Looking Ahead to 2026

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Not sure about you all but I'm already exhasusted talking about the 2025 post-season. Our seasons over for better or for worse, so let's discuss 2026.

We're returning a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. We're presumably returning a budding superstar at QB and both coordinators is massive.

Replacing the production of J Love, Price, and Malachai Fields is going to be tough but we have depth at both positions even excluding anyone we can pick up in the portal.

Leonard Moore should be a top 10 pick after next season. We have a ton of other talent at DB and Linebacker, hopefully KVA comes back in good shape.

The schedule is very managable with the only cocerning games being Miami and @USC. I think next year's team will be even better than this year's. LFG

 

[IrishSpartan]

I need like 3 more days lol

 

[RipWheeler]

Not sure about you all but I'm already exhasusted talking about the 2025 post-season. Our seasons over for better or for worse, so let's discuss 2026.

We're returning a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. We're presumably returning a budding superstar at QB and both coordinators is massive.

Replacing the production of J Love, Price, and Malachai Fields is going to be tough but we have depth at both positions even excluding anyone we can pick up in the portal.

Leonard Moore should be a top 10 pick after next season. We have a ton of other talent at DB and Linebacker, hopefully KVA comes back in good shape.

The schedule is very managable with the only cocerning games being Miami and @USC. I think next year's team will be even better than this year's. LFG

I think Miami is going to get their teeth kicked in by ND next year.

 

[calvegas04]

Any legit rumors of ND vs usc in Vegas?

 

[BoredIrish]

I think if this debacle does result in even more enhanced NIL going forward, the one area it could pay real dividends is an upgrade to the QB room.

As much promise as the 26 team has, an injury CJ Carr would absolutely devastate this team. Maybe the lure of a real fat cheque could lead to a Dante Moore - Oregon team scenario where you get a player with real talent who agrees to be backup for a year based on the promise of being the starter in 27 after CJ goes pro.

 

[stpeteirish]

Next year should be our focus. We've (Irish Envy that is) have successfully beat the CFB snub in the ground.

 

[FireJeffQuinn]

Calling it now: we’re going to win it all next year. Freeman and this team will be on a mission.

 

[MPClinton22]

Let's swap out the opponents from this year on the home page banner - show us who we have (so far) to look forward to grinding into dust next year

 

[NDMatt91]

Offensively:
-Carr needs to make another jump
-They could use another RB out of the portal to pair with Williams
-Need 1-2 solid WR's from the portal
-I think Tight End will be fine and that Premer will be very hard to keep off of the field
-Offensive Line needs to be more physical and more consistent in run blocking, especially on 3rd and 4th and short

Defensively:
-Need 2 Defensive Tackles from the portal - At the very least, they need 1 that is a solid starter/difference maker and another who, at the very least, has been productive as part of a rotation. If there are 2 grad transfers with later round grades that decide to come back and hit the portal, ND should try and buy both of them. If that causes someone like Hughes to leave, so be it. This should be the #1 targeted position in the portal.
-If Burnham comes back, we should have 3 quality Defensive Ends, although Bryce Young needs to make a jump. I'm not sure who will round out the 2 deep. I wouldn't be shocked if they move Sacca from Linebacker to Defensive End.
-Depth at LB is a concern if KVA isn't back right away. Outside of Bowen, Ausberry, and Faraimo, there really isn't anyone who is proven. They'll need some younger guys to step up.
-I think the Secondary has the potential to be elite. There should be a ton of depth at corner - Zackery and Golden should be better with another spring/fall camp under their belts, and Pouncey and Adams could be difficult to keep off of the field as well. Safety should have plenty of depth as well - Shuler/Johnson/Talich return from the rotation and Blair and Long are talented and will fight for playing time.

Special Teams:
-Obvious, but they need another grad transfer Kicker
-Not sure what Rendell's situation is (does anyone?)

 

[NorthDakota]

Any legit rumors of ND vs usc in Vegas?

I really hope not. Play that in the Coliseum

 

[IrishInFl]

I think we can win the National Championship next year. All the pieces are there for it, plus I assume this will be a Notre Dame revenge tour. There's a chance the Irish only plays 2 ranked teams all year. All games are double digit victories, especially all ACC teams.

 

[Islandboi]

I think Miami is going to get their teeth kicked in by ND next year.

I think so too. I think that ND will want to show no mercy and make a point.

 

[CousinEddy]

I think we can win the National Championship next year. All the pieces are there for it, plus I assume this will be a Notre Dame revenge tour. There's a chance the Irish only plays 2 ranked teams all year. All games are TRIPLE digit victories, especially all ACC teams.

Fixed it for you

 

[Rudy89]

I think if this debacle does result in even more enhanced NIL going forward, the one area it could pay real dividends is an upgrade to the QB room.

As much promise as the 26 team has, an injury CJ Carr would absolutely devastate this team. Maybe the lure of a real fat cheque could lead to a Dante Moore - Oregon team scenario where you get a player with real talent who agrees to be backup for a year based on the promise of being the starter in 27 after CJ goes pro.

While I totally understand Minchey’s decision to transfer this is why I’m not happy about it…

 

[DillonHall]

Let's go get all of Pitt's best players

 

[FU BK]

Let's go get all of Pitt's best players

Uh...so we can lose? Lol

 

[DillonHall]

Uh...so we can lose? Lol

They can be on scout team

 

[IrishLax]

I just want a Marcus Freeman contract extension so I can stop worrying like chicken little over here lmao

We run it back with this squad + the coaches and as long as CJ Carr stays healthy we are going to obliterate everyone on the schedule.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

While I totally understand Minchey’s decision to transfer this is why I’m not happy about it…

We probably couldn't keep him no matter how big a bag we gave but even still you can't pay 2 guys starting money at QB.

 

[irish2104]

So some quick research 10th highest paid coach makes 13 million highest paid, Andy Reid, 20 million.. got to think ND would do like 15-16 million for Freeman.. he is a fu**ing unicorn.. perfect ND coach.. Plus this never gets mentioned but in college you have to really get up for what 4-5 games?? Maybe 3-4?? NFL is a GRIND

 

[Rudy89]

We probably couldn't keep him no matter how big a bag we gave but even still you can't pay 2 guys starting money at QB.

I totally understand that it wasn’t an option & im at peace with the logic of it. Still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t like how we went from having a good capable backup if something happened to CJ this year to maybe having our season go up in smoke if something happens to CJ next year.

 

[Irishokie]

I think we need DEs or at least one proven baller in the portal. Traore fully healed will be an upgrade over this year but he needs help. Young and Burnham weren’t consistent enough. Another year of Young retooling his body might lead to the breakout year we expected this year. Logan hasn’t played much so that leaves us relying on freshmen to contribute?

 

[SWirishfan]

I just want a Marcus Freeman contract extension so I can stop worrying like chicken little over here lmao

We run it back with this squad + the coaches and as long as CJ Carr stays healthy we are going to obliterate everyone on the schedule.

One silver lining, if there were any CFP bonuses in CMF's contract, just pay them out in lieu of doing an extension.

 

[Huntr]

One silver lining, if there were any CFP bonuses in CMF's contract, just pay them out in lieu of addition to doing an extension.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I think we can win the National Championship next year. All the pieces are there for it, plus I assume this will be a Notre Dame revenge tour. There's a chance the Irish only plays 2 ranked teams all year. All games are double digit victories, especially all ACC teams.

We are losing nearly 100% of our backfield production and a true, irreplaceable unicorn in J. Love. JD Price was also incredible. I'm very high on the guys we've recruited but we need them to take huge steps his offseason because our offense looks very different without J. Love erasing bad play calls or busted assignments.

 

[PutuporShutup]

We are losing nearly 100% of our backfield production and a true, irreplaceable unicorn in J. Love. JD Price was also incredible. I'm very high on the guys we've recruited but we need them to take huge steps his offseason because our offense looks very different without J. Love erasing bad play calls or busted assignments.

We're not replacing Jlove that's obvious. Williams and James are completely different builds and styler running backs compared to Love/Price. I'm curious if ND will look to the portal to get a RB with more speed of if they will modify the run schemes to suit williams/james.

What is more important for the run game is having the oline be

Knapp, Billy, Craig, Jagusah or Lambert, Jagusah or Lambert. That is oline capable of moving people around while also pass protecting. Our oline right now is good at pass pro, but isn't moving people around. Otting and Absher and wagner struggle in the run game.

The other key is landing Marsh or another big time WR. Williams and Gilbert are going to be Juniors, so they want the moment, but they haven't shown much on the field to warrant going all in on those two yet.

 

[GowerND11]

Any legit rumors of ND vs usc in Vegas?

I hope that doesn't happen. This game needs to stay in the stadiums of the teams. I'm sick and tired of marquee matchups being in neutral sites.

 

[stlnd01]

I hope that doesn't happen. This game needs to stay in the stadiums of the teams. I'm sick and tired of marquee matchups being in neutral sites.

Agree, and I’m not clear why trading a marquee home game for Vegas is appealing to USC. If they want to play Minnesota or Maryland in Vegas, that seems fine.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

So some quick research 10th highest paid coach makes 13 million highest paid, Andy Reid, 20 million.. got to think ND would do like 15-16 million for Freeman.. he is a fu**ing unicorn.. perfect ND coach.. Plus this never gets mentioned but in college you have to really get up for what 4-5 games?? Maybe 3-4?? NFL is a GRIND

Not in their position obivously but unless you really dislike CFB being a head coach of a blue blood program seems like much better job security than NFL by far. The shelf life for NFL head coaches seems to be very short, while I could see Freeman being ND's head coach for decades if he wanted to.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

We are losing nearly 100% of our backfield production and a true, irreplaceable unicorn in J. Love. JD Price was also incredible. I'm very high on the guys we've recruited but we need them to take huge steps his offseason because our offense looks very different without J. Love erasing bad play calls or busted assignments.

Thankyou.

I haven't read this whole thread yet, but there seems to be a huge pitchfork reaction to the CFP snubbing that suddenly ND is going to annihilate teams next year in route to a championship. I'm actually in "let's see" mode because of losing Love and Price. Love especially was the single biggest reason that Denbrock's playcalling worked out some games. The offense will need to replace a shit ton of production while also showing vast improvement in the Red Zone and kicking game.

I also want to see what happens with the DL this offseason as well as continued positive progress of KVA.