Looking Ahead to 2026

[IrishLax]

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.

Step 1 is retain Marcus Freeman. Obviously the entire operation goes tits up if we lose him to the NFL somehow.

Step 2 is that you have to get better OL play. It's simply not good enough right now, Love and Price covered up so much bad blocking. Your RBs next year are "good enough" to get similar production if OL play returns to the standard of some past teams.

Step 3 is bring in the best WRs you can find.

Step 4 is bring in the best DL you can find.

You check all four of those boxes and retain key assistant coaches to boot and you've got the best team in the country thanks to Year 2 CJ Carr.

 

[2013Irish]

This is obviously the sort of fan fiction that no one should be engaging in rn, but if they hoist the trophy next year, the first thing out of anyone's mouth should be the list of seniors and early entries from this team who were denied a chance to compete.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

1. Extend Freeman ASAP

2. Freeman & staff have to figure out who they are before September & then work out the kinks in the opening games which next year look more manageable than playing two CFP teams. MF has learned from every mistake but September is still an issue for some reason.

3. Play the Selection Committee final show before EVERY game.

4. He probably won’t run it up too much on his buddy Fickel (plus Wisky is not an ACC team) but he needs to on all the others. The opposing HC will know why. They won’t have to be told.

5. Become the villain. Be Col. Jessup & Darth Vader. Fuck ‘em all & feed ‘em fishheads.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Saturday November 7th.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

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.

I am maybe more of a believer in ND going scorched earth but I think our OL needs to gel early and have an injury-free year because we have some maulers up front. We played without our two best guards and starting center for more than half the season. I think we can run on teams but to be a great running team, we need a clear #1 rare beast.

Passing, I like what we have at QB, TE and WR and I know the staff will target at least one quality add. No concerns.

Defense - if they retain all of the players they deem valuable + add a disruptive DT, this defense is going to be incredible. I am fully sold DCs in their 2nd year, especially with a secondary that returns the best CB in the country, 2 top safeties and massive amount of talent to compete for the other CB/NB spot. Seriously: Christian Gray (frontrunner) Dallas Golden, Cree Thomas, Mark Zachary, Devonta Smith (?), Jadon Blair, Ethan Long, Luke Talich, Brandon Logan, Joey O'Brien, Ayden Pouncey, Khary Adams, Chaston Smith, Nick Reddish.

That's a lot of potential options for 2 positions. Our LBs should again be excellent.

DL:
Traore, Thomas, Burgess Jr., Burnham, Hinish, Mullins, Onye (?), Hughes, Sevilliano, Dixon, Mukham, Bryce Young, Rubio (?), Dunham, Ewatade, Golden, Hola.

Sometimes you get a freshman surprise or a 2nd year bursts onto the scene. We have a lot of potential, need someone to emerge and need Traore and Young to take the next step. Miami had 2 dominant DEs this year, would love to see that with this LB and secondary group.

 

[irishnd31]

Saturday November 7th.

 

[RudyVerse]

Step 1 is retain Marcus Freeman. Obviously the entire operation goes tits up if we lose him to the NFL somehow.

Step 2 is that you have to get better OL play. It's simply not good enough right now, Love and Price covered up so much bad blocking. Your RBs next year are "good enough" to get similar production if OL play returns to the standard of some past teams.

Step 3 is bring in the best WRs you can find.

Step 4 is bring in the best DL you can find.

You check all four of those boxes and retain key assistant coaches to boot and you've got the best team in the country thanks to Year 2 CJ Carr.

Agree with all of this but I think step 4 is damn near #2, especially if Onye cannot get a waiver.

 

[Irish#1]

With the talent returning, I'm saying prayers every night for Love to wake up one morning and say, "Let's run this mother back one more time."

I know, I know so don't even say it. lol

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Saturday November 7th.

Until Miami cancels

 

[NDty9]

USC game is NOT in Vegas… per JB, in Irish Illustrated, several times in the recent past.

 

[NDty9]

With the talent returning, I'm saying prayers every night for Love to wake up one morning and say, "Let's run this mother back one more time."

I know, I know so don't even say it. lol

He already announced on TikTok, he’s gone

 

[Irish#1]

He already announced on TikTok, he’s gone

Can you not read?

 

[yankeehater]

UNDEFEATED AND NATTY!!!!!

 

[NorthDakota]

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.

Next years schedule is set up to be Clemson circa 2015-2018. Should be a bunch of manageable games where ND can iron out issues that every single team has.

I dont know if the team has that kind of ceiling or not but next years schedule is primed for ND to be 12-0 with its big games in the back end of the year.

 

[NDty9]

Can you not read?

Nothing you said clarified that you didn’t know that …. Just referenced that you knew it wasn’t possible. Settle down

 

[IRISHDODGER]

We’ve heard how elite the OL is going to be for awhile now, but injuries have prevented that from happening. Athough they did outgain the entire SEC (sans UGA) last week despite not playing…LOL. Seriously, if they can get all five guys healthy to start the season and get the key backups reps so they’re ready when injuries do arise, I think they’re in good shape.

This will be Year 2 w/ the same QB which hasn’t happened since Ian Book. Hopefully Denbrock can replicate what Year 2 w/ Daniels looked like and the offense can be a well-oiled machine.

TE have a chance to be a pleasant surprise. Not b/c they lack talent but b/c Raridon is out of eligibility (He should apply for an extra year but won’t get it b/c the NCAA blows) and injuries & youth have prevented any of the other TE from stepping up. Ty Washington did enough late in the season to earn a return if he so chooses.

Can’t imagine there being any debate about paying A. Williams to return. Problem is he may get bigger offers from other schools & he had to be demoralized a bit early this season when he was burning a redshirt on ST after a stellar true freshman season under DMc.

Pay Traore whatever the market bears. Hopefully they can hit paydirt in the portal. Raid the G6 & P4 tomato cans.

 

[Chino Cherokee]

Has anyone seen a projected 2026 roster yet? I looked, but can't seem to find anything.

I'm feeling pretty positive that Aneyas Williams and Boubacar Traore are returning. Fingers crossed.

 

[ACamp1900]

I expect ESecPN and others to ramp up a full court press against us next year, seeing it as an opportunity to force us under their umbrella one way or the other,… ND can’t slip up at all or yeah. They need to crush the portal and come ready every game.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I find it fascinating that whoever the ND OC is knows less than a lot of fans on the ND message boards.

 

[rtrn2glory]

The thing that hacks me off about all OC's is they think they can't run the same play/series or whatever more than once. KISS (it really is some really good advice)

 

[NDWarrior]

I kind of see this point in time like OSU a few years back (left out of 2023 playoffs but did play a bowl game I think) where Ryan Day and OSU were pissed off (maybe by Lou Holtz's comments challenging Day and the team's manhood, LOL!) and decided they were gonna spend over $20 mill. (at a time when most teams were not spending that kind of $ yet) and get as many top TP players as possible and build a team made to win the 2024 season NC and they did just that.

This is where ND is: We're mad, we're on a mission, we're dedicated to getting some great players from the portal and it sounds like will have more $ than the brand has ever had... It's ND against the (evil ESPN/SEC controlled) world!

Go Irish!!! 🍀🍀🍀

 

[GATTACA!]

I find it fascinating that whoever the ND OC is knows less than a lot of fans on the ND message boards.

I wouldn’t be so sure now that 2008 is gone.

 

[Islandboi]

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.

Lax. Are you worried about who's gonna replace Love and Price?

 

[stpeteirish]

The thing that hacks me off about all OC's is they think they can't run the same play/series or whatever more than once. KISS (it really is some really good advice)

Has anyone seen a projected 2026 roster yet? I looked, but can't seem to find anything.

I'm feeling pretty positive that Aneyas Williams and Boubacar Traore are returning. Fingers crossed.

Tough to predict until the end of the portal period which is late Jan. There are always surprises

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Lax. Are you worried about who's gonna replace Love and Price?

Not Lax, apologies for giving you an answer when you didn't request it. I think there will always be some hesitation in suggesting a replacement for Love and Price. Some players are irreplaceable.

The staff were 'surprisingly high' on Nolan James as a freshman. And we've seen Aneyas Williams run hard in limited opportunities. Kedren is a huge question mark given the injuries but looks like a brick shithouse. The two freshman are also very intriguing.

They are recruiting RB really well and if the OL can improve on this last year, there's no reason to believe we can't be a very good rushing offense. I think we'll all need to see it before we can have faith in anyone.

 

[tecateparty]

I would love to see a transfer come in to pair with A. WIlliams. Williams has great speed and vision, we have clearly seen him break some great runs this year, but I think he's a bit too small to be THE guy.

 

[IrishLax]

Not Lax, apologies for giving you an answer when you didn't request it. I think there will always be some hesitation in suggesting a replacement for Love and Price. Some players are irreplaceable.

The staff were 'surprisingly high' on Nolan James as a freshman. And we've seen Aneyas Williams run hard in limited opportunities. Kedren is a huge question mark given the injuries but looks like a brick shithouse. The two freshman are also very intriguing.

They are recruiting RB really well and if the OL can improve on this last year, there's no reason to believe we can't be a very good rushing offense. I think we'll all need to see it before we can have faith in anyone.

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.

 

[calvegas04]

Don't we have some other high rated RBs in the room?

 

[IRISHbluehen]

Don't we have some other high rated RBs in the room?

A Williams: Certainly a lot of promise and successful when asked to make plays, can he be the main guy?
K Young: Relative unknown, ran tough in garbage time last year, now coming back from an ACL
N James: Coaches love him, still an unknown
G Payne: Will be on another roster
JO: Freshman
JW: Freshman

If a stud wants to come, you absolutely take him if that means the team as a whole will be better. Can't shy away from an NFL type back because you might lose Kedren Young to the portal because of it.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I would love to see a transfer come in to pair with A. WIlliams. Williams has great speed and vision, we have clearly seen him break some great runs this year, but I think he's a bit too small to be THE guy.

I wouldn't say he has great speed. Jeremiah Love had great speed. Best case scenario he can be Kyren Williams and be football fast. Granted he does seem to get loose more than I thought he would be, but he's not the angle destroyer that J Love is/was