Notre Dame footballs transfer portal hits and misses under coach Marcus Freeman have resulted in studs like Riley Leonard and Malachi Fields, duds like Brandon Joseph and RJ Oben, and surprises like Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Elijah Hughes. As the portal opens, the staff must learn from these experiences to build a championship team.

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Notre Dames Omission from Playoff, SECs Postseason Struggles: A Tale of Two ConferencesNotre Dames decision to skip bowl season after missing the College Football Playoff has sparked controversy, especially considering the SECs rough start in the postseason. Despite the SEC landing several teams ahead of Notre Dame, the conference has only secured one win and six losses overall, with zero wins against non-SEC opponents.The SECs postseason struggles are even more glaring when compared to Notre Dames performance. The Fighting Irish, who were praised for their grinding schedule, were left out of the playoff despite having a clearer path to a deep run. Meanwhile, SEC teams like Missouri, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt have all suffered losses in their bowl games, none of which came against opponents with winning records.The SECs top non-conference victories, such as Georgias narrow win over Georgia Tech and LSUs victory over a middling Clemson, now seem less impressive. The conferences hype, rooted in past glory rather than this seasons reality, could be further dented if Indiana beats Alabama in the Rose Bowl.For Notre Dame supporters, the postseason has been a bitter pill to swallow. The playoff field lacks a dominant powerhouse like last years Ohio State, and the Irish were poised for a deep run on an even clearer path.

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Notre Dame Football Faces Major Roster Shakeup: Key Players Depart, Portal Targets Eyed for RebuildNotre Dame football is bracing for a significant roster overhaul as the 2026 season approaches. Defensive standouts Josh Burnham, Karson Hobbs, and Donovan Hinish are leaving, creating substantial gaps at defensive end, tackle, nickel corner, and in the secondary.Experts like Ryan Roberts advise the Fighting Irish to aggressively pursue experienced portal players to fill these voids, rather than solely relying on incoming recruits. On offense, elite running backs and receivers are also departing, prompting the team to consider portal targets at tight end, wideout, and even running back, despite some existing depth.The loss of key players has sparked intense discussions among fans and analysts about how to rebuild the nickel spot and secondary, which will have a distinct look next year. The offense faces the challenge of reinventing itself around a returning quarterback, while the defense loses impact starters but retains top talent at linebacker and end.The silver lining is Notre Dames highly-rated 2026 recruiting class, which addresses every need with high grades on both sides of the ball. Hidden gems and top defensive linemen could quickly emerge as crucial contributors.As the transfer portal heats up, coach Marcus Freemans staff is focusing on acquiring disruptive playmakers to complement this incoming talent, positioning the team for another playoff run.

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Jayden Thomas, former Notre Dame wide receiver, declares for 2026 NFL draft after transferring to Virginia. Despite struggles at Virginia, Thomas strong performance at Notre Dame, including 64 catches for 838 yards and 7 TDs, has fans buzzing. His Notre Dame tape and pro day performance will be key in catching NFL scouts eyes.

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Notre Dame Footballs 2026 Season: A Promising ReboundNotre Dame football fans have reasons to be optimistic about the 2026 season. After a challenging 2025 season, the Irish are set for success with an easier schedule, a returning starting quarterback, and a defense ready to dominate in its second year under coordinator Chris Ash.The 2026 schedule features only two major matchups: a trip to BYU and a home game against Miami. The rest of the schedule is filled with manageable opponents, allowing the team to build momentum early on.Quarterback CJ Carrs return as the clear starter brings stability and continuity to the offense, unlike the controversies and split reps of the past. This allows the offense to build around his strengths, putting them ahead from day one.Defensive coordinator Chris Ash enters his second year with a deep understanding of his personnel, which should result in an elite defense throughout the season.With a soft schedule, QB continuity, and a sharpened defense, the 2026 season shapes up to be a revenge tour with national title expectations. The Irish are primed to make a run.

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Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt sparked controversy by suggesting no team should schedule Notre Dame due to their independent status providing an unfair advantage in the College Football Playoff era. With a rich history and thirteen national championships, the Fighting Irish only need to rank in the top twelve to secure playoff access, unlike conference teams facing tougher schedules. As playoff stakes escalate, pressure mounts on Notre Dame to join a conference, potentially revolutionizing college football scheduling.

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Brady Quinn defends Notre Dames decision to end USC rivalry, criticizes Lincoln Rileys coaching record and USCs proposed dates for the game.

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Notre Dame Football Faces Major Shakeup: Key Players Retire, Transfer, and Injure, Leaving Gap in Defense and Pressure on Young Talent

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Notre Dame Football Faces Transfer Portal Loss: Joshua Burnham Departs, But Options RemainNotre Dame football suffered a setback with senior defensive end Joshua Burnhams transfer to the portal. Burnham, a key player in the late 2025 season, leaves behind a solid core but creates depth concerns. Younger players like Loghan Thomas, Christopher Burgess, and others must step up. Fans worry about pass rush, but trust in Coach Marcus Freemans recruiting. The transfer portal opens January 2nd, with potential stars like Sahir West, John Henry Daley, Jayden Woods, and Tobi Osunsanmi available to bolster the defense.

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Join Eric Hansen for a special Friday chat, as the popular Football Live Chat with Blue and Gold moves to noon Eastern. Submit your questions now for the latest on Notre Dames running backs, offensive line, and kicker Diomedes departure. Plus, film study on Ayden Pouncey and quarterback updates. Dont miss out!

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From Fighting Irish to Tigers, Deuce Knights Transfer Portal Entry Shakes Up College Football

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Former Notre Dame commit Deuce Knight, a five-star quarterback recruit, has entered the transfer portal after limited action at Auburn. Despite his impressive performance, Notre Dame is unlikely to pursue him. Knights next move could significantly impact college football quarterback rooms.

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Notre Dame football secures a visit from top defensive lineman prospect Marcus Fakatou, a four-star recruit from California. Fakatou, who recently reclassified, is considering the Irish along with other top programs. The visit comes after Notre Dame landed another defensive lineman commitment, and Fakatous younger brother received an offer from the Irish. The visit keeps Notre Dame in the running for one of the top defensive talents in the country.

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Notre Dames Independent Status: A Growing Challenge in College Football SchedulingFOX Sports Joel Klatt warns that top college football programs have little incentive to schedule games against Notre Dame, given the new twelve-team College Football Playoff format. The Irishs independent status allows them to avoid grueling conference slates and championship games, but it also means fewer marquee clashes and potential high-stakes gambles for other teams. This shift is already impacting old rivalries, with USC pushing to adjust their schedule. As Power Four schedules tighten, Notre Dame may see fewer top-tier matchups, forcing a rethink of how college footballs biggest stages are filled.

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Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn accused USC coach Lincoln Riley of halting the historic Notre Dame-USC rivalry. Quinn claimed Rileys proposal for dates conflicted with Notre Dames prior commitments and was a public relations stunt. He criticized Rileys lack of conference championships, playoff appearances, and Rose Bowl wins, questioning his commitment. Quinn also highlighted Rileys history of avoiding tougher paths and suggested USC loses a significant stage without the rivalry. He concluded that the game is gone because Riley knows he cannot win it, leaving college football fans uncertain about the rivalrys future.

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Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt challenges Notre Dames football independence, arguing its a growing problem in the twelve-team College Football Playoff era. He points out that big programs have less incentive to schedule the Fighting Irish due to their lighter conference schedules, which could give them an unfair advantage in the playoffs. Klatt suggests Notre Dame should join a conference outright to level the playing field, as scheduling becomes more complex and playoff spots become scarcer.

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Notre Dames Football Future: Freemans Vision, Transfer Portal Needs, and 2026 Schedule

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Notre Dame freshman Mark Zackery, a five-foot-eleven cornerback, is making his basketball debut after being cleared academically. He joins the Irish basketball team following the football season, where he made ten tackles. Zackery, a native of Indiana, is known to the roster as he was AAU teammates with juniors Logan Imes and Braeden Shrewsberry. He is the first Notre Dame football player to suit up for basketball since John Carlson in 2003-2004.

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