2026 ND Portal Targets

CanadalovesND · Jan 8, 2026

rtrn2glory said:
Gosh I hate to cater but add some online classes for Pete sake.

Everybody everywhere and every profession is moving that direction.

ND does have some in the post-graduate realm, I believe.

NDPhilly · Jan 8, 2026

When you lock kids up before the portal opens, they arent going school-to-school seeing how little actual schoolwork they do. They see a check and the Notre Dame brand.

It seems that agents arent letting their kids get locked up before the portal opens now since it obviously results in higher pricing. That+ Martin not being as experienced as Bowden with this.

Not really sure what the solution is outside of having a list of kids they know for sure are ok with ND's academics.

NDMatt91 · Jan 8, 2026

NDPhilly said:
Literally just signed the #2 class. Number 2. Ahead of OSU, UGA, Miami, Oregon, and other "serious" programs.

We obviously werent prepared for the portal as we were in past years (with ... Chad) but come on.

Agreed. They just need someone to help him with portal recruiting or take it off his plate entirely. Maybe that's the guy from PSU they added?

arrowryan · Jan 8, 2026

NDPhilly said:
Literally just signed the #2 class. Number 2. Ahead of OSU, UGA, Miami, Oregon, and other "serious" programs.

We obviously werent prepared for the portal as we were in past years (with ... Chad) but come on.

There’s unprepared, and there’s whatever this is. This is pretty much negligence.

NDWarrior · Jan 8, 2026

IrishInOntario said:
What people need not forget is that all the same things that ND traditionally struggles with such as location, academics, weather, etc still exist in some recruitments, even when ND is willing to match compensation. Willingness to pay market rates just gets ND on a level playing field, the remainder of the factors in a traditional recruitment, especially for an undergrad student, still exist.

And I'm sure the Cigs MgGuires and Heupels (and their staffs) of the CFB world leverage that highly in competition w/ ND in the portal.

"ND, come one man! You'll need to go to actual classrooms and do at least some studying. Man, you're gonna be making $x mill. playing here, and you'll be getting exposure - including being on ESPN weekly - to make it to The NFL in our conference; no one's gonna see an ND game on NBC. Why would you want to go there and play school? You don't need to do that."

Blazers46 · Jan 8, 2026

When players become employees does that mean the NCAA doesn’t exist and class become optional?

ab2cmiller · Jan 8, 2026

CanadalovesND said:
ND does have some in the post-graduate realm, I believe.

Yes, a quick Google search seemed to indicate that online coursework is common for summer classes and in graduate programs.

Irish5Saint · Jan 8, 2026

rtrn2glory said:
Gosh I hate to cater but add some online classes for Pete sake.

Everybody everywhere and every profession is moving that direction.

No….. that’s one of the lines I don’t think ND should ever cross.

NYDOMER · Jan 8, 2026

NYDOMER · Jan 8, 2026

NYDOMER said:
View attachment 3062159

Might be our best option

FWIrish4 · Jan 8, 2026

How are you a couple years into your college, you’re not a projected 1st or 2nd round pick, and you’re not thinking about something to carry you after football?

You would think the 4 for 40 pitch would hit home more with these guys that are more mature and closer to the reality that football will end.

If the NIL money is similar, the long-term value of ND should be a factor. As an ND fan and a financial planner, it sucks that it isn’t.

NDWarrior · Jan 8, 2026

Irish5Saint said:
No….. that’s one of the lines I don’t think ND should ever cross.

I agree, but maybe over time, ND will open up more classes to an online option. Many schools do that.

Blazers46 · Jan 8, 2026

arrowryan said:
There’s unprepared, and there’s whatever this is. This is pretty much negligence.

I’m fine with agreeing ND is very serious in recruiting and has found a way to be competitive there and also agree ND pooped the bed and negligent or or ready or just simply out of their league with the portal. ND is getting de-pantsed by everyone in the portal.

The players have to see this shit show too, I’m guessing they signed their retention contracts or we would be seeing some defectors leak out from their current roster.

GATTACA! · Jan 8, 2026

JamIrish said:
I think it's things like this that the beat does that makes Freeman want to keep things under wraps. Publicly promoting ND is desperate makes guys think they'll over pay and puts the staff at a disadvantage with negotiating with prospects.

How exactly would you like the beat to put lipstick on this pig?

NDMatt91 · Jan 8, 2026

Blazers46 said:
I’m fine with agreeing ND is very serious in recruiting and has found a way to be competitive there and also agree ND pooped the bed and negligent or or ready or just simply out of their league with the portal. ND is getting de-pantsed by everyone in the portal.

The players have to see this shit show too, I’m guessing they signed their retention contracts or we would be seeing some defectors leak out from their current roster.

If I were a player who came back, in part, to try and win a National Title I'd be pissed.

NDWarrior · Jan 8, 2026

NDWarrior said:
And I'm sure the Cigs MgGuires and Heupels (and their staffs) of the CFB world leverage that highly in competition w/ ND in the portal.

"ND, come one man! You'll need to go to actual classrooms and do at least some studying. Man, you're gonna be making $x mill. playing here, and you'll be getting exposure - including being on ESPN weekly - to make it to The NFL in our conference; no one's gonna see an ND game on NBC. Why would you want to go there and play school? You don't need to do that."

NDPhilly is right, and that's the biggest change in the portal craziness - Agents now getting heavily involved.

I'm sure the coaches say the above, but yes, it's likely the agents say this kind of stuff and drive them away from ND, other than a bidding up school to get out in the press.

Sad thing, the agents just want their cut of the highest bid contract whereas the player may not handle their $ effectively, not make it to the NFL (or fizzle out fast) and be left education-less and broke.

Blazers46 · Jan 8, 2026

NDMatt91 said:
If I were a player who came back, in part, to try and win a National Title I'd be pissed.

Their revenge tour losing steam before spring ball.

2013Irish · Jan 8, 2026

Gilliam's stats are pretty pedestrian. I'm not going to renounce the program because we didn't land him.

calvegas04 · Jan 8, 2026

NDMatt91 said:
Hypothetically, if they need more money, could they get out of a contract of someone like Jaylen Sneed and use his money to get Brewu?

Can't may need him on the line

ab2cmiller · Jan 8, 2026

NDWarrior said:
I agree, but maybe over time, ND will open up more classes to an online option. Many schools do that.

More classes - probably
Significant increase - would be shocked.

Everything about ND’s approach to education or housing is placing value on experiencing the direct human interaction that only in-person can provide.

BoredIrish · Jan 8, 2026

Stupid question but... Are these undergrad transfers actually expected to play school? Didn't Riley Leonard prove this to not be true?

arrowryan · Jan 8, 2026

Blazers46 said:
I’m fine with agreeing ND is very serious in recruiting and has found a way to be competitive there and also agree ND pooped the bed and negligent or or ready or just simply out of their league with the portal. ND is getting de-pantsed by everyone in the portal.

The players have to see this shit show too, I’m guessing they signed their retention contracts or we would be seeing some defectors leak out from their current roster.

I don’t really see why current players would leave. They’re a loaded team and are paid very handsomely.

They are quite literally 2 DTs away from having probably top 3 odds to win the natty next year. Idk the specific reasons why they are having issues. They are so damn close, but of course they’re going to shoot themselves in the foot. It’s disheartening to witness.

CanadalovesND · Jan 8, 2026

ab2cmiller said:
More classes - probably
Significant increase - would be shocked.

Everything about ND’s approach to education or housing is placing value on experiencing the direct human interaction that only in-person can provide.

And that's what college/university should be all about.

I'm amazed that some people here dont see that.

rtrn2glory · Jan 8, 2026

Irish5Saint said:
No….. that’s one of the lines I don’t think ND should ever cross.

I'm all for playing school but this is seems like something that could be more relaxed

I totally understand what everybody is saying. But these kids are not the same generation we grew up in.

NDWarrior · Jan 8, 2026

ab2cmiller said:
More classes - probably
Significant increase - would be shocked.

Everything about ND’s approach to education or housing is placing value on experiencing the direct human interaction that only in-person can provide.

Agreed. I think we all got excited and were thinking it's all about the $, but to still relatively young men - some from low-income households - it's hard to pick school and decent money over easy school and A LOT of $. I really don't know how it can be countered other than applying the same RKG filter to the target TP players and hope ND can get some solid players to support the team's needs.

arndtjc · Jan 8, 2026

CanadalovesND said:
Because they want their students to sit in an actual classroom/lecture hall?

Because we got caught with our pants down in the portal with a month head start

peadeam · Jan 8, 2026

CanadalovesND said:
And that's what college/university should be all about.

I'm amazed that some people here dont see that.

Yes. ND becomes just an average state school once it gives up what makes it unique.

New Englander · Jan 8, 2026

Having one weak position (on paper) isn’t the end of the world. Especially if that one position isn’t QB.

rtrn2glory · Jan 8, 2026

Sorry I went to one of those average state schools....I love ND and the campus is beautiful. But I really value the football program there above literally everything else so I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one

CanadalovesND · Jan 8, 2026

arndtjc said:
Because we got caught with our pants down in the portal with a month head start

They just misjudged the importance of being the first visit. A big oof, yes.

2026 ND Portal Targets

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