Notre Dame Fighting Irish
FBS Independents
0-0 (0-0 conf)
SP+ #5
Ratings
2025 final
- SP+
- 24.4 (#5)
- SP+ Offense
- 40.0
- SP+ Defense
- 16.3
- SRS
- 24.1
- FPI
- 25.3
- Elo
- 2243
- Talent
- 912
- Recruiting
- 299 (#5)
2026 Outlook
Projected wins
10.5p10 9.0 — p90 12.0
| Round | Prob | |
|---|---|---|
| Win conference | 0.0% | |
| Make CFP | 93.1% | |
| Quarterfinal | 83.5% | |
| Semifinal | 44.6% | |
| Natl. final | 20.6% | |
| Natl. champ | 8.8% |
Schedule
proj record 10.5–1.5
Schedule
59th
toughest of 136
Offenses faced
82nd
toughest of 136
Defenses faced
46th
toughest of 136
Strength of schedule — how tough this team's opponents are, ranked 1 (hardest) to 136 (easiest) · by 2025 SP+.
| Wk | Opponent | SP+ | Score | Proj | Win% | Res |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NWisconsin | -4.4 | 42-21 | +20.9 | 90% | — |
| 2 | vsRice | -14.8 | 49-11 | +37.8 | 99% | — |
| 3 | vsMichigan State | -3.4 | 39-18 | +21.1 | 90% | — |
| 4 | @Purdue | -6.1 | 36-10 | +25.7 | 94% | — |
| 5 | @North Carolina | -6.6 | 36-7 | +29.8 | 96% | — |
| 6 | vsStanford | -11.8 | 46-12 | +33.6 | 98% | — |
| 7 | @BYU | +15.9 | 28-24 | +3.9 | 59% | — |
| 9 | NNavy | +6.2 | 41-27 | +13.9 | 80% | — |
| 10 | vsMiami | +20.7 | 30-22 | +7.3 | 67% | — |
| 11 | vsBoston College | -8.5 | 43-12 | +31.7 | 97% | — |
| 12 | vsSMU | +13.4 | 35-20 | +14.9 | 82% | — |
| 13 | @Syracuse | -13.1 | 35-6 | +29.2 | 96% | — |
Quarterbacks · 1
2026 · 65
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | 1st | CJ Carr | FR | 6'3" | 210 | ★★★★ |
Running Backs · 2
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB | 1st | Aneyas Williams | SO | 5'10" | 200 | ★★★★ |
| RB | 2nd | Nolan James Jr. | FR | 5'10" | 214 | ★★★★ |
Wide Receivers · 13
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 1st | Jordan Faison | JR | 5'10" | 183 | — |
| WR | 2nd | Will Pauling | SR | 5'10" | 190 | — |
| WR | 3rd | Micah Gilbert | FR | 6'2" | 201 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 4th | Mylan Graham← Ohio State | SO | 6'1" | 195 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 5th | Jaden Greathouse | JR | 6'1" | 212 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 6th | Quincy Porter← Ohio State | FR | 6'4" | 210 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 7th | Matt Jeffery | SO | 5'11" | 197 | — |
| WR | 8th | Elijah Burress | FR | 6'0" | 184 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 9th | Leo Scheidler | SR | 6'1" | 194 | — |
| WR | 10th | Cam Williams | FR | 6'2" | 198 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 11th | Jerome Bettis Jr. | FR | 6'1" | 208 | — |
| WR | 12th | Tyler Buchner | SR | 6'1" | 215 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 13th | Logan Saldate | FR | 6'0" | 189 | ★★★★ |
Tight Ends · 2
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TE | 1st | Ty Washington | JR | 6'4" | 247 | ★★★ |
| TE | 2nd | Jack Larsen | FR | 6'3" | 250 | ★★★ |
Offensive Line · 3
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OL | — | Matty Augustine | FR | 6'7" | 295 | ★★★★ |
| OL | — | Joe Otting | SO | 6'4" | 312 | ★★★★ |
| OL | — | Sullivan Absher | SO | 6'8" | 328 | ★★★★ |
Defensive Line · 18
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL | 1st | Boubacar Traore | SO | 6'4" | 247 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 2nd | Francis Brewu← Pittsburgh | SO | 6'2" | 280 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 3rd | Jason Onye | SR | 6'5" | 302 | — |
| DL | 4th | Bryce Young | SO | 6'7" | 273 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 5th | Elijah Hughes | JR | 6'3" | 297 | ★★★ |
| DL | 6th | Jordan Botelho | SR | 6'3" | 260 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 7th | Jared Dawson | SR | 6'1" | 288 | — |
| DL | 8th | Tionne Gray← Oregon | FR | 6'6" | 336 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 9th | Donovan Hinish | JR | 6'2" | 277 | ★★★ |
| DL | 10th | Junior Tuihalamaka | SR | 6'2" | 260 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 11th | Keon Keeley← Alabama | SO | 6'5" | 282 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 12th | Cole Mullins | FR | 6'5" | 273 | ★★★ |
| DL | 13th | Armel Mukam | SO | 6'3" | 304 | ★★★ |
| DL | 14th | Loghan Thomas | SO | 6'4" | 218 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 15th | Kobi Onyiuke | JR | 6'4" | 261 | — |
| DL | 16th | Christopher Burgess Jr. | FR | 6'4" | 270 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 17th | Sean Sevillano Jr. | FR | 6'2" | 343 | ★★★ |
| DL | 18th | Gordy Sulfsted | FR | 6'5" | 260 | — |
Linebackers · 8
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB | 1st | Drayk Bowen | JR | 6'2" | 235 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 2nd | Jaiden Ausberry | SO | 6'2" | 228 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 3rd | Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa | SO | 6'3" | 230 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 4th | Jaylen Sneed | JR | 6'2" | 228 | ★★★★★ |
| LB | 5th | Madden Faraimo | FR | 6'2" | 235 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 6th | Kahanu Kia | SO | 6'2" | 229 | ★★★ |
| LB | 7th | Teddy Rezac | FR | 6'3" | 222 | — |
| LB | 8th | Ko'o Kia | FR | 6'2" | 215 | — |
Defensive Backs · 13
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | 1st | DJ McKinney← Colorado | JR | 6'2" | 180 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 2nd | Leonard Moore | SO | 6'2" | 195 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 3rd | Dallas Golden | FR | 6'0" | 185 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 4th | Jayden Sanders← Michigan | FR | 6'1" | 193 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 5th | DeVonta Smith | SR | 5'11" | 196 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 6th | Christian Gray | JR | 6'0" | 188 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 7th | Mark Zackery IV | FR | 5'11" | 170 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 8th | Isaiah Dunn | SR | 5'11" | 176 | — |
| S | 1st | Adon Shuler | SO | 6'0" | 207 | ★★★★ |
| S | 2nd | Tae Johnson | FR | 6'2" | 193 | ★★★★ |
| S | 3rd | Jalen Stroman | SR | 6'1" | 199 | — |
| S | 4th | Luke Talich | JR | 6'4" | 209 | — |
| S | 5th | Ethan Long | FR | 6'3" | 211 | ★★★ |
Special Teams · 5
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS | 1st | Joseph Vinci | FR | 6'4" | 233 | — |
| P | 1st | James Rendell | SR | 6'6" | 223 | — |
| PK | 1st | Noah Burnette | SR | 5'10" | 179 | — |
| PK | 2nd | Erik Schmidt | FR | 6'2" | 210 | ★★★ |
| PK | — | Marcello Diomede | JR | 6'1" | 195 | — |
Projected Season
2026 · win prob / game
Exp. Wins
10.5
Exp. Losses
1.5
Toss-ups
1
bars: model win probabilityfav / toss-up / dog
2025 · pct vs FBS
SP+ Off
40.098
Off PPA
+0.3396
Pass PPA
+0.4493
Rush PPA
+0.2493
Success
46%83
Explosive
1.50100
PlayerMedian (50th)percentile vs league
Advanced
2025 · opponent-adjusted PPA / play
| Split | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | +0.33 | +0.02 |
| Passing | +0.44 | +0.05 |
| Rushing | +0.24 | +0.04 |
| 1st Down | +0.18 | -0.23 |
| 2nd Down | +0.29 | +0.12 |
| 3rd Down | +0.82 | +0.41 |
Scoring Trend
2025 · pts/game
PPG For
42.0
PPG Against
17.6
Differential
+24.4
— Points for— Points against
dots: W / L2025
- Overall
- 10-2
- Home
- 6-1
- Away
- 4-1
- Conference
- 0-0
- Non-Conference
- 10-2
- One-Score (≤8)
- 0-2
- Avg Margin
- +24.4
Situational Splits
2025 · record · pts
| Split | Record | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | |||
| Home | 6-1 | 44.7 | 18.0 |
| Away | 4-1 | 38.2 | 17.0 |
| Competition | |||
| vs Ranked (SP+ 25) | 1-2 | 32.7 | 30.7 |
| Non-conference | 10-2 | 42.0 | 17.6 |
Season History · last 12
5 AP top-10 · 10 postseason
| Season | Record | Conf | SP+ | AP | Post |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10-2 | 0-0 | #5 | #6 | — |
| 2024 | 11-1 | 0-0 | #8 | #2 | 3-1 |
| 2023 | 9-3 | 0-0 | #8 | #9 | 1-0 |
| 2022 | 8-4 | 1-0 | #35 | #5 | 1-0 |
| 2021 | 11-1 | 5-0 | #11 | #5 | 0-1 |
| 2020 | 10-1 | 9-1 | #5 | — | 0-1 |
| 2019 | 10-2 | 0-0 | #19 | — | 1-0 |
| 2018 | 12-0 | 0-0 | #13 | — | 0-1 |
| 2017 | 9-3 | 0-0 | #12 | — | 1-0 |
| 2016 | 4-8 | 0-0 | #18 | — | — |
| 2015 | 10-2 | 0-0 | #8 | — | 0-1 |
| 2014 | 7-5 | 0-0 | #34 | — | 1-0 |
Recent Form · last 5
5-0 SU · 3-2 ATS · O3/U2
Betting Profile
2025 · 12 w/ line
| Straight up | 10-2 |
| ATS | 6-650% |
| Over / Under | 6-6 O-U |
| — ATS splits — | |
| As favorite | 6-6 |
| As underdog | 0-0 |
| Home | 4-3 |
| Away | 2-3 |
vs closing line · splits show cover–no cover
Recruiting Classes
avg #11 · 177 blue-chip
■ 5★■ 4★■ 3★243 rated signees
| Class | Natl | Pts | 5★ | 4★ | 3★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | #5 | 299 | 4 | 20 | 2 |
| 2025 | #12 | 270 | 1 | 14 | 6 |
| 2024 | #9 | 276 | 0 | 15 | 7 |
| 2023 | #12 | 273 | 0 | 19 | 4 |
| 2022 | #7 | 275 | 1 | 17 | 4 |
| 2021 | #9 | 269 | 0 | 14 | 10 |
| 2020 | #17 | 251 | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| 2019 | #16 | 259 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| 2018 | #10 | 269 | 0 | 14 | 13 |
| 2017 | #10 | 251 | 0 | 10 | 6 |
247Sports composite · class rank vs all FBS
Roster Talent
2026
Portal in 7net -8Out 15
Portal avg stars (in / out)4.0 / 3.2
Notable Portal Moves
| ▲ | Francis Brewu | DL | 4★ | ← Pittsburgh |
| ▲ | Quincy Porter | WR | 4★ | ← Ohio State |
| ▲ | Tionne Gray | DL | 4★ | ← Oregon |
| ▲ | Keon Keeley | DL | 4★ | ← Alabama |
| ▼ | Kenny Minchey | QB | 4★ | → Kentucky |
| ▼ | Armel Mukam | DL | 4★ | → — |
| ▼ | Ben Minich | S | 4★ | → Miami (OH) |
| ▼ | Joshua Burnham | EDGE | 3★ | → Indiana |
returning PPA · portal · talent composite · 2026
Injury Report · 0
No injuries reported.
Team News
20 items
- Will Stein explains why he is ‘very excited’ about incoming QB Kenny MincheyWill Stein explained why he is very excited about incoming QB Kenny Minchey on Monday. The post Will Stein explains why he is ‘very excited’ about incoming QB Kenny Minchey appeared first on Saturday Down South.
- Kenny Minchey recalls his initial impression of HC Will SteinKenny Minchey was asked about his first impression of Will Stein on Monday. The post Kenny Minchey recalls his initial impression of HC Will Stein appeared first on Saturday Down South.
- Kentucky Wildcats starting QB reveals what led him to LexingtonThe Kentucky Wildcats were able to nab Kenny Minchey as their starting quarterback heading partially because of Will Stein's coaching group.
- Notre Dame backup quarterback battle creates intriguing debate behind CJ Carr heading into the 2026 College Football seasonNotre Dame's CJ Carr heads into 2026 as one of the best quarterbacks in CFB. What is the contingency plan if something happens to Carr?ND7h
- Will Stein says Kentucky can win on the biggest stage 'because of me'Stein explains how believing in the Wildcats' process and experience competing at the highest level will bring them success while highlighting transfer QB Kenny Minchey.
- ESPN's Biggest Question For Notre Dame: Is CJ Carr Ready To Shoulder The Load?With two star running backs gone to the NFL, Heisman hopeful CJ Carr must prove he can carry the Irish offense behind a rebuilt, elite offensive line.ND9h
- 4-star DL Brayden Parks to commit this week: Notre Dame, Oregon finalistsLess than 10 blue-chip prospects in the 2027 cycle remain uncommitted. Another top name on the board will make his pledge in the coming days. Chicago Brother Rice four-star defensive lineman Brayden Parks tells Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett that he will announce his commitment on Thursday, July 23. His two finalists are Notre Dame and Oregon. […]ND1d
- "We Left Doubt": Marcus Freeman Urges CJ Carr & Notre Dame to Own Past HeartbreakComing off a national championship final in 2024, Notre Dame looked like it would take it a step further last year. Marcus Freeman’s team started the season 0-2 but went on to register 10 straight wins.ND1d
- Indiana lands states top 2027 prospect, does it impact Notre Dame?The Indiana Hoosiers landed the state’s top prospect on Friday, how much of an impact does that move have on Notre Dame?ND2d
- Can Wisconsin spoil Notre Dame's college football playoff hopes?The Wisconsin Badgers have a chance to do some serious damage to Notre Dame's college football playoff aspirations.ND2d
- 3 things that need to happen for Notre Dame to win the national championship in 2026The Irish the look of a championship contender, but they need some developments to happen to win their first title since 1988.ND2d
- Everything you need to know from day two of Notre Dame’s New York media blitzNotre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and his best players are out there charming the media one interview at a time.ND3d
- Quincy Faison shares the inside story of how both his sons, Jordan and Dylan, ended up at Notre Dame as dual-sport athletesLooking back at the fascinating journey of Notre Dame star wide receiver Jordan Faison and his younger brother Dylan.
- Notre Dame Football Preview 2026: Win it All or Don't, IrishAfter a CFP snubbing, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame enter the 2026 season with one goal and expectation: win the national championship.ND3d
- Don Shuler shares perspective on son Adon's growth, Notre Dame's 2026 National Championship expectations and outlookNotre Dame football heads into the 2026 season with some high expectations. That confidence extends to the program's parents.ND3d
- Marcus Freeman Names Aneyas Williams as Key Running Back for Notre Dame's 2026 SeasonThe Notre Dame Fighting Irish lost a handful of talented players to the 2026 NFL Draft. Last season, the two combined for 312 rushing attempts for 2,046 yards and 29 touchdowns. Together, they also hauled in 33 receptions for 367 yards and five touchdowns.
- Despite losses, Notre Dame is still going to run the ball in 2026Notre Dame is built first in the trenches, which means they will still focus on running the ball with whoever they want.ND3d
- Marcus Freeman teases Notre Dame’s offensive philosophy for this fallNotre Dame football has a few questions as the season gets close, but head coach Marcus Freeman doesn’t seem to be concerned with the offense.ND3d
- Five Old Notre Dame Football Photos for a Friday: Manti Te’o — The Great OnePaying a little homage to one of the greatest college football players to ever do it, Notre Dame LB Manti Te’o.ND3d
- Notre Dame's CJ Carr Reveals Why His Father Hid Michigan Offer From Him Despite Family TiesCJ Carr’s first college offer arrived right after a strong freshman game, and his father chose not to tell him. The offer carried extra weight because it came from Michigan, where his grandfather Lloyd Carr won a national title as head coach and both of his parents studied and played football.ND3d