The 2026 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team will represent the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Irish will be led by fifth-year head coach Marcus Freeman. They will play their home games at Notre Dame Stadium located in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Offseason Coaching changes Departures Max Bullough Linebackers coach Michigan State Co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Mickens Defensive backs coach/defensive pass game coordinator Baltimore Ravens Defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach Al Washington Defensive line coach/defensive run game coordinator Miami Dolphins Linebackers coach
Additions Jevaughn Codlin Safeties coach Notre Dame Analyst/assistant defensive line coach Aaron Henry Co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Illinois Defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary Linebackers coach/run game coordinator Michigan Linebackers coach/defensive run game coordinator Charlie Partridge Defensive line coach Indianapolis Colts Defensive line coach
Player departures NFL
RB Arizona Cardinals 1 3 Forewent 2 years of remaining eligibility RB Seattle Seahawks 1 32 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility WR New York Giants 3 74 TE New England Patriots 3 95 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility OL Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5 160 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility DL Pittsburgh Steelers 6 210 DL Minnesota Vikings Undrafted free agent WR San Francisco 49ers Undrafted free agent CB Carolina Panthers Undrafted free agent S San Francisco 49ers Undrafted free agent OL Tennessee Titans Undrafted free agent Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility P Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rookie minicamp invite RB Tennessee Titans,Minnesota Vikings Rookie minicamp invite
Transfers out S Boise State S Missouri DL Indiana K Ohio State Previously walk-on CB Florida State LB Boston College QB Kentucky Previously committed to Nebraska S Miami (OH) DL Withdrawn RB Cincinnati QB South Dakota State Previously walk-on WR Auburn LB UCLA WR Miami (OH) Previously walk-on WR Michigan State CB Colorado CB North Dakota State DL LSU WR San Diego Previously walk-on DL Rice
Retirements CB Walk-on QB Walk-on K DL RB Walk-on CB Walk-on CB Walk-on TE Walk-on DL DL Walk-on LB Walk-on DL
Player additions Transfers in 7 DL Pittsburgh 3 WR Ohio State 0 DL Oregon 11 DL Alabama 2 CB Colorado 35 K Purdue 0 WR Ohio State 12 CB Michigan
Recruiting
New walk-ons TE RB RB S
Other S Brauntae Johnson changed name from Tae Johnson. Erik Schmidt changed position from K to P.
Schedule
Game summaries vs. Wisconsin
Statistics WISCND First downs 16 20 Plays–yards 61–284 61–350 Rushes–yards 31–67 32–111 Passing yards 217 239 Passing: –– 19–30–1 19–29–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 28:24 31:36 Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Colton Joseph 19/30, 217 yards, TD, INT Rushing Abu Sama 15 carries, 49 yards Receiving Malachi Coleman 4 receptions, 76 yards, TD Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 19/29, 239 yards, 2 TD Rushing Aneyas Williams 20 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Faison 4 receptions, 81 yards
Rice
Statistics RICEND First downs 7 24 Plays–yards 46–128 65–578 Rushes–yards 36–34 32–118 Passing yards 64 360 Passing: –– 8–12–0 25–33–0 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 27:42 32:18 Team Category Player Statistics Rice Passing Jacurri Brown 8/12, 64 yards Rushing Jacurri Brown 16 carries, 32 yards Receiving Barry Jackson Jr. 1 reception, 30 yards Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 16/20, 253 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jonaz Walton 8 carries, 48 yards Receiving Jerome Bettis Jr. 2 receptions, 61 yards
Michigan State (rivalry)
Statistics MSUND First downs 11 20 Plays–yards 45–167 67–395 Rushes–yards 27–44 43–161 Passing yards 123 234 Passing: –– 9–18–2 18–24–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 22:58 37:02 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State Passing Alessio Milivojevic 9/17, 123 yards, 2 INT Rushing Cam Edwards 12 carries, 38 yards Receiving Rodney Bullard Jr. 2 receptions, 66 yards Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 18/24, 234 yards Rushing Nolan James Jr. 26 carries, 121 yards, TD Receiving Micah Gilbert 8 receptions, 170 yards
at Purdue (rivalry)
Statistics NDPUR First downs 19 16 Plays–yards 58–444 68–218 Rushes–yards 32–177 31–40 Passing yards 267 178 Passing: –– 16–26–1 25–37–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:44 35:16 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 14/22, 237 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Aneyas Williams 14 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Micah Gilbert 2 receptions, 83 yards, TD Purdue Passing Ryan Browne 18/28, 111 yards Rushing Fame Ijeboi 12 carries, 41 yards Receiving Tra'Mar Harris 3 receptions, 36 yards
at North Carolina
Statistics NDUNC First downs 26 18 Plays–yards 72–475 54–285 Rushes–yards 43–242 26–77 Passing yards 234 208 Passing: comp–att–int 21–29–0 17–28–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 37:04 22:56 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 21/29, 234 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT Rushing Jonaz Walton 22 carries, 108 yards Receiving Jordan Faison 8 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD North Carolina Passing Billy Edwards Jr. 17/28, 208 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Benjamin Hall 10 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jordan Shipp 7 receptions, 109 yards
Stanford (rivalry)
Statistics STANND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Stanford Passing Rushing Receiving Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving
at BYU
Statistics NDBYU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving BYU Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Navy (rivalry)
Statistics NDNAVY First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving Navy Passing Rushing Receiving
Miami (FL)
Statistics MIAND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Miami (FL) Passing Rushing Receiving Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving
Boston College (Holy War)
Statistics BCND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Boston College Passing Rushing Receiving Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving
SMU
Statistics SMUND First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player StatisticsSMU Passing Rushing Receiving Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving
at Syracuse
Statistics NDSYR First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving Syracuse Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Roster
Depth chart Depth chart is a projection and is subject to change.
Rankings
Notes
References