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

Notre Dame Boosts Defense with Transfer Cornerback DJ McKinney: The Fighting Irish secure a proven Big Twelve talent, DJ McKinney, from the Colorado Buffaloes. McKinney, a six-foot-two, one hundred eighty-pound cornerback, brings two years of starting experience, ninety-seven total tackles, fourteen pass breakups, four interceptions, and four tackles for loss. He earned preseason All-Big Twelve honors and ranked high among draft-eligible corners. With three years of eligibility left, McKinney joins Notre Dames secondary, setting the stage for an active transfer window.

Notre Dame football secures a significant transfer portal victory with the addition of Colorado cornerback DJ McKinney. The six-foot-two, 180-pound defensive back brings valuable experience to the Fighting Irishs secondary. McKinney, a former three-star recruit from Colleyville Heritage High School, spent his first two college seasons at Oklahoma State before transferring to Colorado in 2024. At Colorado, he played in 22 games, recording 97 tackles and 4 interceptions. Notre Dame, seeking experienced cornerbacks and nickel backs, views McKinneys length and speed as an ideal fit. Defensive backs coach Mik Mickens, known for developing prospects into stars, is set to maximize McKinneys potential. The transfer was officially announced on January 12, 2026, bolstering the Irish defense with a taller and tougher presence.

Quincy Porter, a highly-touted Ohio State wide receiver, is considering a transfer to Notre Dame amidst a turbulent offseason for both teams. Porter, who saw limited action last season, is eyeing better opportunities to showcase his skills, with Notre Dame being a top contender. Meanwhile, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman is dealing with off-field drama following an incident at his sons wrestling match. As the transfer portal closes, all eyes are on Porters decision and how Freeman navigates this challenging situation.

Notre Dame football faces a significant challenge in replacing their star running backs, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who both entered the NFL draft. Love, a Heisman finalist and Doak Walker Award winner, and Price, who excelled on returns, combined for over three thousand rushing yards and twenty-nine touchdowns last season. Additionally, GiBran Payne, a key third-down back, transferred to Cincinnati. However, the Irish have secured the top recruiting class, including consensus four-star running backs Jonaz Walton and Javien Osborne, who bring five-star upside and could make an immediate impact, making the running back room deeper and more dynamic than anticipated.

Notre Dame football fans breathe a sigh of relief as head coach Marcus Freeman tweets about the 2026 season, but NFL teams continue to pursue him, causing uncertainty for recruits and fans alike.

Notre Dame Football Fans Rejoice: Portal Commitments Imminent Notre Dame football fans eagerly await a flurry of transfer portal commitments, with key players like defensive linemen James Smith and Francis Brewu, edge rusher Qua Russaw, and wide receivers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter in the mix. The team also secured a big win by retaining defensive lineman Armel Mukam. As the portal window closes, expect the news to break soon, with several outgoing transfers to schools like Kentucky, South Dakota State, Boise State, Missouri, Florida State, Indiana, and Michigan State.

Notre Dame Football Receives Boost as Defensive Tackle Armel Mukam Decides to Stay Notre Dame football gained a significant advantage this weekend when defensive tackle Armel Mukam chose to remain with the Irish, reversing his decision to enter the transfer portal. The six-foot-three, three hundred five-pound lineman from Quebec, Canada, had visited Georgia Tech and Virginia but opted to stay for his final two years of eligibility after the hiring of new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge. Mukam, a three-star recruit from the 2023 class, showed promise late last season and is expected to play a bigger role in 2026 following heavy losses on the interior line. His decision to stay comes as a relief to fans, as he played fifty-four of his sixty-nine defensive snaps over the final four games of the 2025 season. Despite the departure of eighteen players, including four walk-ons, during the fifteen-day portal window, Mukams stay provides some stability for the Irish as they rebuild their defense. Other uncommitted players like defensive end Preston Zinter and wideout Scrap Richardson remain, but Mukams decision is a positive sign for the team.

Former Notre Dame safety Taebron Bennie-Powell joins Boise State via transfer portal, bringing three years of eligibility and potential for growth in their defensive system.

Notre Dames CJ Carr tops early Heisman odds, with Texas Arch Manning close behind, as FanDuel Sportsbook releases 2026 predictions. Carrs impressive stats and leadership skills have earned him the top spot, while Miamis Malachi Toney, at plus twenty-five hundred odds, poses an intriguing matchup. As these young stars continue to grow, the 2026 Heisman race promises thrilling competition.