Marcus Freeman enters his fifth season at Notre Dame following a 10-2 campaign in 2025. CJ Carr returns at quarterback after throwing 24 touchdown passes during his freshman season. With Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price departing for the NFL, Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr., and Kedren Young return as backfield options. Jordan Faison returns as Carr’s leading target from last season, while Ohio State transfers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham join a receiving corps replacing Malachi Fields and Eli Raridon. The offensive line returns full-time starters Anthonie Knapp and Guerby Lambert after each making 12 starts last season, while Ashton Craig, Joe Otting, Sullivan Absher, Charles Jagusah, and freshman Will Black round out the group.

Chris Ash returns as defensive coordinator with Notre Dame bringing back ten of its top eleven tacklers from last season, led by Drayk Bowen. Adon Shuler, Boubacar Traore, and Leonard Moore also return as full-time starters, while Jaiden Ausberry, Tae Johnson, and Jason Onye each made at least eight starts last season. To build on that continuity, Pitt transfer Francis Brewu joins the defensive front after making 12 starts in 2025, while Colorado transfer D.J. McKinney adds nine starts of experience to the secondary.

Marty Biagi returns as special teams coordinator with Purdue transfer Spencer Porath joining the program after making 15 of 17 field-goal attempts last season. Australian freshman Jasper Scaife is among the leading options to take over at punter, while Jordan Faison returns as a punt returner. Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. are among the options in the kick-return game. Notre Dame’s central outlook for 2026 is continuity at quarterback, considerable experience along the offensive line, and ten of its top eleven tacklers returning on defense, while replacing the production of Love and Price in the backfield will require new roles for the returning running backs.