Looking Ahead to 2026

allenm5333 · Dec 10, 2025

IrishLax said:
Agreed, you simply cannot replace Love who will be a top NFL pick. With that being said, if you block better than Williams is more than good enough to be super productive. Aneyas Williams has a lot of comps to Kyren Williams. We will be fine at RB, even with the drop off from Love it's a loaded position group assuming that they don't lose a bunch of guys to the portal.

You gotta hope the OL improves enough to offset the loss of Love. Williams (or Price) won't be able to do the magnificent like Love. But with better blocking, the magnificent wont be necessary

IRISHDODGER · Jan 3, 2026

Enjoy

texbender · Jan 3, 2026

2026 Opponents 2025 records
WI 4-8, no bowl, @ Lambeau Field
Rice 5-8, lost bowl
MSU 4-8, no bowl
@PU 2-10, no bowl
@UNC 4-8, no bowl
SMU 9-4, won bowl
@BYU 12-2, won bowl
Navy 12-2, won bowl, @ Gillete Stadium
UM 13-2*, 2-0 in CFP and still playing
@SYR 3-9, no bowl
BC, 2-10, no bowl

Jimmy3Putt · Jan 3, 2026

texbender said:
2026 Opponents 2025 records
WI 4-8, no bowl, @ Lambeau Field
Rice 5-8, lost bowl
MSU 4-8, no bowl
@PU 2-10, no bowl
@UNC 4-8, no bowl
SMU 9-4, won bowl
@BYU 12-2, won bowl
Navy 12-2, won bowl, @ Gillete Stadium
UM 13-2*, 2-0 in CFP and still playing
@SYR 3-9, no bowl
BC, 2-10, no bowl

is the Stanford game not finalized?

texbender · Jan 3, 2026

Jimmy3Putt said:
is the Stanford game not finalized?

My bad. Updated below, exact order not set in stone at this time.

2026 Opponents 2025 records
WI 4-8, no bowl, @ Lambeau Field
Rice 5-8, lost bowl
MSU 4-8, no bowl
@PU 2-10, no bowl
@UNC 4-8, no bowl
SMU 9-4, won bowl
Stanford 4-8, no bowl
@BYU 12-2, won bowl
Navy 12-2, won bowl, @ Gillete Stadium
UM 13-2*, 2-0 in CFP and still playing
@SYR 3-9, no bowl
BC, 2-10, no bowl

Bluto · Jan 3, 2026

IRISHDODGER said:
Enjoy

if I had to come up with a pro comparison I’d say Brock Purdy. Accurate, uses the whole field, good pocket presence and is sneaky athletic when he needs to be.

NDWarrior · Jan 3, 2026

One thing I like about the 2026 schedule is that the most difficult matchups are scheduled from October to early November which is good for showing strong in the CFP polls that start right at the end of that run.

stlnd01 · Jan 3, 2026

texbender said:
My bad. Updated below, exact order not set in stone at this time.

2026 Opponents 2025 records
WI 4-8, no bowl, @ Lambeau Field
Rice 5-8, lost bowl
MSU 4-8, no bowl
@PU 2-10, no bowl
@UNC 4-8, no bowl
SMU 9-4, won bowl
Stanford 4-8, no bowl
@BYU 12-2, won bowl
Navy 12-2, won bowl, @ Gillete Stadium
UM 13-2*, 2-0 in CFP and still playing
@SYR 3-9, no bowl
BC, 2-10, no bowl

Who are we supposed to play Thanksgiving weekend?

I know a few of the home games haven’t been scheduled yet, but it’s been 50 years since we’ve had a home game on Thanksgiving weekend. Students won’t be around, etc. Seems unlikely.

Assuming BYU is in October (as has been reported out there) the only road game left to schedule is Syracuse. So I guess that’d be the answer but, jeez, late November in upstate New York feels kinda grim.

Any other ideas?

stpeteirish · Jan 3, 2026

Go back to Stanford the last weekend. Then home in 2027.

KPENN · Jan 3, 2026

stlnd01 said:
Who are we supposed to play Thanksgiving weekend?

I know a few of the home games haven’t been scheduled yet, but it’s been 50 years since we’ve had a home game on Thanksgiving weekend. Students won’t be around, etc. Seems unlikely.

Assuming BYU is in October (as has been reported out there) the only road game left to schedule is Syracuse. So I guess that’d be the answer but, jeez, late November in upstate New York feels kinda grim.

Any other ideas?

Hey now, watch it. But yeah, it definitely can be. At least it’ll be inside the beautiful Carrier Dome.

FWIW my SU people say the ND game is gonna be November 14th

Dizzyphil · Jan 3, 2026

texbender said:
My bad. Updated below, exact order not set in stone at this time.

2026 Opponents 2025 records
WI 4-8, no bowl, @ Lambeau Field
Rice 5-8, lost bowl
MSU 4-8, no bowl
@PU 2-10, no bowl
@UNC 4-8, no bowl
SMU 9-4, won bowl
Stanford 4-8, no bowl
@BYU 12-2, won bowl
Navy 12-2, won bowl, @ Gillete Stadium
UM 13-2*, 2-0 in CFP and still playing
@SYR 3-9, no bowl
BC, 2-10, no bowl

I'm optimistic about next year even with the exit of some transfers out. I also have to admit that outside of Miami, the 2026 Irish schedule is a C+ rating at best.

With that said, the Irish will probably pick up 5-6 portal transfers that help. The Irish will need to really beat the shit out of everyone on the schedule; which I honestly believe they will with the exception of Miami depending on who they get coming in through the portal (Irish should win, but need to win handily).

Irish need to meet or beat the spread each game - and do it with a hammer.

texbender · Jan 4, 2026

Should ND consider playing Hawaii every now and then to close out the season? Would keep the island recruiting connection going, and not a bad place to end up for Thanksgiving weekend. And coaches can stop in CA on way home for final round of west coast visits.

NDhoosier · Jan 4, 2026

texbender said:
Should ND consider playing Hawaii every now and then to close out the season? Would keep the island recruiting connection going, and not a bad place to end up for Thanksgiving weekend. And coaches can stop in CA on way home for final round of west coast visits.

I really like ND making that happen, like you said, for the recruiting aspect of it. ND will become more synonymous with Hawaii than USC.

DillonHall · Jan 4, 2026

texbender said:
Should ND consider playing Hawaii every now and then to close out the season? Would keep the island recruiting connection going, and not a bad place to end up for Thanksgiving weekend. And coaches can stop in CA on way home for final round of west coast visits.

When we have to consider alternatives like this, it’s obviously time to just join a conference. Fly 10 hours just to play a meaningless game? No thanks

Hautian Domer · Jan 4, 2026

Is the schedule and dates finalized for 2026?

stpeteirish · Jan 4, 2026

KPENN said:
Hey now, watch it. But yeah, it definitely can be. At least it’ll be inside the beautiful Carrier Dome.

FWIW my SU people say the ND game is gonna be November 14th

texbender said:
Should ND consider playing Hawaii every now and then to close out the season? Would keep the island recruiting connection going, and not a bad place to end up for Thanksgiving weekend. And coaches can stop in CA on way home for final round of west coast visits.

But our SOS is already not good, adding Hawaii will make it worse.

Jimmy3Putt · Jan 4, 2026

stpeteirish said:
But our SOS is already not good, adding Hawaii will make it worse.

SOS doesn't matter unless you lose 2-3 of those games.

Katzenboyer · Jan 4, 2026

texbender said:
Should ND consider playing Hawaii every now and then to close out the season? Would keep the island recruiting connection going, and not a bad place to end up for Thanksgiving weekend. And coaches can stop in CA on way home for final round of west coast visits.

Normally I'd agree this is a good idea, but the CFP committee just clearly showed us that the "13th data point" is a myth. In the four team playoff, it mattered; now, I'm not sure it's even worth it.

KizerRolls · Jan 4, 2026

It looks like the 2027-2029 schedules all have 10 games locked in. Does that almost guarantee 2 group of 6 opponents/UCONN in those seasons? I would think a Clemson type deal with any two of: Boise/JMU/SDSU/Wazzou may be an option. Continue the BYU series past ‘27 if possible as well.

Hautian Domer · Jan 4, 2026

KizerRolls said:
It looks like the 2027-2029 schedules all have 10 games locked in. Does that almost guarantee 2 group of 6 opponents/UCONN in those seasons? I would think a Clemson type deal with any two of: Boise/JMU/SDSU/Wazzou may be an option. Continue the BYU series past ‘27 if possible as well.

They’re going to need to do a lot better than that. I hear it all the time from friends (the weakness of ND’s schedule). It gets old. But, to be honest here, these schedules aren’t fun for me, the alum/fan. One or two big games and then a bunch of cannon fodder…I can’t work up the muster to get to South Bend with a lot of these teams we face.

IrishTusker · Jan 4, 2026

Hautian Domer said:
They’re going to need to do a lot better than that. I hear it all the time from friends (the weakness of ND’s schedule). It gets old. But, to be honest here, these schedules aren’t fun for me, the alum/fan. One or two big games and then a bunch of cannon fodder…I can’t work up the muster to get to South Bend with a lot of these teams we face.

Yeah, Alabama and OU played tough schedules on paper. It means nothing. What matters for the playoff is going 12-0 or 11-1. That basically guarantees you a spot regardless of SOS.

Hautian Domer · Jan 4, 2026

IrishTusker said:
Yeah, Alabama and OU played tough schedules on paper. It means nothing. What matters for the playoff is going 12-0 or 11-1. That basically guarantees you a spot regardless of SOS.

I know, but I’m just saying, I’m at the point it isn’t worth it to travel 3.5 - 4 hours and back for the bulk of these games.

KizerRolls · Jan 4, 2026

Hautian Domer said:
They’re going to need to do a lot better than that. I hear it all the time from friends (the weakness of ND’s schedule). It gets old. But, to be honest here, these schedules aren’t fun for me, the alum/fan. One or two big games and then a bunch of cannon fodder…I can’t work up the muster to get to South Bend with a lot of these teams we face.

Yes, those future schedules are much tougher than 2026 though. Just need to fill in the gaps a bit.

texbender · Jan 4, 2026

Gotta remember that for scheduling it takes two to tango. ND can want for all kind of premier match ups, but it will ultimately depend on another opponent wanting to play. Does ND control who they play vs ACC teams? And now it seems we are seeing pushback from teams to even agree to play us. Ending every other season in LA vs USC is over. Should ND dump the "home" game played away and bring it back to campus? Season ticket holders overpay for the slate we get. Next year our 2 games are SMU and UM, and throw in Wisky if you want to pay extra for that.

Terry Jillery · Jan 4, 2026

September 6 feels so far away. This has to be the most frustrating ending to a season in my 40+ years. There’s 0 ND football being discussed outside our fan base. Ugh.

Jimmy3Putt · Jan 4, 2026

Terry Jillery said:
September 6 feels so far away. This has to be the most frustrating ending to a season in my 40+ years. There’s 0 ND football being discussed outside our fan base. Ugh.

The end of the season was so sudden and jolting. I think one could compare it to a death, but obviously on a much, much, much lower level of emotion.

Rudy89 · Jan 4, 2026

The Broncos are the 1 seed if they win the Super Bowl I’ll be nervous again because the last time they won the Super Bowl was 2016…definitely have to keep my $165 bets going to try and please the football gods…

Katzenboyer · Jan 4, 2026

Terry Jillery said:
September 6 feels so far away. This has to be the most frustrating ending to a season in my 40+ years. There’s 0 ND football being discussed outside our fan base. Ugh.

I feel the same way. I have never, ever felt as high about the program as I was walking out of the Orange Bowl last year. Finally felt like we were turning a corner.

Not saying that we haven't, but to go from that to not playing meaningful football in December has been such a kick in the dick.

DillonHall · Jan 4, 2026

Almost nothing in life is linear. I still have a lot of faith in this program as long as Freeman is the head coach

TNUtoNotreDame · Jan 5, 2026

texbender said:
Gotta remember that for scheduling it takes two to tango. ND can want for all kind of premier match ups, but it will ultimately depend on another opponent wanting to play. Does ND control who they play vs ACC teams? And now it seems we are seeing pushback from teams to even agree to play us. Ending every other season in LA vs USC is over. Should ND dump the "home" game played away and bring it back to campus? Season ticket holders overpay for the slate we get. Next year our 2 games are SMU and UM, and throw in Wisky if you want to pay extra for that.

Right now we provide the dates the ACC provides the teams. We are trying to tweak it but no luck.

Looking Ahead to 2026

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