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 as a freshman. With Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price departing for the NFL, Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr., and Kedren Young return as backfield options. Update (Oct. 14): Freshman RB Jonaz Walton has emerged as another major contributor, rushing for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries against Stanford on October 10. Nolan James Jr. added 73 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the same game. 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. Update (Oct. 14): WR Quincy Porter remains sidelined with a left knee injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. The offensive line returns full-time starters Anthonie Knapp and Guerby Lambert, each with 12 starts last season, while Ashton Craig, Joe Otting, Sullivan Absher, Charles Jagusah, and freshman Will Black round out the group. Update (Oct. 14): OL Charles Jagusah remains sidelined with a left humerus injury and has not yet returned to action this season.
Chris Ash returns as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, bringing back ten of last season’s top eleven tacklers, 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. Update (Oct. 14): DL Jason Onye continues to recover from a left ankle injury suffered against Wisconsin. After missing multiple games, his status has improved to questionable for the upcoming BYU matchup. 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 takes over at punter, while Jordan Faison returns as a punt returner. Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. are among the kick-return options.
Notre Dame’s central outlook for 2026 is continuity at quarterback, experience along the offensive line, and ten of its top eleven tacklers returning on defense. The Irish have found additional production from Walton and James in the backfield as they work to replace Love and Price, although injuries to Porter, Jagusah, and Onye have affected depth at several positions.