Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Nick Saban, during College Gameday, emphasized Miamis physical dominance over Notre Dame, highlighting the overlooked head-to-head victory. He criticized the committee for ignoring this crucial detail, advocating for a more objective approach to rankings and playoff selections.

Notre Dame football honored its standout players at the Echoes Awards dinner, with Jeremiyah Love winning MVP after breaking a 34-year-old touchdown record. CJ Carr earned Offensive Player of the Year, while Drayk Bowen and Adon Shuler shared Defensive Players of the Year. Jadarian Price won Special Teams Player of the Year, and other awards went to Eli Raridon, Jerry Rullo, and Kobi Onyiuke.

Notre Dame extends early scholarship offer to Keaton Fields, a three-star recruit from Hamilton High School in Arizona. Fields, a cornerback, receives significant attention from the Fighting Irish, with director of player personnel Jourdan Blake initiating contact. Fields expresses excitement and surprise, marking a major development in his collegiate football future.

Notre Dame football is experiencing a significant shift in recruitment, with early enrollment becoming the norm. In the 2026 class, 24 out of 27 signees will join the team in January, setting a new school record. This trend, which started with just three early enrollees in 2006, is driven by new NCAA roster limit changes, allowing more recruits to arrive ahead of the traditional summer start. This early start gives players a head start in acclimating to college life and the football program, potentially providing an edge.

Notre Dames playoff hopes hinge on key conference championship games. A win for Georgia, Texas Tech, and Virginia, along with Boise States earlier victory, could secure the Irish a spot in the college football playoff.

Notre Dames playoff hopes hinge on Championship Saturday, with a Georgia victory over Alabama being their best scenario. A loss could see Alabama secure an automatic bid, making it harder for the Irish to secure an at-large spot. The Texas Tech vs. BYU game is also crucial, as a BYU win could push Texas Tech into the at-large pool, potentially over Notre Dame. The Big Ten and ACC championship games have less impact, but a win over a conference champion adds value to their resume.

Notre Dame Footballs Playoff Hopes Hinge on Championship Saturday; Georgia vs. Alabama, Texas Tech vs. BYU Key Games Notre Dame football finds itself in a precarious position as Championship Saturday approaches, requiring assistance to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. Despite a solid 10-2 record, early season losses have raised questions about their playoff chances. However, theres still a chance, with several crucial games this weekend that could sway things in their favor. The best-case scenario for the Fighting Irish would be a dominant win by Georgia over Alabama in the SEC Championship. Alabama recently surpassed Notre Dame in the rankings, and a third loss for the Crimson Tide would make it challenging for the committee to justify putting them in over the Irish. This outcome would significantly improve Notre Dames playoff prospects. Conversely, the worst-case scenario for Notre Dame would be an Alabama victory over Georgia. This would give Alabama an automatic bid and likely keep Georgia in the playoff picture, making it much harder for the Irish to secure an at-large spot. Other teams like Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma are also in contention, further complicating Notre Dames path. Another critical game for Notre Dame involves Texas Tech and BYU. A Texas Tech win would be ideal, but a BYU upset would be catastrophic. If BYU wins, they would take an automatic bid, pushing Texas Tech into an at-large spot, which they would likely get over Notre Dame. This specific outcome is considered one of the absolute worst for the Irish. Notre Dame received a slight boost earlier this week when Boise State defeated UNLV to win the Mountain West. This means Notre Dame now has a win over a conference champion, a valuable data point that could help them in the committees eyes. Every bit of help counts as they await the final playoff selections.

Notre Dames defense, ranked among the nations best, has two standout players, Leonard Moore and Boubacar Traore, recognized as finalists for prestigious college football awards. Moore, a sophomore cornerback, is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski Awards, with impressive stats including seven interceptions. Traore, a defensive end, is a finalist for the Comeback Player of the Year Award, having returned from a knee injury to lead the team in total pressures, sacks, and hits on the quarterback.

Notre Dame football secures two top recruits, Joey OBrien and Ian Premer, both Gatorade Player of the Year winners. OBrien, a five-star safety, excelled on offense and defense, while Premer, a five-star tight end, showcased versatility as a receiver, quarterback, and defensive player. Both will join the Fighting Irish in January and June, respectively.