Notre Dame enters the early stretch of its 2026 football schedule facing renewed scrutiny over its roster turnover and upcoming opponents. Head coach Marcus Freeman leads the Fighting Irish into his fifth season with heightened national expectations following a preseason ranking of No. 4 in the Associated Press poll, despite personnel changes following departures to the NFL draft.
Roster Turnover and the Backfield Transition
The Fighting Irish must replace standout running back Jeremiyah Love—who finished third in Heisman Trophy voting last season—alongside running back Jadarian Price. Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider expressed confidence in Aneyas Williams to fill the void. Williams totaled 679 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns over his first two seasons, though an elbow injury required offseason surgery. Seider noted that Williams brings proven high-level experience from Notre Dame’s 2024 College Football Playoff run, where he caught five passes for 66 yards in a 27-24 semifinal victory over Penn State.
Offensively, quarterback CJ Carr returns to lead coordinator Mike Denbrock’s offense, while coordinator Chris Ash relies on preseason AP All-Americans including Leonard Moore on the first team, alongside Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Brauntae Johnson on the second team.
Schedule Evaluation and Opponents
An examination of Notre Dame’s non-headliner opponents highlights a distinct lack of early-season resistance among several Power Conference foes. The seven non-headliner Power Conference opponents on the 2026 slate went a combined 10-49 in conference play last year. Through the opening weeks of September, those seven squads hold a combined 2-5 record against Power Conference competition, noting that the schedule could yield opportunities for high-profile matchups later in the autumn if teams like North Carolina or Michigan State exceed expectations.
Meanwhile, major tests loom against ranked opponents later on the calendar. Potential clashes include marquee programs such as Miami and BYU, setting up a critical path for the Irish as they navigate their 2026 campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Notre Dame’s ranking entering the 2026 season? The Associated Press ranked Notre Dame No. 4 in its preseason poll released on August 17.
- Who replaces Jeremiyah Love at running back? Aneyas Williams steps into the primary role following the departure of Love and Jadarian Price to the NFL, according to comments from running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider.
- How did the non-headliner opponents perform previously? The seven non-headliner Power Conference opponents on Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule compiled a combined 10-49 conference record last year.