-19 from the field to close the game. The Duke Blue Devils will take on the winner of North Carolina/Louisville in Sunday’s ACC Championship. For the Irish, they now await their NCAA Tournament fate with Selection Sunday looming on March 15th. Through their late-season efforts, Notre Dame has proven they are a completely different team from just two months ago, when they went on a 1-4 stretch in mid-January. The NCAA Committee should respect this aspect of the Irish’s play with a 5-seed likely on the table.  Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo : 24 points (surpassed Skylar Diggins to become Notre Dame’s #2 all-time leading scorer) , 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, +2, 40 minutes played Cassandre Prosper : 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block, -3, 33 minutes played Gisela Sanchez : 4 points (2-2 FGs) , 2 steals, 1 block, +5, 18 minutes played Key Team Stats Field Goal Percentage: Duke (40%)  - ND (38%) Three Point Percentage: ND (33%)  - Duke (26%) Free Throw Percentage: ND (79%)  - Duke (55%) Turnovers: Duke (20)  - ND (14) Rebounds: Duke (47)  - ND (32) Second Chance Points: Duke (18)  - ND (6) Points in the Paint: Duke (38)  - ND (24) 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!

Inching closer toward the NFL draft, Notre Dame has some very intriguing players, and arguably the best player overall in the prospect pool. With the combine wrapped up, let's take a look at how former Notre Dame players performed and how their draft stock may have changed. Jeremiyah Love - Running Back Coming into this year's combine, Love had lofty expectations. Due to the talent and athleticism he shows in his tape, it was important for him to back it up with a good 40-time. As it was the only athletic testing he took part in, it made it that much more important that he impressed all the scouts watching. Love did just that. With a 4.36 40-time, Love set himself apart as not only the most talented back in the draft, but also one of the most athletic backs in recent memory. Everyone who had ever watched a Notre Dame game knew that Love was fast and explosive, but it is important to quantify just how fast he is. As it turns out, Love is plenty fast. Compared to the other great backs in the NFL, Love's 40 looks even better, assuring many that Love will be the NFL player many believe he could be. Jahmyr Gibbs, a star running back for the Lions known for his speed, ran the same time as Love during his combine despite Love weighing 13 pounds heavier. Love's time also beat out Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson's time, both of whom are considered to be among the best backs in the league. Besides the 40, Love only participated in the running drills, where he showed off his smooth and explosive ability to run the ball. Although Love was not very busy at the combine, he looked the part as the best running back in the draft, and could have possibly played himself into a top-five pick this April. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Jadarian Price - Running Back During the entire draft process, Jadarian Price has been under consideration for the second running back off the board. While it is unclear where exactly he'll land, it is likely that he will be a round two pick. Price may not have wowed anyone, but he did not do anything to hurt his stock and scare teams away from taking him to be a future starter in the NFL. When it comes to all the athletic testing, Price finished in the middle of the pack for most of them. At the 40-yard dash, Price ran a 4.49, a respectable time for a back that is not known for speed, but has shown more than enough burst to run away from defenders. While 4.49 is not anywhere close to the time Love ran, Price's time was still faster than the average 40 among running backs at the combine. It is important to remember that the 40 does not always tell the whole story about a player's speed. Price has never been a straight-line runner. He excels at reading a defense, making one cut, and then beating players down the field with his burst and strength. These are all things Price's film at Notre Dame shows, and the 40 does not. As for the other results, Price finished eighth among running backs in the vertical, posting a 35-inch best. In the broad jump, Price finished fourth with a jump of 10'4". In the bench press, where players see how many times they can lift 225 lbs, Price finished fourth, posting 21 reps. Price really started to shine in the running drills. Like Love, Price was finally able to show his natural and fluid running style. Price may not be the same caliber player as Love, but in those drills, he may have looked better than his Notre Dame counterpart. Malachi Fields - Wide Receiver Malachi Fields has been a huge riser throughout the entire draft process. Ever since the Senior Bowl, Fields has seen his name climb into some first-round projections. His incredible size and ability to track the ball in the air make him an interesting and potentially important pick for a team looking for a contested catch specialist. While Fields will almost certainly be a day-two pick, the combine may have put a slight dampener on his first-round potential. This is mainly due to his slow 40-time. Fields was never going to blow anyone away with his 40, but it would've helped to show scouts that he was faster than they would've expected. At a 4.61, Fields had the second-slowest 40-time of the combine among the receivers. For Fields, this will not make or break his draft. Speed is not why teams like what Fields can bring. They like him for his elite ability to high-point a football, box-out defenders for position on a pass, and win contested catches. Other than the 40, Fields performed well at the standing vertical. There, he jumped a 38.00", which was tied for 11th out of 30 participants, and at the broad jump, he registered a 10'4". To close out his combine, he finished with a 6.98s 3-cone drill and a 4.35s 20-yard shuttle. Overall, Fields will get drafted for a lot of things that the combine does not show. This is why some discredit the importance of the combine. Hopefully for Fields, the combine does not hurt his stock too much. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Eli Raridon - Tight End Raridon was one of the more underrated players on Notre Dame's offense last year. During this draft process, he is still flying under the radar as a late-day two or day-three pick. In this draft, Raridon is tied for the tallest tight end, which makes him an interesting option. At that size, Raridon still does not lack any explosiveness, as he proved with his 40-time. There, Raridon ran a very respectable 4.62. At that time, he will be more than fast enough to run effective routes in the NFL, especially with his huge frame. He continued to impress with his vertical jump of 36.00", tying him for sixth out of 18 participants. Raridon put on another good performance in the broad jump, where he posted a 10'3", good for fifth out of 18. For bench press, Raridon did post one of the lower numbers, pointing to one of the main concerns teams may have. Although tall, Raridon needs to add some weight to his frame. As a whole, Raridon performed well and looked like one of the most well-rounded tight ends in the class. Aamil Wagner - Offensive Line With a lot to potentially prove at the combine, Aamil Wagner did well to show his fast and athletic playing style. Starting with the 40-yard dash, Wagner ran a 5.01, ranking him 10th among all the offensive linemen who ran. Unfortunately for Wagner, the good performance in the 40 did not carry over to the bench press. There, Wagner posted the worst number of any offensive lineman with 21 reps. A number like this may be concerning for some NFL teams, who might worry that Wagner lacks the strength to hold up against NFL pass-rushers. Besides that, Wagner does present interesting potential because of his athleticism, primarily speed. In the vertical and broad jump, Wagner finished in the middle of the pack among all offensive linemen. One thing not seen on TV is the interviews that teams conduct with prospects at the combine. Here, Wagner most likely excelled with prospective teams. During his time at Notre Dame, it was well documented that off the field, Wagner was very impressive. Notre Dame's AD Pete Bevacqua even said he would not be surprised if he became president one day. His team also elected Wagner to be a captain during the 2025 season, another indicator of his leadership. 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 showed out in Friday’s ACC Quarterfinal matchup against NC State, dominating the Wolfpack 81-63 at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Following a decisive 69-54 Second Round win for Notre Dame against 12-seed Miami on Thursday, the Irish advanced to the Quarterfinals for a Friday matchup with four-seed NC State. The fifth-seeded Irish defeated NC State 79-67 in South Bend under a month ago on February 15th. Friday’s matchup marked NC State’s first ACC Tournament game after receiving First and Second Round byes. There is no question that, as of right now, Notre Dame is playing its best basketball of the season. Hannah Hidalgo and Iyana Moore combined for 45 points in the game, with Hidalgo’s 25 leading all scorers. Defensively, the Irish’s ability to force turnovers, including 10 steals, and holding the Wolfpack to just 4-19 shooting from three were keys to Notre Dame’s success on Friday. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Moore opened up the game’s scoring, scoring the first five points of the contest to give the Irish an early lead. Following some back-and-forth with Notre Dame leading 9-7 four minutes into the game, the Irish went on a 10-2 run with threes from Moore and Vanessa de Jesus to extend their advantage to 19-9 with 4:02 on the clock. NC State’s Qadence Samuels responded with a 5-0 stretch by herself to cut the Wolfpack’s deficit back to five with 2:37 to play in the quarter. After a couple of traded baskets, including a last-second NC State layup, the Irish held a 23-18 lead after one. Hidalgo and Moore paced the Irish offense with 10 points apiece in the first ten minutes, shooting a combined 8-11 from the field. Following nearly two minutes of no points to open the second quarter, the Irish exploded to begin the frame on a 13-4 run with another pair of threes from De Jesus and Moore helping extend Notre Dame’s lead to 36-22 with 4:19 on the clock. NC State was able to close the half on a 10-4 run led by Zoe Brooks to cut their halftime deficit to 40-32. The Irish combined for six steals in the second quarter, with Moore and De Jesus each grabbing a pair. Moore also led the Irish offense in the second with seven points, including her third three-pointer of the game, to push her halftime total to a team-high of 17. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame really took control in the third quarter, opening the half on a 20-4 stretch led by Hidalgo and Prosper that included a 10-0 run to begin the frame. At the 2:31 mark, the Irish held a 60-36 lead, asserting their dominance against the Wolfpack. NC State closed the quarter on a 5-2 run to cut the Irish lead to 62-41 with ten minutes to play. Prosper led the Irish with 11 points in a perfect-shooting quarter for the recently named ACC Most Improved Player as Notre Dame held the Wolfpack to just 3-10 shooting from the field. The Irish kept the momentum rolling into the fourth, opening the quarter on a 6-0 run featuring three different scorers that extended their lead to 27 with 8:19 to play. After KK Bransford hit a three to maintain the Irish’s 27-point lead with 5:31 left, NC State went on a 10-0 run featuring a couple of threes to make it a 74-57 game with 2:56 to play, but it would end up being too much for the Wolfpack to overcome. The Irish emptied their bench at the end with both teams trading a couple of baskets, securing Notre Dame’s 81-63 ACC Quarterfinal victory. Bransford led the Irish scoring efforts in the final frame with six points, including the mentioned three-pointer and a converted and-one opportunity.  Five-seed Notre Dame continues their quest at the 2026 ACC Championship during Saturday’s Semifinal against top-seeded Duke at 12 EST. The Irish will be seeking revenge on a Blue Devils squad that handled them 82-68 in Durham on January 4th. Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo : 25 points (12-20 FGs) , 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, +28, 32 minutes played Iyana Moore : 20 points (4-9 3FGs, 4-4 FTs) , 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, +18, 38 minutes played Cassandre Prosper : 13 points (5-9 FGs, 1-2 3FGs) , 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, +31, 30 minutes played Key Team Stats Field Goal Percentage: ND (48%) - NC St. (42%) Three Point Percentage: ND (36%) - NC St. (21%) Free Throw Percentage: ND (82%) - NC St. (65%) Turnovers: NC St. (17) - ND (10) 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!

Notre Dame knocked off the Miami Hurricanes 69-54 on Thursday afternoon in an ACC Tournament Second Round matchup at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The fifth-seeded Irish, winners of five straight to close out the regular season, squared off with 12-seed Miami on Thursday to open ACC Tournament play. The Hurricanes defeated 13-seed Stanford on Wednesday in a First Round tilt that required overtime to advance to Thursday’s Second Round. Notre Dame received a First Round bye, and most recently defeated Miami in South Bend 74-66 on January 22nd. Before the game, Hannah Hidalgo was recognized and received her ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards for the second consecutive season. She showed why she was deserving of these honors with a 28-point and 5-steal performance in which she set a new single-season ACC record for steals. A dominant second quarter, highlighted by elite defense, ultimately proved too much for the Hurricanes to handle as Notre Dame advanced to the Quarterfinals. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! A competitive first quarter saw both sides tied at four under a minute into the contest after the ACC’s two-time Player of the Year, Hannah Hidalgo, knocked down a short jumper. The Hurricanes then went on a 10-5 run featuring a couple of threes that put Miami ahead 14-9 with 4:47 on the clock. The Irish were able to respond strongly, closing the quarter on a 14-5 stretch led by Hidalgo and Prosper to take a 23-19 lead into the second frame. Hidalgo and the ACC’s Most Improved Player, Prosper, combined for 18 of the Irish’s 23 points, both scoring nine on 4-7 shooting from the field to open the game.  The second quarter was all defense, and all Notre Dame. The Irish out-scored the Hurricanes 14-4 in the frame, taking total control of the game as the Hurricanes shot just 2-11 from the field in the second. Notre Dame opened the quarter on a 7-0 run featuring four different scorers that pushed the Irish lead to 30-19 with 4:08 to play. The Irish held Miami scoreless for the first 6:12 of the quarter before the ‘Canes went on a quick 4-0 stretch to cut their deficit back to single digits; however, these would be their only baskets of the quarter. Notre Dame closed the quarter on another 7-0 run featuring three different scorers that pushed their halftime lead to 37-23. Hidalgo’s five points and two steals paced the Irish in the second quarter as Iyana Moore contributed four points on a pair of baskets. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets, with Miami able to cut their deficit to 45-33 4:26 into the frame. This is when the Irish went on a 6-0 run led by Hidalgo with four points that extended Notre Dame’s lead to 18, 51-33, with 3:46 on the clock. Giving Hidalgo a rest on the bench, Miami went on a quick 5-0 burst in 1:38 with the star catching her breath. She made sure to get those points back when she checked back in, ending the quarter with six straight points as the Irish out-scored the ‘Canes 7-2 in the last 1:41 of the frame. Hidalgo converted an and-one opportunity to close the quarter, extending the Irish lead to 58-40 heading into the fourth. The Irish PG tallied a game-high 12 points on 5-6 shooting from the field in the third. Notre Dame gave fans a bit of a panic attack in the fourth, allowing Miami to open the quarter on a 10-0 run to cut the Irish lead down to 58-50. After going scoreless the first 5:39 of the quarter, Gisela Sanchez was able to kickstart a 6-0 stretch with a big-time three to help extend the Irish lead to 14 with 2:42 to play, officially putting the game out of reach for Miami. The Irish out-scored the Hurricanes 5-4 to close the game with Moore nailing a shot-clock buzzer-beating three in the final seconds to secure Notre Dame’s 69-54 win. Moore led Irish scorers in a tough offensive quarter with four points as the team shot 4-13 in the final frame. Five-seed Notre Dame advances to the ACC Quarterfinals to take on the four-seed NC State Wolfpack on Friday at 1:30 PM EST. The Irish’s first of their current six-game winning streak came against the Wolfpack in South Bend on February 15th, when they defeated NC State 79-67. The matchup also represents a rematch of the 2024 ACC Championship, where a freshman Hannah Hidalgo led the Irish to a victory as she was named Tournament MVP.  Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo : 28 points (12-22 FGs, 2-2 3FGs) , 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals (broke ACC single-season record) , +17, 37 minutes played Cassandre Prosper : 12 points, 2 blocks, +12, 34 minutes played Malaya Cowles : 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, +10, 34 minutes played Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage: ND (46%) - Miami (46%) Three Point Percentage: Miami (31%) - ND (29%) Free Throw Percentage: ND (53%) - Miami (42%) Turnovers: Miami (18) - ND (12) Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The Holtz family has announced the passing of former Head Football Coach, National Champion, and College Football Icon, Lou Holtz. The Irish Tribune wishes to celebrate Lou Holtz's legacy by sharing an excerpt from a past article, which highlights his many accomplishments and astounding career with the Fighting Irish. Lou Holtz will forever be remembered as a beacon of joy and passion for Notre Dame fans and alumni everywhere. May he rest in peace. Lou Holtz’s relationship with Notre Dame didn’t begin on the field or in attending classes on campus. Instead, he was a longtime admirer and fan of the program. His admiration grew when he began his coaching career, and the hallowed head coach position at the University of Notre Dame became his dream job. After making a name for himself coaching the Arkansas Razorbacks for 7 seasons, Holtz was offered the top spot at the University of Minnesota, which he accepted with only one stipulation. He requested a clause in the agreement that would release him immediately from his contract if Notre Dame, and only Notre Dame, came knocking.  Thankfully for everyone, they did, and Holtz was officially named the next head coach at Notre Dame for the 1986 season. He inherited a struggling program, desperate to return to the glory of years past but struggling to find its footing. With everything stacked against him, Holtz arrived in South Bend with a new vision for the former powerhouse and immediately made his mark. He decided to remove the names on the back of player jerseys to foster a team-first mentality over individual accomplishments. Outside of a few postseason exceptions, Holtz’s nameless jerseys have remained a staple of the program’s tradition and were only the beginning of his contributions to its history.  The 1986 season was a baptism of sorts for Holtz, posting a 5-6 record. Despite the poor start, the season was encouraging, with 5/6 losses coming by single digits. These losses came against #3  Michigan (23-24), Michigan State (15-20), #2  Alabama (10-28), Pitt (9-10), #3  Penn State (19-24), and #8  LSU (19-21). In the final game of the season, Notre Dame stunned USC, mounting a 17-point come-from-behind 4th quarter victory, squeezing by the Trojans (38-37). While his first season was a losing one, the Irish fought several tough breaks, and Holtz managed to beat USC in his first go. Holtz’s second season was an improvement, with the Irish going 8-1 through their first 9 games, beating #9  Michigan at the Big House, #17  Michigan State, USC, and #10  Alabama. Despite starting strong, the Irish dropped their final 3 games, falling to Penn State in a (20-21) heartbreaker, a crushing (0-24) loss against Miami to end the regular season, and a (10-35) loss in the Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M. While most were left reeling from the late season collapse, Holtz again saw promise and potential in his squad, and Irish fans were left to dry their tears with Tim Brown’s 1987 Heisman Trophy. After only two years in South Bend, 1988 was when everything finally clicked for Holtz and the Irish. Notre Dame began the season as the #13  team in the polls and an underdog in their opening game against #9  Michigan. The Irish struggled mightily on offense, failing to score a single touchdown and forced to lean on their defense and special teams. Their only points came from an 81-yard Ricky Watters punt return for a touchdown and 3 field goals from walk-on kicker Reggie Ho. Down 2 points and the game on the line, Notre Dame’s fate hung on the leg of Ho as he lined up for his 4th attempt of the day and only 1:13 left on the clock. Just as they had all day, the Irish special teams rose to the occasion and knocked a 4th kick through the uprights to steal the game (19-17). After narrowly escaping disaster, Holtz and his squad responded by handily dispatching Michigan State (20-3) before crushing Purdue (52-7) the week after. Now in full stride, the Irish added wins against Stanford (42-21) and Pitt (30-20) to bring their record to 5-0 as they stared down the barrel of their biggest challenge yet. On October 15th, Jimmy Johnson and the #1  Miami Hurricanes arrived in South Bend to face off against the #4  Fighting Irish. The reigning National Champions brought plenty of hype and cockiness with them, but instead of intimidating Holtz and his squad, it fueled them. Just before kickoff, simmering tensions boiled over when both teams encountered one another in the tunnel, leading to an all-out brawl that only ended when police intervened. Miami’s opening drive ended with a fumble, allowing the Irish to strike first on a 12-play 75-yard touchdown drive. The Hurricanes responded quickly with a touchdown of their own, but an 80-yard drive ending with a Tony Rice touchdown pass put the Irish up once again. Only 4 plays later, Irish Safety Pat Terrell snagged a tipped ball and returned it 60 yards for a score, extending the Irish lead to 14. The Hurricanes scored 2 quick touchdowns in the final minutes of the 2nd quarter and levelled the score at (21-21) just before the half. Notre Dame’s defense came up big on Miami’s first play of the 3rd quarter, forcing a fumble to give the Irish offense a short field. They capitalized with a rushing touchdown and later added a Reggie Ho field goal to extend their lead to 10 as the 4th quarter began. A Miami field goal cut Notre Dame’s lead to 7, and a quick defensive stop gave them the ball back about halfway through the 4th. After marching deep into Irish territory, Miami’s drive culminated in a 4th & 7 red zone situation. They initially converted on a pass over the middle but controversially fumbled the ball on Notre Dame’s 1-yard line, just a yard shy of tying the game and their 7th turnover of the day. Shortly after the momentum swing, Tony Rice was stripped on Notre Dame’s 14, giving the Hurricanes yet another chance to decide the game. This time, Miami would capitalize on the turnover with a 4th down touchdown pass, drawing within a point of the Irish. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie, head coach Jimmy Johnson decided to go for the death blow and try for a 2-point conversion. Once again, Pat Terrell saved the day, knocking down a last-ditch toss to the back corner of the end zone, sealing the win for the Irish and snapping Miami’s 36-game regular-season win streak. The game became an instant classic, dubbed “Catholics vs Convicts”, and is still considered one of the greatest games in college football history. After knocking off the #1  team in the country, the Irish improved to #2  in the polls and would continue their campaign with wins over Air Force (41-13), Navy (22-7), Rice (54-11), and Penn State (21-3) before their final regular-season game against their biggest rival. #1  Notre Dame entered its annual contest with #2  USC, looking to cap off their season with a statement. For the first time in the rivalry’s history, both sides entered the matchup undefeated, but with the game in LA, Notre Dame was considered the underdog. The Irish jumped out to an early lead with 2 first-quarter rushing touchdowns, with one coming via a 65-yard Tony Rice scramble that gave him his 9th rushing score of the season. The score made Rice the first QB since Irish legend Paul Hornung in 1956 to lead the team in rushing. The Irish defense piled on, scoring on a pick-six, and forced 4 USC turnovers to put the Trojans away (27-10). The 11-0 Irish earned a shot at the National Title, heading to the Fiesta Bowl to face #3  West Virginia. Both teams entered the matchup at their peak; the Mountaineers were the best team WVU had ever fielded, and the Irish brought a #1  ranking into a postseason bowl game for the first time ever. Notre Dame stunned the Mountaineers by scoring twice in the 1st quarter, once via an Anthony Johnson rush with a missed PAT, and the second on a 45-yard field goal. West Virginia only managed 2 FGs in the 2nd quarter, while the Irish padded the lead with another rushing score and a 30-yard dagger from Tony Rice to The Rocket, sending the game into halftime with a lopsided (23-6) score. The Mountaineers put up their first touchdown in the 3rd quarter, while Notre Dame added a field goal to bring the score to (26-13). Both sides traded touchdown passes and 2-point conversions in the 4th, but the Irish defense stepped up like they had all season, and put the game out of reach with a late interception in WVU’s end zone. Notre Dame held on to beat West Virginia (34-21). This win gave Lou Holtz his first National Championship, the program’s 11th, and its first since 1978. Holtz joined Leahy, Parseghian, and Devine by winning it all in his 3rd season in South Bend, and he was awarded the Coach of the Year by three different presenters. The 1988 team is considered one of the greatest of all time, going undefeated, beating 10/12 opposing teams by double digits, and taking down the #2 , #4 , #5 , and #7  ranked teams at the end of the season. Following the 1996 season, Holtz announced his retirement from the game, finishing his time at Notre Dame with a .765 win percentage, a 100-30-2 record, and 1 National Title. In 11 seasons with the Irish, Holtz took the program to 9 bowl games, winning 5 of them, and posted only 1 losing season. He coached Notre Dame’s last Heisman Trophy winner (Tim Brown), 3 College Football Hall of Fame inductees (Tim Brown, Raghib “The Rocket” Ismael, and Chris Zorich), 10 all-Americans, and sent more than 70 Irish players to the NFL.  Holtz inherited a downtrodden program struggling to find its footing after the disappointment of Gerry Faust’s tenure and remains the most modern example of Notre Dame’s success and potential. The Irish owe their last National Title and Heisman Trophy to Holtz, and his mark on the program’s legacy continues to this day. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and the University unveiled a statue of his likeness on campus in the same year. Right until the end, Holtz remained ever-present in coverage of his beloved Fighting Irish and holds a special place in the heart of South Bend’s lore, forever stoking the fire of Notre Dame’s pride. .

On Tuesday, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced its 2025-26 regular season award winners and, once again, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo stole the show after earning her second ACC Player of the Year and third ACC Defensive Player of the Year awards. Graphics via Notre Dame Athletics Hidalgo becomes the first-ever ACC Women’s Basketball player to earn both POY and DPOY honors in back-to-back seasons. With back-to-back POY awards, she is now one shy of tying the record for the most ever in the ACC, most recently set by Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech). Additionally, her three straight DPOY awards put her on track to tie Elizabeth Williams’s (Duke) record of four consecutive ACC DPOY honors.  During the preseason, many analysts and some fans expected a “down year” this winter following the losses of Olivia Miles, Sonia Citron, Maddy Westbeld, and many others. Irish Head Coach Niele Ivey and Hidalgo still managed to reach 20 wins and a top-five seed in the ACC Tournament. The Irish, undoubtedly led by their star PG, are playing their best basketball of the season entering postseason play, having won seven of their last eight games, including five straight to close out the season, highlighted by the season-finale upset at #10 Louisville. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! This season, the 5-6 junior from New Jersey went on to lead the conference in points and steals by a wide margin. Meanwhile, ‘Grand Theft’ Hidalgo was seemingly making history or breaking a new record in every game. Below, find the PG’s stats, accomplishments, and other notable items from this season: Stats: 25.2 Points per Game ; led ACC, 2nd-most averages 19.3 PPG  9 30-plus point games this season led the ACC 5.6 Steals per Game ; led ACC, 2nd-most averages 2.6 SPG, 83 more steals than the 2nd-most 36.1 Minutes per Game ; 3rd in ACC 5.4 Assists per Game ; 4th in ACC 83.4% Free Throw Percentage ; 7th in ACC, only player in the top-ten with more than 157 attempts 47.7% Field Goal Percentage ; 8th in ACC, only player in the top-13 with more than 407 attempts 1.7 Assist-to-Turnover Ratio ; 13th in ACC 6.3 Rebounds per Game ; 20th in ACC 3 games with at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals - the rest of the country has combined for 2 such games Accomplishments: Fastest player in ACC and Notre Dame history to reach 2,000 career points Broke Notre Dame career steals record Broke Notre Dame single-season steals record Broke Notre Dame career record for consecutive 10-plus point games (active) Broke Notre Dame career record for 20-plus point games Broke Notre Dame career record for 30-plus point games  Seven-Time ACC Player of the Week; most in a single-season, no other player won it more than once Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Single-Game ACC Records: 44 points ( vs Akron ) - most points scored by an ACC player this season; most points scored in Notre Dame history 16 field goals made ( vs Akron & at Stanford ) - most field goals made by an ACC player this season 16 steals ( vs Akron ) - set all-time DI record for steals in a game Owns six of the top eight games for most steals in a game by an ACC player this season ( 13 vs Bellarmine; 11 at SMU ) Notable Performances: 11/09/25 vs Chicago St. - 32 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 26 minutes 11/12/25 vs Akron - 44 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 16 steals, 27 minutes 12/11/25 vs Morehead St. - 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 steals, 1 block 12/21/25 vs Bellarmine - 30 points ( 76.5 FG% ), 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 13 steals, 22 minutes 12/29/25 vs Pitt - 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals 01/01/26 at Georgia Tech - 26 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 8 steals 01/11/26 vs North Carolina - 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 steals, 1 block 01/22/26 vs Miami (FL) - 27 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 10 steals 01/25/26 vs Clemson - 30 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 8 steals 02/01/26 at Stanford - 37 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals 02/22/26 at SMU - 31 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 11 steals 03/01/26 at Louisville - 30 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals 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!

Notre Dame picked up an enormous win on Sunday, upsetting the 10th-ranked Louisville Cardinals on the road. With the Irish’s 65-62 victory, they have earned the 5th-seed in the ACC Tournament and enter the postseason playing their best basketball with five straight wins. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame (19-9; 11-6) faced a tall task on Sunday as nearly 11-point underdogs at Louisville (25-5; 15-2). With a win, the Cardinals would have completed a season sweep of the Irish and would earn a split of the regular season ACC Championship with Duke. Hannah Hidalgo spoiled those dreams, recording 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a big-time momentum win heading into the most important time of the season. With just four Notre Dame players scoring in the win, nine made three-pointers compared to seven from Louisville proved to be the difference. Louisville kicked off a low-scoring first quarter for both sides with an early 4-0 lead. The Cardinals held the Irish scoreless for the first 4:26 of the game before Hidalgo finally got the Irish on the board with a layup. Following another minute-plus stretch with no scoring, the Cardinals went on a 5-0 run capped with a three from Mackenly Randolph to take a 9-2 lead with 3:11 left in the quarter. After 3:44 of the Irish going scoreless, Malaya Cowles was able to hit a layup to cut the deficit to five with just under two minutes on the clock. With 1:14 left, Louisville’s Imari Berry converted an and-one opportunity to complete a three-point play that put the Cardinals ahead 12-4. The Irish were able to avoid complete disaster when Vanessa de Jesus nailed a three with 37 seconds left to tie the Irish’s season-low mark for scoring in one quarter with seven points. Louisville would lead 12-7 after one, as the Irish shot 3-14 from the field to open the game.  I do not know what flipped, but the second quarter was all Notre Dame, with the three-ball falling over and over again. After Louisville hit two free throws to open the quarter’s scoring, De Jesus and Iyana Moore buried back-to-back threes to immediately put the Irish right back in the game, trailing just 13-14 1:43 into the frame. Berry was able to make a mid-range jumper to extend Louisville’s lead to three, but Hidalgo responded in a big way for the Irish, going on an 8-0 run by herself, featuring a converted and-one opportunity and a three-pointer that handed Notre Dame its first lead of the game, 21-16 with 5:05 on the clock. Berry was able to knock down a three for the Cardinals, but the Irish responded with a big 10-0 run, with four points from Hidalgo and threes from De Jesus and Moore, to extend their lead to 31-19 with 2:54 left. Berry hit another three to cut the home squad’s lead to nine, but wouldn’t you know it, De Jesus responded with her third three of the quarter to maintain the Irish’s 12-point advantage. Following a couple of traded baskets in the final minute, including two made free throws by Hidalgo, Notre Dame entered the halftime break with a 36-24 lead. The Irish out-scored Louisville 29-12 in the second quarter, shooting 6-6 from three as Hidalgo and De Jesus combined for 21 of the team’s 29 points. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Top-ten ranked Louisville would not go away without a fight, though. They opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run to cut the Irish lead to 38-33 with 5:41 on the clock. The Irish were able to follow that up with a quick 5-0 run begun off a three by Moore that extended the Notre Dame lead to ten. With Hidalgo on the bench to catch her breath, Louisville took advantage of two Irish turnovers and converted back-to-back threes to cut their deficit to just four, 45-41, with 1:36 left. Unsurprisingly, Hidalgo immediately checked back in. In the final minute, Hidalgo outscored Louisville’s Tajianna Roberts 5-4, featuring a buzzer-beater three that sent the Irish into the final quarter with a 50-45 advantage. Hidalgo led the Irish’s offensive efforts in the third with a team-high seven points as just one of the three Notre Dame players to score during the frame. Hidalgo opened up the fourth quarter with a layup off a steal by De Jesus to put the Irish ahead by seven. However, Louisville countered with a 7-0 run that tied the game at 52 with 7:37 to play. Following a made shot by Moore that put the Irish back up by two, the Irish pulled Hidalgo from 6:52 - 4:44 with four fouls. The Cardinals took advantage, going on an 8-2 run during this stretch to take a 60-56 lead. When Hidalgo re-entered after the media timeout, she took over, pacing the Irish on a 7-0 run where she had five points as Notre Dame took a 63-60 lead with 2:10 to play. Following a shooting foul by Moore, Louisville was able to make it a 63-62 game with 54 seconds to play. At the 14-second mark, Hidalgo secured her fifth and most important steal, and the Irish’s upset victory. She would make a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining to push the visitors’ lead to three, 65-62. Louisville would turn the ball over on the next possession after throwing the ball to the other sideline on a sideline out-of-bounds play. However, the Irish would give it right back after failing to successfully inbounds the ball, with De Jesus throwing the ball off Hidalgo’s ankles and out of bounds. Fortunately, Louisville’s potential game-tying shot came up short, and the Irish were able to lock down their biggest win of the season in their finale. Hidalgo led all fourth quarter scorers with nine points on 3-3 shooting from the field as Notre Dame led 65-62 with the buzzer sounding. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame wraps up the regular season with a 20-9 overall record and 12-6 in ACC play. The Irish will be the 5th seed in this season’s ACC Tournament and are set to face the winner of the 12/13 seed game on March 5 at 1:30 PM EST. Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo : 30 points (9-13 FGs, 2-3 3FGs, 10-10 FTs) , 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, +15, 36 minutes played Vanessa de Jesus : 14 points (4-7 3FGs) , 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, +6, 36 minutes played Key Team Stats Field Goal Percentage: LOU (41%) - ND (40%) Three Point Percentage: ND (47%) - LOU (32%) Free Throw Percentage: LOU (92%) - ND (91%) Bench Points: LOU (18) - ND (0) 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!

Notre Dame Women’s Basketball extended their win streak to four on Thursday night after defeating Syracuse 72-62 while celebrating the Fighting Irish’s seniors. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame (18-9; 10-6) welcomed Syracuse (21-6; 11-5) to Purcell Pavilion for the Irish’s regular-season home finale and Senior Night. The Irish celebrated the following eight players prior to the game: KK Bransford, Malaya Cowles, Vanessa de Jesus, Iyana Moore, Cassandre Prosper, Gisela Sanchez, Jordyn Smith, and Bella Tehrani. The Irish trio of Hannah Hidalgo, Prosper, and Cowles led the charge all night, combining for 56 of the team’s 72 points. While the three-pointer was not falling on Thursday, the Irish did a good job of winning in the paint, and their ability to finish on Syracuse’s mistakes was enough to give Notre Dame the victory. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The first quarter was a tightly-contested affair with no team able to separate itself by more than one possession. Syracuse’s Laila Phelia helped the Orange to an early 6-3 lead with a couple of quick buckets about 2:30 into the game. The Irish were then able to capitalize on some Syracuse mistakes, and a made layup by Prosper off a turnover put the Irish up 9-6 halfway through the quarter. The Orange then profited from a couple of Irish misses and regained a three-point, 16-13, lead with 1:28 on the clock. In the last minute, Hannah Hidalgo took over with back-to-back steals leading to layups for the Irish star. Bransford added on a last-second layup to give the Irish a 19-16 lead after one quarter. Hidalgo led the way in the first ten minutes with a team-high eight points and four steals. After Syracuse’s Phelia knocked down a quick jumper to open the second quarter, Prosper and Bransford led the Irish on a 6-0 run to put the home team on top 25-18 just 2:10 into the frame. The Orange were able to respond, though, putting together an 8-0 run, including two made threes, which put the visitors in front 26-25 with 6:26 remaining in the quarter. After some traded buckets, Hidalgo took advantage of a bad Syracuse pass and nailed her second-chance opportunity to put Notre Dame ahead 31-28 with 4:11 left. The Orange were able to retake the lead following a couple of Irish turnovers, holding a 32-31 advantage with 3:28 on the clock. The Irish defense locked down at this point, holding Syracuse without a point for the rest of the half. The offense was able to take advantage with a 6-0 run to close the quarter, with four points from Hidalgo, including a layup in the final seconds. Hidalgo and Prosper led the way offensively in the second, tying for a team-high six points, as Notre Dame entered the break holding a 37-32 lead. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame started off the second half on a 6-1 run in the first two minutes to extend their lead to 43-33. Both teams then went cold, with multiple turnovers by both sides, creating a 2:18 stretch with a Syracuse layup being the only made shot. Hidalgo was able to draw a foul and knocked down both of her free throws to regain a ten-point lead with 5:57 on the clock. The Orange then decided to make their second-half push. The visitors proceeded to go on a 7-0 run led by Phelia with four points, which cut the Irish lead to 45-42 with 4:14 on the clock. Hidalgo was able to hit a quick jumper to push the Irish lead back to two possessions, but the Orange were not finished. They then went on a 6-0 run with four points from Uche Izoje, but the mid-range from Phelia with 37 seconds left in the quarter was the shot that put the Orange in the lead, 48-47. Fortunately, Cowles was able to finish a clutch layup with nine seconds left to give the Irish a 49-48 advantage heading into the final quarter. Hidalgo’s six points and three steals led the Irish in a third quarter that saw the Notre Dame offense struggle. The Irish were able to carry the momentum from the Cowles lead-changing basket at the end of the third into the fourth with a 5-0 run that was capped with a big-time three from De Jesus that extended Notre Dame’s lead to 54-48 just 1:10 into the quarter. After a pair of traded baskets, Moore was able to come up with a clutch steal off of a bad Syracuse pass that led to a De Jesus mid-range make, pushing the Irish lead to 60-52 with 6:04 remaining. Following a Syracuse second-chance basket and timeout, Moore nailed a three to put the Irish up by nine, 63-54, with 5:13 to play. Both offenses then went cold again, failing to score for 2:07 before back-to-back-to-back possessions featuring baskets cut Notre Dame’s lead to six, 65-59, with 2:30 left. Coming off a timeout by Syracuse, Hidalgo was able to finish through contact and converted the and-one opportunity to put Notre Dame ahead 68-59 with 2:11 to play. Cowles was then able to make Syracuse pay for a traveling violation with a tough layup that extended Notre Dame’s lead to a game-high of 11 points. After a final-minute foul-fest, Notre Dame had secured a 72-62 Senior night win. Hidalgo’s offense led the way in the fourth, with a team-high seven points and four assists. Notre Dame improves to 19-9 and 11-6 in the ACC with just one regular season game remaining. The Irish head to Louisville (24-5; 14-2) for a big-time regular-season finale on March 1 at 4 PM EST. Coach Niele Ivey, Hidalgo, and co. will be seeking revenge on the Cardinals after they handled the Irish 79-66 in South Bend on January 15. Irish Stars: Hannah Hidalgo : 27 points (11-21 FGs), 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 steals, 1 block, +10, 40 minutes played Cassandre Prosper : 16 points (7-13 FGs, 2-2 FTs), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, +12, 36 minutes played Malaya Cowles : 13 points (5-8 FGs), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block, +7, 33 minutes played Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage: ND (47%) - SU (39%) Three Point Percentage: SU (20%) - ND (15%) Free Throw Percentage: SU (80%) - ND (75%) Turnovers: SU (22) - ND (15) Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

While Jeremiyah Love seems to be a surefire top-10 pick, Jadarian Price's name will likely be called early on day two, or perhaps even at the end of day one. The question now becomes, where does he land, and what kind of player is that team getting? It seems likely that Notre Dame's former two-headed monster will be the first two running backs taken in the NFL draft. Like Love, Price has been incredibly productive and efficient in the snaps he was given at Notre Dame. Even while being second-string to Love at Notre Dame, Price has still caught the attention of every NFL scout, enough to have him considered as the second-best running back in the class. It is not only a glowing endorsement of the running back room Notre Dame had, but it also shows just how special Price is, even if he does not always get the same attention as Love. Price burst onto the scene at Notre Dame during the first game of the 2024 season. In that game, Price hit on the Irish's first big play of the season when he broke a run loose for 47-yards against Texas A&M. That play was the first in a long list of incredible runs by Price that all Irish fans quickly grew accustomed to during his career in South Bend. In that season, Price went on to run for 746 yards, seven touchdowns, and averaged just over six yards per carry. It was this unselfish, impressive, and pivotal season by Price that put Notre Dame's RB room on the map as one of the best in the country. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! In 2025, Price continued his excellent performance, making it clear that Notre Dame had claimed the title for the best RB room in college football. While it was tainted by a couple of costly fumbles, Price reinforced his consistent ability to run hard, break tackles, and find lanes to the second and third levels of the defense. Price's carries did drop a bit in 2025, but he still managed to finish with 674 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six yards per carry. Although Price might not have the other-worldly athleticism and burst of Love, Price has a lot of qualities that NFL teams would be lucky to have. First, Price has the perfect NFL body to survive in the fast, hard-hitting nature of the league. Standing at 5'11" and 210 pounds, Price has a stout build, making him a physical runner that is hard to bring down. With that size, Price still has the speed and acceleration to finish plays and find his way to the end zone. Secondly, Price has incredibly fast feet. Price became known at Notre Dame for his ability to navigate the line of scrimmage, bounce a run to the outside, and then beat defenders to the end zone. It was plays like this that displayed just how smooth and fluid a runner Price is. Lastly, Price projects to be an excellent and effective kick returner, which has become much more important due to rule changes in the NFL. Now that NFL teams return more kickoffs, an explosive returner like Price brings extra value to a player who is already getting high-pick considerations. Price is projected anywhere from the tail end of the first round to the beginning of the third round, giving him a lot of potential landing spots. While it is hard to pin down an exact spot that he could land, here are a few teams that could be looking to improve at the running back position this draft. Round 2, Pick 59/Round 3, Pick 69: Houston Texans The Houston Texans have some questions to answer this offseason when it comes to the running back room. While Joe Mixon is still under contract, there is some uncertainty about whether he will be a Texan next season. Mixon missed most of last season due to an injury. Injuries have been plaguing Mixon for years, and at his age, the Texans could stand to get younger and a lot cheaper at the running back position. That is why Price could be a viable option for them in the late second and early third. The Texans have already found success in their young running back Woody Marks, and with Price, they could form a young and talented room for years. In today's NFL, many teams look to accomplish success in the run game with 2-3 running backs. Neither Price nor Marks are "bell-cow" running backs, but they are both more than good enough to build a strong committee of runners in Houston. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Round 2, Pick 62: Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are in huge need of a running back after a very strong season that was ended in the AFC Championship. With such a strong team, it is now their job to reinforce their weaker positions to ensure they can make another run, hopefully this time ending in a Super Bowl. One position that they will give a lot of attention to is the running back position. RJ Harvey showed promise this past season, but J.K. Dobbins is set to become a free agent, making the Broncos incredibly thin at running back. Price could be an option for them late in the second round, which could bring some big-play ability to this offense. If the Broncos do not sign a running back in free agency, Price would pair nicely with Harvey. Harvey is a physical, bruising runner who chips away at a defense five yards at a time. While Price does have some of that, he is really looking to hit on a big play after making a defender or two miss. Big plays were a huge focus for the Broncos last season, as their offense would sometimes become bogged down. Price could come in and immediately be a difference maker in that role. The Texans and the Broncos are two of the main teams that could be looking to draft Price in the late second and into the early third, but any team could really be an option for Price. Teams are constantly making moves to get younger and cheaper at positions, especially at running back. Free agency will give a lot of insight into which team may still be looking to draft a running back. Price projects to instantly become a contributing part of the rushing attack and a dangerous return man. In the future, Price does have the potential and talent to be an established starter in the NFL. All of that makes him a coveted prospect in a draft that is weak at the running back position. 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!

CJ Carr’s 2025 season put two traits on tape: pre-snap command that expanded over time, and boundary/vertical arm talent that let Notre Dame stress defenses from the far hash. The arc shows up clearly when you evaluate points from the beginning, middle and end of the year—and if you look at how the offense asked Carr to operate before the snap and where the ball went after it. Photo by Maysum Hassanali The Early-Season Baseline: Pre-Snap Routine Under the Microscope Texas A&M became the early reference point because the conversation around Carr wasn’t only about his decisions but also about pre-snap information. Postgame reporting focused on a stance tendency that correlated with run versus dropback and gave the defense a cleaner pre-snap picture than Notre Dame wanted.  Quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli later acknowledged “tendencies,” described them as addressed, and framed it as a fix-and-move-forward item.  That week serves as a useful starting point. Carr still threw for 293 yards on 32 attempts against A&M. However, the offense had to spend part of the early season tightening the pre-snap operation—specifically, presentation, cadence consistency, and process—so defences received fewer tells before the ball was snapped . Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Arkansas: The First Game Where “Command” Shows Up on the Drive Chart and the Throw Chart Two weeks later, Carr’s trip to Arkansas marked the first game where the tape and the stat line both read “in control.” He went 22-of-30 for 354 yards with four touchdowns and no picks.  UHND’s recap framed it as “Carr in Control” and pointed to the late-half sequencing that buried Arkansas: a short TD to Jeremiyah Love, followed by a 35-yard screen TD to Jadarian Price right before halftime. From a quarterbacking standpoint, Arkansas is where the pre-snap layer becomes visible in the structure of the offense. You see more snaps where motion forces leverage and rotation tells, and you see Carr cash those tells quickly—screens into perimeter looks, intermediate concepts into favorable shells, and boundary shots when the corner’s leverage was inside or off, and safety depth invited it. Arkansas is also the cleanest single-game evidence bank for Carr’s arm talent.  Notre Dame very neatly packaged all 354 passing yards into a single “shortest to longest” compilation. And when you tag those throws, the recurring theme is stress: intermediate timing windows, movement out of the backfield, deep placement, and several opportunities to drive the football outside the numbers. The Season-Wide Profile Across 2025, he posted 63 completions of 15+ yards and 31 completions of 25+ yards. That’s enough volume to treat “medium-to-deep” as a defining trait rather than an occasional highlight, especially given the offense’s reliance on a 1A-1B run game with Love and Price.  It is surely something that Freeman & Co. will gameplan around come this fall.  The next step is locating where those gains live on the field. For Carr, the most translatable subset is throws outside the numbers—far-hash outs/comebacks, boundary hole shots, and vertical sideline work—because those throws compress the defense’s margin for error. When your OC trusts you with those reads, defenses play on their back foot. And those throws correlate with his developed comfort pre-snap: protection communication has to be clean, and the picture has to be understood quickly, because boundary concepts are timing concepts.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle November: The Late-Season Boundary/Vertical Throw Arrives with Efficiency Boston College offers a late-season snapshot where the volume is modest, but the damage is heavy: Carr was 18-of-25 for 299 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. A review of the film shows many downfield throws, too, including a 44-yard touchdown to Will Pauling towards the seam and a 40-yard TD to Malachi Fields on a ball thrown with touch.   Those are the kinds of plays that show up when an offense, particularly Carr, Coach Guidugli, and Coach Denbrock are comfortable calling vertical concepts into the right shell and comfortable letting Carr execute with timing and placement. Stanford, two weeks later, adds another late-season “toolbox” indicator: 205 yards on 27 attempts with two touchdowns, no picks, and a long of 54.  The film value here sits in two categories: a deep completion that demands placement, and a handful of snaps where you can see pre-snap ID translate into post-snap answers—hot/replace throws, quick boundary access, or an intermediate concept triggered by a favorable leverage look.  We would have seen more of the offensive scheme at play had Notre Dame been encouraged to widen the scoring margin, but the Committee suggested that need not be the case. The Throughline: Expanded Pre-Snap Confidence Forces Defenses to Change Their Strategy The season’s pre-snap story starts with an early tendency that drew attention and a coaching staff that treated it as correctable.  It continues with a mid-September performance at Arkansas, where sequencing, tempo, and a wide menu of throws suggest an offense operating with clearer pre-snap information and Carr with more confidence.  By November, the late-season efficiency games feature an increase in strikes down-the-field and consistent explosive production at a rate supported by every situational stat available. That combination—pre-snap clarity plus a boundary-capable arm—shapes how defenses have to play Notre Dame in 2026. Corners can’t sit on the short stuff.  Safeties can’t cheat into the run fit without exposing the sideline. Pressure packages have to win quickly, or they turn into leverage throws and explosives.  And with the potential offensive line and Carr’s pre-snap read ability, pressure packages are a high-risk, high-reward wager for future DCs.  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 secured their third straight win on Sunday, toppling the SMU Mustangs 88-63 in Dallas, headlined by another sensational performance from Hannah Hidalgo. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame (17-9; 9-6) entered SMU (9-18; 2-13) on a two-game win streak with the regular season’s end rapidly approaching. During the game, Hidalgo spent her 21st birthday doing what she does: Hooping. The Irish star finished the game with 31 points, 11 steals, and was just one rebound shy of a triple-double in the rout. As a team, Notre Dame’s 53% shooting from the field and 44% from three mixed with lockdown defense was too much for the Mustangs to handle. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! SMU kicked off a high-scoring first quarter with a 5-0 run initiated by a game-opening three from Ayanna Thompson. The Irish responded with a 7-0 run led by Cassandre Prosper to take a two-point advantage just over three minutes into the game. After a little back-and-forth, Hidalgo and Iyana Moore led the Irish on a 9-0 stretch that pushed Notre Dame’s lead to 18-11 with 4:04 remaining in the quarter. The two squads continued going at it for the final four minutes, with Notre Dame just outscoring the Mustangs 11-9 to secure a 29-20 lead heading into the second quarter. Moore had a big first 10 minutes, leading all scorers with an efficient 10 points, including two made threes across three attempts. Following a pair of made free throws by Hidalgo to open the second frame, SMU was able to string together a quick 5-0 burst capped by a three from Grace Hall, which cut the Irish lead to six, 31-25, just under two minutes into the quarter. The Mustangs refused to go away, keeping the game within single digits until the final two minutes. That is when Hidalgo turned up, swiping two steals and tallying a quick four points to give the Irish a 44-34 advantage heading into the half. Hidalgo entered the break with a game-high five steals and was tied with Moore for a team-high 12 points. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame shut down and erased any life inside of SMU’s Moody Coliseum in the third quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 30-15 in the frame that featured separate 8-0 and 9-0 runs by the Irish. Offensively, the visitors shot 11-14 from the field, including 4-6 from three in an impressive effort. Seven different players scored for the Irish in the quarter, with Hidalgo’s eight points leading the way. Hidalgo also recorded all five of Notre Dame’s steals in the third to give her a 20-point, 10-steal double-double through 28 minutes played. The Irish wrapped up the third quarter with a 74-49 lead following a dominant 10 minutes. The final quarter saw the scoring slow down a bit, but Hidalgo opened the first four minutes of the fourth on a 5-0 run by herself. Her layup off a shot clock violation by SMU pushed the Irish lead to a game-high 30 points, 79-49, with 6:32 on the clock. The Mustangs were able to close the game on a 14-9 stretch, but to no avail as Notre Dame locked up the 88-63 road win. Hidalgo scored 11 of the Irish’s 14 fourth-quarter points, shooting 5-6 in the frame. Notre Dame improves their record to 18-9 overall and 10-6 in ACC play with just two regular-season games remaining. Up next, the Irish host Syracuse (21-6; 11-5) for senior night at Purcell Pavilion on Thursday. Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo : 31 points (11-18 FGs) , 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 11 steals, +28, 38 minutes played Iyana Moore : 20 points (8-13 FGs, 4-8 3FGs) , 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, +23, 38 minutes played  Gisela Sanchez : 10 points (4-7 FGs, 2-3 3FGs) , 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 19 minutes played Key Team Stats Field Goal Percentage: ND (53%) - SMU (40%) Three Point Percentage: ND (44%) - SMU (43%) Free Throw Percentage: SMU (73%)  - ND (67%) Bench Points: ND (16) - SMU (4) Points in the Paint: ND (42)  - SMU (24) Steals: ND (18) - SMU (6) Blocks: ND (4) - SMU (2) 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!

Jeremiyah Love is set to become one of the highest drafted Notre Dame players in recent memory after a legendary career at Notre Dame. With that career all said and done, where are potential landing spots for Love, and what does he project to be in the NFL? Photo by The Irish Tribune Love comes into the draft as the consensus No. 1 running back. This does not come as much of a surprise after the two dominant years at Notre Dame, where he made a name for himself with his explosive athleticism and dazzling footwork. During his time at Notre Dame, Love totalled 2,882 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards, and 42 total touchdowns. Love burst onto the scene during his sophomore year, quickly showing the entire country that he possessed a special ability to break a play loose every time he touched the ball. It was in this season that Love became known for his unique ability to hurdle almost every defender in front of him. Along with this, it was his jaw-dropping runs in the first and third rounds of the CFP that immediately made him a household name in Notre Dame lore. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Coming into his junior year, Love had a lot to live up to. He was a Heisman Trophy candidate and considered the best running back in the country. Love lived up to all the expectations and broke Notre Dame records on the way to the Doak Walker Award. While Love continued to show off his electrifying talent, he also proved that he had become much more than just his athleticism. He showed real growth in the nuances of the run game. He became a more patient, physical, and shifty runner. He showed a willingness to wait for blocks to develop instead of hitting the first opening he saw. It seemed he was more willing to grind an opposing team down with physical run after physical run, like the game against USC. He also showed a larger arsenal of moves to make defenders miss, like the spin move against Pitt that allowed him to break free for a long touchdown run. Along with all of this, he continued to prove his ability to impact the game through the air with his more than capable hands. All of these skill sets cemented his place as not only the best running back in the draft class, but one of the best players in the entire class. With all of his talent and impact as a true three-down back, Love is easily a top-five talent in this year's draft, but will likely go lower than expected due to his position. Running backs are not the most valued position that NFL teams are looking for, but Love's ability to impact a game won't keep him on the board for very long. Round 1, Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals This seems to be the earliest possible spot for Love to land in the draft. Running backs rarely go this early, but for a draft that lacks a lot of premier talent, the Cardinals could seize their opportunity to pick up the best offensive player that is not a quarterback. For years now, the Cardinals have struggled to find an elite offensive player to help score points. In 2025, the Cardinals ranked only 22nd in points per game, something Love could instantly change. As of now, the Cardinals have no real game-changer at the running back position. James Conner is the starter, but he has struggled to stay on the field during his time in Arizona. While Conner has been serviceable at times, Love would be an excellent change of pace back and someone who could also impact the offense in the passing game. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Round 1, Pick 8: New Orleans Saints The Saints at eight is a real possibility for Love in this draft. The Saints' offence has been centered around Alvin Kamara for years now, as he has been one of the most productive and impactful running backs in the league. With Kamara now being 30 years old and on the last year of his deal, it may be time for the Saints to look towards the future. There is hope for Saints fans that they have found something in rookie QB Tyler Shough. With Love, they could begin to solidify the future of their offense, giving Shough a target in the passing game and a workhorse in the run game. While Kamara may be one of the best receiving backs in the NFL, Love could seamlessly fill in that role for the Saints. This could be a significant advantage for the Saints, as they would not have to alter their offensive philosophy significantly. They continue to be an offense that centers around getting their running back the ball with space to work with. That is something that could make Love one of the most impactful rookies in the 2026 NFL season. Round 1, Pick 9: Kansas City Chiefs It is hard to imagine a world that Love makes it past the Chiefs at nine. During the Chiefs' recent reign over the rest of the NFL, they never truly had a difference-maker at the running back position. It was an offense centered around the spectacular play of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and even Tyreek Hill early on. Recently, the Chiefs have pivoted to a more defensive-focused mindset, with many teams starting to catch on to the passing attack. With no true RB1 to look to, the Chiefs' offense has struggled to keep up. Love could be the answer to their prayers. He would provide a more balanced attack to an offense that has solely relied on Mahomes' arm. Yes, Mahomes is currently recovering from a torn ACL, but Love would be someone they can lean on until they get him back in the lineup. When he is back in the lineup, defenses would then have to constantly worry about Love's explosive running and Mahomes' creativity in the pocket, a nightmare for any defensive coordinator. Along with this, Andy Reid is known to be one of the best and most creative play-callers in NFL history. This offense would thrive on Reid finding new and creative ways of getting Love the ball in space. 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!