The 2023 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their second year under head coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish compiled a 10–3 record, outscored opponents by a total of 509 to 207, and were ranked No. 14 in both the final AP and Coaches Polls. They played five games against ranked opponents, losing to No. 6 Ohio State and No. 25 Louisville, and defeating No. 17 Duke, No. 10 USC, and No. 21 Oregon State, the latter in the Sun Bowl.
Quarterback Sam Hartman tallied 2,689 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns and was selected as the team's most valuable player. The team's other statistical leaders included running back Audric Estime (1,341 rushing yards, 108 points scored), running back Chris Tyree (484 receiving yards), and linebacker JD Bertrand (76 total tackles). Offensive tackle Joe Alt and safety Xavier Watts were consensus first-team picks on the 2023 All-America college football team.
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, drawing an average home attendance of 77,622.
Offseason Coaching changes The following coaches left the program: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees left for the same positions at Alabama. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason left for the same position with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand announced his retirement. Director of football performance Matt Balis resigned.
The following coaches were hired: Marty Biagi was hired from Ole Miss to be the special teams coordinator. Gino Guidugli was hired from Cincinnati to be the quarterbacks coach. Joe Rudolph was hired from Virginia Tech to be the offensive line coach.
Departures NFL
Michael Mayer TE Las Vegas Raiders 2 35 Isaiah Foskey DL New Orleans Saints 2 40 Jarrett Patterson OL Houston Texans 6 201 Jayson Ademilola DL Jacksonville Jaguars Undrafted free agent Avery Davis WR Detroit Lions Undrafted free agent Blake Grupe K New Orleans Saints Undrafted free agent Brandon Joseph S Detroit Lions Undrafted free agent Chris Smith DL Detroit Lions Undrafted free agent Justin Ademilola DL Green Bay Packers Rookie minicamp invite Bo Bauer LB Seattle Seahawks Rookie minicamp invite TaRiq Bracy CB Houston Texans Rookie minicamp invite Josh Lugg OL Chicago Bears Rookie minicamp invite
Transfers out CB Jayden Bellamy transferred to Syracuse. TE Cane Berrong transferred to Coastal Carolina. QB Tyler Buchner transferred to Alabama. RB Logan Diggs transferred to LSU. DL Osita Ekwonu transferred to Charlotte. OL Caleb Johnson transferred to SMU. LB Prince Kollie transferred to Vanderbilt. DL Jacob Lacey transferred to Oklahoma. TE Barret Liebentritt transferred to Nebraska; previously walk-on. QB Drew Pyne transferred to Arizona State. WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. transferred to Ohio State. WR Joe Wilkins Jr. transferred to Miami (OH).
Retirements K Josh Bryan DL Alexander Ehrensberger S Mike Graves S Houston Griffith WR Braden Lenzy WR Greg Mailey LB Christian Opperman LS Alex Peitsch QB Ron Powlus III WR Conor Ratigan CB Philip Riley LB Will Schweitzer P Jon Sot S Justin Walters
Additions Transfers in S Antonio Carter II transferred in from Rhode Island. RB Devyn Ford transferred in from Penn State. S Thomas Harper transferred in from Oklahoma State. QB Sam Hartman transferred in from Wake Forest. DL Javontae Jean-Baptiste transferred in from Ohio State. K Spencer Shrader transferred in from South Florida. WR Kaleb Smith transferred in from Virginia Tech; retired before start of season.
Walk-on transfers in DL Cole Aubrey transferred in from Princeton. P Ben Krimm transferred in from Penn. DL Grant Ristoff transferred in from Penn.
Recruiting
New walk-ons QB Dylan Devezin K Marcello Diomede WR Jordan Faison (on lacrosse scholarship; earned football scholarship on October 9) TE Henry Garrity LS Andrew Kros LB Jerry Rullo S Luke Talich WR Alex Whitman
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Vs. Navy
Statistics NAVY ND First downs 12 27 Total yards 169 444 Rushes/yards 48–126 32–191 Passing yards 43 253 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 3–7–0 20–25–0 Time of possession 33:14 26:46 Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 3/6, 43 yards Rushing Daba Fofana 15 carries, 56 yards Receiving Brandon Chatman 2 receptions, 41 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 19/23, 251 yards, 4 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 16 carries, 95 yards, TD Receiving Jaden Greathouse 3 receptions, 68 yards, 2 TD
Tennessee State
Statistics TNST ND First downs 12 26 Total yards 158 557 Rushes/yards 35–91 33–221 Passing yards 67 336 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–22–2 24–30–0 Time of possession 26:16 33:44 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Deveon Bryant 5/12, 43 yards, 2 INT Rushing Deveon Bryant 6 carries, 29 yards Receiving Dashon Davis 1 reception, 22 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 14/17, 194 yards, 2 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 13 carries, 116 yards, TD Receiving Jayden Thomas 4 receptions, 62 yards
at NC State
Statistics ND NCST First downs 16 20 Total yards 456 344 Rushes/yards 37–170 30–84 Passing yards 286 260 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–24–0 22–48–3 Time of possession 32:53 27:07 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 15/24, 286 yards, 4 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 14 carries, 134 yards, 2 TD Receiving Holden Staes 4 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TDNorth Carolina State Passing Brennan Armstrong 22/47, 260 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Brennan Armstrong 12 carries, 26 yards, TD Receiving Juice Vereen 4 receptions, 65 yards
Central Michigan
Statistics CMU ND First downs 14 23 Total yards 268 578 Rushes/yards 34–131 37–263 Passing yards 137 342 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–20–0 17–28–0 Time of possession 29:27 30:33 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Jase Bauer 10/20, 137 yards Rushing Myles Bailey 12 carries, 59 yards, TD Receiving Jesse Prewitt III 2 receptions, 59 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 16/26, 330 yards, 3 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 20 carries, 176 yards, TD Receiving Tobias Merriweather 3 receptions, 91 yards, TD
No. 6 Ohio State
Statistics OSU ND First downs 19 22 Total yards 366 351 Rushes/yards 27–126 39–176 Passing yards 240 175 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–38–0 17–25–0 Time of possession 25:01 34:59 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio State Passing Kyle McCord 21/37, 240 yards Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 14 carries, 104 yards, TD Receiving Emeka Egbuka 7 receptions, 96 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 17/25, 175 yards, TD Rushing Audric Estimé 14 carries, 70 yards Receiving Mitchell Evans 6 receptions, 70 yards
At No. 17 Duke
Statistics ND DUKE First downs 16 17 Total yards 381 323 Rushes/yards 32–159 40–189 Passing yards 222 134 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–31–0 12–27–1 Time of possession 28:15 31:45 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 15/30, 222 yards Rushing Audric Estimé 18 carries, 81 yards, 2 TD Receiving Mitchell Evans 6 receptions, 134 yardsDuke Passing Riley Leonard 12/27, 134 yards, TD, INT Rushing Riley Leonard 18 carries, 88 yards Receiving Jordan Moore 4 receptions, 67 yards, TD
At No. 25 Louisville
Statistics ND LOU First downs 17 17 Total yards 298 330 Rushes/yards 28–44 40–185 Passing yards 254 145 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–38–3 17–24–0 Time of possession 28:36 31:24 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 22/38, 254 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 5 carries, 37 yards Receiving Mitchell Evans 4 receptions, 71 yards, TDLouisville Passing Jack Plummer 17/24, 145 yards, TD Rushing Jawhar Jordan 21 carries, 143 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jamari Thrash 8 receptions, 75 yards, TD
No. 10 USC
Statistics USC ND First downs 23 13 Total yards 302 251 Rushes/yards 103 125 Passing yards 199 125 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–37–3 13–20–0 Time of possession 34:35 25:25 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 23/37, 199 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 8 carries, 46 yards, TD Receiving Michael Jackson III 6 receptions, 51 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 13/20, 126 yards, 2 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 22 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chris Tyree 3 receptions, 62 yards, TD
Pittsburgh
Statistics PITT ND First downs 2511 Total yards 255 535 Rushes/yards 53 155 Passing yards 202 380 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–32–424–32–2 Time of possession 24:29 35:31 Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Christian Veilleux 14/29, 127 yards, 4 INT Rushing Rodney Hammond 6 carries, 31 yards Receiving Bub Means 3 receptions, 63 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 18/25, 288 yards, 2 INT Rushing Audric Estimé 19 carries, 114 yards, 3 TD Receiving Rico Flores Jr. 2 receptions, 72 yards
At Clemson
Statistics ND CLEM First downs 13 19 Total yards 329 285 Rushes/yards 31–183 43–176 Passing yards 146 109 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–30–2 13–26–1 Time of possession 28:12 31:48 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 13/30, 146 yards, 2 INT Rushing Audric Estimé 17 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD Receiving Rico Flores Jr. 1 reception, 35 yardsClemson Passing Cade Klubnik 13/26, 109 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Phil Mafah 36 carries, 186 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Beaux Collins 3 receptions, 37 yards
Wake Forest
Statistics WAKE ND First downs 14 25 Total yards 232 450 Rushes/yards 36–134 30–137 Passing yards 98 313 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–21–0 24–34–0 Time of possession 31:27 28:33 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Michael Kern 11/20, 81 yards Rushing Ellison Justice 15 carries, 63 yards Receiving Jahmal Banks 5 receptions, 35 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 21/29, 277 yards, 4 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 22 carries, 115 yards, TD Receiving Rico Flores Jr. 8 receptions, 102 yards
At Stanford
Statistics ND STAN First downs 28 19 Total yards 521 359 Rushes/yards 48–381 31–143 Passing yards 140 216 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–15–2 21–42–1 Time of possession 27:13 32:47 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 8/14, 140 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Audric Estimé 25 carries, 238 yards, 4 TD Receiving Jordan Faison 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD Stanford Passing Ashton Daniels 15/25, 152 yards, INT Rushing Justin Lamson 10 carries, 82 yards, TD Receiving E. J. Smith 7 receptions, 116 yards
Vs No. 19 Oregon State—Sun Bowl
Statistics No. 19 Oregon State No. 16 Notre Dame First downs 10 24 Total yards 44–197 67–468 Rushes/yards 16–2 48–236 Passing yards 195 232 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–28–1 15–19–0 Time of possession 20:06 39:54 Team Category Player Statistics No. 19 Oregon State Passing Ben Gulbranson 16/27, 180 yards, TD, INT Rushing Deshaun Fenwick 6 carries, 15 yards Receiving Jesiah Irish 3 receptions, 56 yards No. 16 Notre Dame Passing Steve Angeli 15/19, 232 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jadarian Price 13 carries, 106 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Faison 5 receptions, 115 yards, TD
Personnel Roster
Depth chart
References