Category: Notre Dame

Notre Dame football leads the nation in this important defensive stat

This could lead to big things for the Irish

Many of know that Notre Dame football has one of the best defenses in the country, but its not only pass the look test, its passing the advanced metrics test as well.

Max Olson of ESPN recently posted the top-12 schools in stop rate percentage, and the Irish are the best team in the country at preventing points. The data is accumulated by which defense is the best at forcing punts, creating turnovers or getting stops on 4th down tries.

Notre Dame has a 81.7% stop rate, top in the country, while allowing just 0.96 points-per-drive, which isn’t the best, but is just a few spots away from being No. 1 also.

Olson points out that last year’s national champion, the Michigan Wolverines, finished at the top of this metric as well. This is a good omen for Notre Dame, as defense typically travels well, and the Irish have one of the best this fall.

Nov 16, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) intercepts a pass intended for Virginia Cavaliers tight end Tyler Neville (16) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Former Notre Dame football commits flips again, lands in the SEC

Not surprising given his flip history

It has been quite the wild recruiting ride for safety [autotag]Ivan Taylor[/autotag], who at one point was committed to Notre Dame.

Following the summer, the 6-foot, 170-pounder decided that South Bend wasn’t the place for him, and proceeded to flip to the Michigan Wolverines. The Big Ten team held Taylor’s commitment for just four months, as he once again flipped, this time to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The son of former NFL cornerback Ike Taylor has obviously had multiple changes of heart, and at this point, its hard to discount the possibility that he might end up flipping once more.

As the nation’s No. 59 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, it was clear that many teams were fighting for Taylor’s commitment. With the early signing period coming up next month, we will see if he actually sticks with his third commitment.

West Orange High School Warriors’ Ivan Taylor watches from the sidelines at the Florida High School 7v7 Association state championship in The Villages on Friday, June 24, 2022. [PAUL RYAN / CORRESPONDENT]

Florida High School 7v7 Association State Championship

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Notre Dame guard Sir Mohammed out indefinitely with injury

Notre Dame loses a guard for an unknown amount of time.

Notre Dame freshman guard [autotag]Sir Mohammed[/autotag] will be out indefinitely with an injury.

Mohammed has played in two games this season, scoring 5 points and plucking 7 rebounds in just under 26 minutes of total playing time.

He’s had a left knee injury pestering him since the summer, and now he will be undergoing surgery for a “lower body injury.” This according to Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune.

It’s unclear when he’ll return as the Fighting Irish attempt to continue an ongoing rebuild.

Notre Dame guard Sir Mohammed looks for a teammate to pass too during a college basketball game against Stonehill College at Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in South Bend.

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Confirmed: Notre Dame, Texas will meet in 2028, 2029

Get out your credit card for tickets and hotels — Notre Dame will play Texas twice in two seasons.

Notre Dame will be playing Texas in 2028 and 2029.

For those feeling a sense of déjà vu, we’d reported on the possibility before, but it hadn’t been confirmed.

Now, however, Notre Dame has made it official.

It will be a home-and-home series, with the Fighting Irish hosting on Sept. 9, 2028, and the Longhorns playing host on Sept. 22, 2029.

Both schools are in playoff contention this year, and hopefully, that will be the case for both future meetings. While it’s always interesting anytime two major programs like this that don’t meet very often get the chance to play each other, it’s even better if they clash while both are pushing for a playoff berth.

Start booking those hotel rooms in South Bend and Austin now.

Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Shaun Crawford (20) runs back a blocked extra point attempt for a two point score in the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas won 50-47 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

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Marcus Freeman: Army is Notre Dame’s ‘Super Bowl’

Freeman thinks this is the Irish’s toughest challenge to date

Notre Dame football has played multiple ranked opponents this fall, including Texas A&M and Louisville, but this weekend might be different than those matchups.

When Irish coach Marcus Freeman met with the media on Monday afternoon, he called Saturday’s game against Army as the team’s “toughest challenge to date.”

He offered multiple reasons such as the Black Knights winning all of their games this fall by double-digits, their win streak of 13 games spanning to last year and that they’re Navy 2.0. Freeman even went as far as saying this is Notre Dame’s “Super Bowl.”

The Irish coach also broached the subject of playing both service academies in the same year: The 100-year anniversary of the Four Horsemen game is why athletic director Pete Bevacqua made the move. It makes perfect sense for Navy and Notre Dame to see each other on the field, especially considering it was also the Shamrock Series game of the 2024 season.

This weekend is turning out to be a huge one for both teams. There will surely be College Football Playoff implications, and, hopefully, the Irish come out on top.

Nov. 9, 2024; South Bend, Indiana; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman stands with his players for the Notre Dame Alma Mater after defeating the Florida State Seminoles at Notre Dame Stadium. Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Marcus Freeman updates Notre Dame DT Howard Cross III status for Army

Hopefully he’s a go this weekend

While Notre Dame football has a 9-1 record with just two games left in the regular season, it has battled injuries all fall, which makes its record much more impressive.

The Irish will face the Army Black Knights on Saturday evening in what coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] called the “toughest challenge to date.” Unfortunately, it looks like Notre Dame might not have star defensive tackle [autotag]Howard Cross III[/autotag] for the contest.

Freeman listed the senior as questionable after he sat out this past weekend’s win over Virginia. The good news is [autotag]Donovan Hinish[/autotag] has filled in and played very well.

This is the kind of game where if Cross can get on the field, he needs to be out there. Even if he is limited to a certain amount of snaps, he’s a game-changer that will help Notre Dame. Hopefully, Cross heals during the week and we see him against Army.

Notre Dame star DT Howard Cross III’s status for Virginia has been updated
Howard Cross III #56 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his sack with Rylie Mills #99 against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on Aug. 31, 2024 in College Station, Texas. Jack Gorman/Getty Images

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Notre Dame football loses 2025 commit, flips to Kansas Jayhawks

A not so happy Monday for the Irish

It wasn’t the news many wanted to hear on Monday morning. Now former Notre Dame football commit [autotag]Justin Thurman[/autotag] flipped to the Kansas Jayhawks.

The Florida running back had been committed to the Irish since early August of last year, but he decided South Bend wasn’t the place for him. As the nation’s No. 477 overall prospect on the 247Sports composite, this is clearly a loss for Notre Dame.

This could be a consequence of the Irish adding another back to the class. Nolan James committed a week ago after being in the Boston College’s 2025 recruiting class.

Thurman seemed firm with his pledge to Notre Dame, but now they must continue looking for another running back in the class. It has been fairly common for the Irish to take two in each cycle, so expect another flip in the near future.

Recruit Justin Thurman Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.

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Former Notre Dame star makes first NFL start

Former Notre Dame running back Audric Estime might start for the Denver Broncos this week.

Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back [autotag]Audric Estime[/autotag] is a rookie with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, and he’s likely getting his first NFL start today.

Estime has had a rocky start in Denver. He fumbled on his first NFL carry, though Denver retained possession. He injured his ankle on his second carry and missed four games.

Denver coaches trusted Estime enough to give him the ball five times on a potential game-winning drive against the Kansas City Chiefs last week. The Broncos lost when a field goal was blocked.

Now, it appears he will be RB1 for the Broncos this week.

Estime rushed for 2,321 yards in three seasons at Notre Dame, including 1,341 in 2023. He had 29 rushing touchdowns and 26 receiving touchdowns.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back (7) Audric Estime scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. ND GAME 3

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Notre Dame linebacker marks historic occasion against Virginia

Notre Dame’s Jack Kiser has very noteworthy achievement.

Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] has earned a very cool honor.

Kiser has now played the most games for the Irish in school history.

The sixth-year man played in his 63rd game on Senior Day against Virginia on Saturday.

He surpassed safety/special teams player [autotag]Houston Griffin[/autotag] (2018-2022) for the honor.

Kiser wouldn’t have the chance to play so many games for the Irish if the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t led the NCAA to offer extended eligibility.

One of the neater things about this is that Kiser played with [autotag]Kurt Hinish[/autotag], who had 61 games for the Irish before his career ended, and is now playing with Kurt’s brother Donovan.

“Jack is special to me,” Notre Dame coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] told the South Bend Tribune this week. “He’s the only player in this program I actually got a chance to coach as his position coach.”

“(Kiser) is truly a Notre Dame man,” Freeman said. “He grew up here in Indiana. He reached his full potential. He’s been an unbelievable leader. He’s made this place better. And he’s going to leave this place better than he found it.”

Notre Dame safety Rod Heard II (2) and linebacker Jack Kiser (24) celebrate a tackle by Heard during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.

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Experts move Notre Dame up in polls

Notre Dame is getting back in the experts’ good graces.

Along with making moves in the AP Top 25 Poll, the No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are moving up on the experts’ lists, too.

Well, on one expert’s list. Another keeps the Fighting Irish in the same spot.

[autotag]Danny Kanell[/autotag] has Notre Dame at No. 8 this week, one spot up from last week. [autotag]Joel Klatt[/autotag] kept the Irish at No. 10.

Kanell’s top 12 is Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, SMU, Miami (Florida), Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia and Tulane.

Klatt’s top 10 is Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Indiana, Penn State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Tennessee and Notre Dame. “Almosts” are Miami (Florida), Boise State, Texas A&M and Colorado.

Notre Dame safety Rod Heard II (2) tackles Virginia wide receiver Ethan Davies (26) during a NCAA college football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.

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