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(20 hours ago)
On Tuesday night, the much-anticipated first College Football Playoff top 25 was revealed. Coming off of its second bye week of the season, Notre Dame slotted in at No. 10 in the rankings, meaning it would have a spot in the 12-team field had the season ended today. The Irish would go on the road to face No. 7 Tennessee in late December for their first-round matchup. Judging the resumes of the teams below them, even with four weeks of football remaining, not including conference championship weekend, the Irish should control their own destiny. The Athletic’s playoff projections have Notre Dame at an 88% chance of making the playoff with a 65% chance of hosting after the rest of the field shakes out.
(10/31/24 4:03am)
On Saturday, Notre Dame ran rival Navy off the field in a 51-14 rout of the No. 24-ranked Midshipmen. It was only the third time since 1957 that both teams were ranked in the AP Poll, the last time in 2019, which was another dominant Irish win (52-20). After starting the season 6-0, Navy entered the game with real hopes of competing, hopes that were quickly crushed after a nightmare first quarter consisting of two fumbles placed it in an early 14-0 hole. From that point onward, the game was only ever in the balance between Navy’s first touchdown and sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love’s 64-yard answer only one minute and five seconds later. From there, Notre Dame did not look back, allowing only one more touchdown while scoring 30 more points en route to a comfortable victory. Now improving to 7-1 on the season and jumping up to No. 8 in the AP Poll, the Irish remain firmly in College Football Playoff contention. Here are some of the team’s active strengths and weaknesses in this week’s edition of Stock Up, Stock Down.
(10/31/24 4:02am)
Following a 13-20 2023-24 season in head coach Micah Shrewsberry’s first year, Notre Dame men’s basketball looks forward to the 2024 season with promise. The Irish finished 12th in ACC play with a record of 7-13 in and fell to Wake Forest in the second round of the conference tournament. Building on the success of freshman standouts, the Irish hope for an improved 2024-25 campaign.
(10/18/24 4:00am)
Junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison’s last game in a Notre Dame uniform may have come against Stanford, and nobody in the crowd had any idea. On Monday, head coach Marcus Freeman announced that the star cornerback would miss the remainder of 2024 with a season-ending hip surgery, a devastating blow for the Preseason All-American and the Irish defense. The question now becomes: what does this mean for Notre Dame’s season and Morrison’s future?
(10/14/24 4:04am)
Last weekend, Notre Dame watched from home as several upsets rocked the college football world. Multiple top-ranked teams fell, headlined by No. 1-ranked Alabama. As a result, the Irish jumped two spots in the AP Poll without touching the football field. They spent their time recovering and preparing for their 38th all-time meeting with rival Stanford with the Legends Trophy on the line. Saturday’s edition of the historic contest was one-sided, however, as Notre Dame cruised to a 49-7 victory over the Cardinal. I believe the Irish left with more than just a routine win, but also a meaningful step forward.
(10/13/24 4:14am)
After spending its bye week watching multiple top-ranked teams go down across the college football world, Notre Dame entered Week Seven looking to avoid the same fate. Facing rival Stanford, head coach Marcus Freeman surely had the outcome of their 2022 matchup, where his Irish team was upset at home as over two-score favorites, burned in his brain. This year, however, they left no doubt in a 49-7 win to improve to 5-1 on the season. Here are five key moments that defined the commanding Irish win.
(10/11/24 4:07am)
Now entering his third year as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, Al Golden has cemented himself as one of the best defensive play callers in college football. His unit finished the 2023 season as one of the best in the country, ranking first in pass efficiency defense (94.91), second in red zone defense (.706), fourth in pass yards allowed per game (154.2) and eighth in total defense (282.9). Returning several core players, including Bronko Nagurski winner graduate safety Xavier Watts and fellow First Team All-American selection graduate defensive lineman Howard Cross III, Golden’s group has continued to excel. And while talent has played a role, Golden has set his guys up for success all season.
(10/09/24 4:00am)
I am a little over a month into my first semester as a sophomore, and I already miss Fisher Hall. Ever since the “Cadillac of dorms” was tragically torn to the ground, the men of Fisher were shipped off to Zahm Hall, where we will reside for the next two years. For all my Fr. Kevin students, we are what Walker Percy would call castaways.
(10/02/24 5:53am)
On Saturday, Notre Dame mustered a pivotal home win against No. 15 Louisville in the “Irish Wear Green” game heading into their first of two bye weeks this season. The game had just about everything you could ask for: incredible one-handed grabs, bizarre turnovers, questionable ball spotting, botched clock management and late fourth quarter drama. According to The Athletic’s college football playoff predictor, a win gave Notre Dame a 50.8% chance of making the playoff while a loss would have left them at 15.6%, essentially eliminating the Irish from contention before the month of October. That would have led to some very tough conversations. It was a rollercoaster experience for the Irish, but despite getting outgained by over 100 yards, they eked out a victory and pushed back those conversations for at least the next two weeks. Here are some of the team’s active strengths and weaknesses as they look to regroup this coming weekend.
(09/27/24 4:06am)
Saturday’s matchup against No. 15 Louisville marks an inflection point in Notre Dame’s season. Heading into 2024, with the expanded 12-team field and a manageable schedule, it was always playoff-or-bust for the Irish. Many within the organization had even higher aspirations, to host a playoff game in South Bend on the third weekend of December. But after a shocking upset loss to Northern Illinois in Week Two, the entire outlook on the season changed. Notre Dame now risks being eliminated from playoff contention entirely before the beginning of October. Every game is already a must-win. If Louisville kills Notre Dame’s lingering playoff hopes for the second straight season, a very long two months lie ahead. A win, however, could mark a turning point.
(09/20/24 4:06am)
Riley Leonard was nowhere near good enough against Northern Illinois. There is no debating that. The senior quarterback completed 20 of 32 passes for a mere 163 yards and no touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions, including a backbreaker in the middle of the fourth quarter that set up NIU’s game-winning field goal drive.
(09/18/24 4:03am)
On Saturday, Notre Dame came up with a much-needed response in West Lafayette against their in-state rival Purdue, cruising to a 66-7 victory over the Boilermakers. After taking a 42-0 lead into halftime, the Irish only needed their second and third units to run out the clock. The game was already over. Head coach Marcus Freeman’s team once again proved they can come back from a loss, but whether or not they can handle success remains a question. Returning to South Bend in Week Four to face Miami (Ohio), the Irish will have another opportunity to get their first home win against a MAC school this season. If they want to give a home crowd left devastated in the opener something to cheer about, they best not waste it. Every game is a must-win if playoff hopes are to be kept alive. Here are some of the team’s active strengths and weaknesses in this week’s edition of Stock Up, Stock Down.
(09/13/24 4:05am)
Notre Dame has become the celebrity of the college football world for the past week and not for the right reasons. After what looked like a program-defining win against Texas A&M in Week One, disaster struck for the Irish in the home opener. Before last Saturday’s game, MAC teams were 0-51 against AP top-five opponents. Northern Illinois went into South Bend and made it 1-51, outplaying the Irish from start to finish. The devastating loss removes all margin for error for Notre Dame going forward if it wants to sneak into the College Football Playoff. For now, the Irish set their sights on in-state rival Purdue in Week Three. Here are three ways Notre Dame can make a much-needed response to last week’s showing.
(09/06/24 4:06am)
When starting left tackle Charles Jagusah got injured during preseason practice, Marcus Freeman and the coaching staff were left with a big decision: turn to the experience of fifth-year graduate student Tosh Baker, or bet on true freshman Anthonie Knapp to play the first snap of his college career in front of over 100,000 Aggie fans in week one. After a fall camp competition for the spot concluded, Notre Dame released its depth chart for the Texas A&M game. It read: “Left Tackle 1-54, Anthonie Knapp, Fr.”
(09/05/24 4:05am)
Our journey began on Friday morning at Main Circle, where we departed for O’Hare International Airport. After a two-hour drive broken up by a gas station snack run, we arrived with time to spare. The group went their separate ways, some doubling down on the snack approach, others seeking out a heartier breakfast. The flight to George Bush Intercontinental Airport was smooth and uninterrupted and even touched down ahead of schedule.
(09/03/24 3:01am)
As the Notre Dame players stood in the tunnel looking out at over 100,000 Texas A&M fans, one would think nerves had to be creeping in. But staring down the barrel of College Station, head coach Marcus Freeman had not a shred of fear, and he made sure his players didn’t either. As passionate as A&M fans can be, I doubt any single one was louder than the clapping and roaring Freeman as he prepared to lead his team out of the tunnel. The belief was palpable. This game was going to be different.
(09/01/24 6:27am)
Few Week One games have carried as much weight for a team’s season as this one did for Notre Dame. Entering the season with high expectations for a deep postseason run, the Irish needed to prove themselves. And while facing an SEC team on the road is never easy, the Irish rose to the challenge in College Station. Here are some key moments from the 23-13 victory at Texas A&M.
(08/30/24 4:05am)
Week one rarely defines a team’s season. Notre Dame and Texas A&M will be very different teams come December. That’s a given. However, for an Irish team with hopes of taking the next step in the Freeman era, this is as close to a must-win game as any week one game will ever be.
(08/23/24 4:03am)
The rich history of Notre Dame football is undeniable. Their nine national championships during the poll era rank second only to the Alabama Crimson Tide. But this program and its devoted fanbase do not care about that number now. They care that the most recent title came in 1988 and want to return to the top of the college football world. The NCAA’s recent expansion to a 12-team playoff has provided a better opportunity to do just that.
(05/17/24 10:30am)
The excitement surrounding the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team following its first national championship in program history was at an all-time high during the offseason. With the return of graduate student superstars Pat Kavanagh in attack and Liam Entenmann in goal, among several other key pieces on both sides of the ball, the Irish looked to be the clear favorites to repeat as champions. Their spot at No. 1 in the nation heading into the 2024 season cemented them as the team to beat in men’s college lacrosse. Going into his 36th season at the helm, head coach Kevin Corrigan’s expectations were unsurprisingly unchanged.
