You cannot point out Notre Dame’s offseason with out finally circling again to final season’s College Football Playoff snub. The Irish have been the committee’s first group out following their 10-2 end, which led to this system withdrawing from bowl consideration.
A group with nationwide championship aspirations driving a 10-game successful streak was too deflated to maintain going, in line with Marcus Freeman, and the Irish instantly shifted their focus to a revenge tour in 2026. A preseason top-five title contender with important expertise returning, the Fighting Irish wrap up spring apply Saturday forward of what could possibly be one other momentous marketing campaign for one of many nation’s fastest-rising coaches.
Here’s a take a look at 5 storylines to observe in South Bend, all contributing to Notre Dame’s total worth as a CFP risk later this season:
1. Life with out Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price
Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider had his work minimize out for him. The Irish enter their spring game with simply two totally wholesome scholarship ballcarriers in Nolan James Jr. and Jonaz Walton, following an damage to Aneyas Williams and the departure of two gamers who mixed for 2,046 speeding yards and 29 touchdowns final fall.
Williams is predicted to be RB1 after averaging 9.3 yards per carry with 5 scores as a sophomore, with most of his motion coming down the stretch in an effort to protect Love and Price for an anticipated playoff look that did not materialize.
James, a redshirt freshman, will see snaps this weekend together with Walton, a 5-foot-9, 200-pound freshman signee from Carrollton, Georgia, and Javion Osborne, one other 2026 early enrollee with comparable measurement. Redshirt freshman Kedren Young is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered final 12 months and may return for fall camp.
Keep an eye fixed on James, Walton and Osborne in cross safety this weekend. That’s one space the place they may assist themselves and earn extra motion this season behind Williams.
2. C.J. Carr’s improvement
Carr obtained rave critiques following Notre Dame’s scrimmage final week. In his first 12 months as a starter, he completed with 2,741 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, together with a 168.1 passer effectivity ranking.
He went 10-2 total as a redshirt freshman and will probably be draft-eligible as a possible Day 1 decide after the 2026 season if he delivers one other standout marketing campaign.
“More than anything he does with his physical talent, the ability to put our offense in a position to have success because of what the defense is presenting is probably one of his greatest traits,” Freeman mentioned. “I can speak for hours about his arm talent and his film study, but he puts your offense in positions to have success.”
3. Christian Gray’s potential transfer to nickel
A two-year starter at nook, Gray has performed extra defensive snaps (1,434) during the last two seasons than any defender on Notre Dame’s roster. That stage of veteran management makes the teaching employees snug shifting him right into a nickel position this season.
“It’s a little bit like a one-on-one island. I like it a little bit,” Gray mentioned this month. “So a lot of eye progression for sure. And just learning the plays — I’d say that’s kind of the hardest thing, really, in the nickel position. It’s kind of different from corner and everything. But it’s just a little different because you’re looking at everything, basically — the whole formation, the receiver, body language.
“It’s a whole lot of issues you have to take a look at, however I adore it, for positive. It’s much more motion, extra involvement within the run game and the cross game.”
Notre Dame’s base protection has utilized a nickel lately. Dallas Golden and Jayden Sanders have additionally taken reps there this spring, in line with defensive backs coach Aaron Henry.
Standout nook Leonard Moore, boundary Adon Shuler and free security Tae Johnson give Notre Dame one of many deepest secondaries in faculty soccer.
4. Offensive line modifications
Freeman and his employees have been tinkering with the offensive line all through the spring, and final week’s scrimmage offered a good-on-good take a look at what seems to be the projected first-team unit. Freeman particularly acknowledged the left facet.
Anthonie Knapp has made the transition from left sort out to protect to make method for redshirt freshman Will Black at sort out. Center Joe Otting, proper guard Sullivan Absher and proper sort out Guerby Lambert are the opposite projected starters.
Black was a five-star signee within the 2025 cycle, and Knapp’s transfer is designed to get this system’s 5 greatest blockers on the sphere on the identical time, in line with offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
Lambert is one other participant below the highlight this weekend as he takes over for group captain and anticipated NFL Draft decide Aamil Wagner on the appropriate facet.
5. Devin Fitzgerald’s debut at WR
The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame broad receiver Larry Fitzgerald is climbing the depth chart as an early enrollee after scoring two lengthy touchdowns throughout final week’s scrimmage. Those performs did not come towards Notre Dame’s beginning secondary, however they have been sufficient to maneuver the needle given the group’s questions on the place past the anticipated beginning group of Micah Gilbert, Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse within the slot.
Ohio State transfers Quincy Porter, who missed spring with an damage, and Mylan Graham can even issue into the rotation, together with freshman Kaydon Finley.
“I don’t care if it was against the threes, (Fitzgerald) made some big plays,” Freeman mentioned. “He’ll continue to be put in elevated positions to show what he can do against better competition. He’s had a good spring. He’s made big plays like that throughout, and today, I wasn’t surprised.”
As with most spring video games, freshmen are sometimes on show. Fitzgerald is a participant who might change into a family identify in due time.
