Notre Dame Fighting Irish - A to Z Sports

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - A to Z Sports
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  1. 3d ago

    Notre Dame's Run Game Has A BIG Problem... Here's The Fix

    Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Notre Dame football has a run-game problem that may have a surprisingly simple solution. Ryan Roberts breaks down the adjustment he believes could help unlock the Fighting Irish rushing attack heading into Notre Dame's matchup with North Carolina. The Irish ran for 177 yards against Purdue and averaged more than five yards per carry, their best rushing performance of the season. But Ryan believes there is still plenty of room for improvement. The biggest issue may be predictability. Notre Dame is heavily reliant on zone concepts, particularly inside zone, and opposing defenses have increasingly been able to identify when CJ Carr is simply handing the football to a running back. Ryan also points out that Notre Dame has not used much play action. He notes that only 18.3% of Notre Dame's passes were play action last season and says there was very little play action against Purdue this season. That predictability can make the running game more difficult than it needs to be. Notre Dame also does not have the same explosive "get out of jail free card" it had with Jeremiyah Love and Price. Ryan believes Nolan James Jr., Williams and Jonas Walton are good running backs, but the Irish need to create better numbers advantages for them. The timing of this discussion is especially interesting with North Carolina coming up. Ryan believes the Tar Heels have enough talent along the defensive line to create problems for Notre Dame, including Xavier Lewis, Jaylen Harvey and the expected return of Notre Dame's previously discussed pass-rush threat. That could make early-down efficiency and the Notre Dame run game particularly important. Ryan's prediction? Notre Dame 38, North Carolina 10. He expects the Fighting Irish to potentially start slowly on the road, but ultimately believes Notre Dame's talent wins out and the Irish cover the 21.5-point spread discussed in the video. What do you think Notre Dame needs to change in the run game? Should the Irish use more play action? More RPOs? Occasional zone reads? Or is the current approach fine? Ryan Roberts breaks down the Notre Dame run game, the potential schematic adjustment and his prediction for Notre Dame vs. North Carolina. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, game previews, postgame analysis, recruiting updates, transfer portal coverage, College Football Playoff discussion and year-round Notre Dame content. Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 00:00 Notre Dame's Run Game Needs An Adjustment 00:42 Notre Dame vs North Carolina Prediction 02:22 The Run Game Problem 02:46 Notre Dame's Best Rushing Performance 03:06 Why Notre Dame Is Too Predictable 03:29 The Nolan James Jr. Example 04:18 What Notre Dame Is Missing 05:01 Defenses Know What's Coming 06:17 The 16-Game CJ Carr Sample 06:57 More Play Action, Not More QB Runs 07:41 Why RPOs Could Help 08:16 Notre Dame Needs To Weaponize CJ Carr 08:57 The Numbers Advantage 09:34 Ryan's Notre Dame vs UNC Prediction #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  2. 5d ago

    Notre Dame Must Be READY For North Carolina's Defense...

    Notre Dame football is a heavy favorite against Bill Belichick and North Carolina, but the Fighting Irish cannot afford to overlook the Tar Heels' defense. Ryan Roberts breaks down the biggest defensive threat North Carolina brings into Saturday's matchup in Chapel Hill, including an underrated pass rush that could create problems for CJ Carr and Notre Dame's offensive line. North Carolina is allowing a little over 13 points per game this season and has been particularly impressive against the pass. The Tar Heels are allowing just 189 passing yards per game while opponents are completing 67% of their passes. North Carolina has also allowed only about six yards per pass attempt. The biggest reason for that success? The pass rush. Ryan highlights several North Carolina defenders who Notre Dame needs to account for, including the return of one of the Tar Heels' most talented pass rushers after he missed the last two games with a wrist injury. Ryan also highlights Xavier Lewis, who has recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and six sacks through three games. Lewis is an undersized defensive tackle who plays with excellent leverage and a strong first step. Jaylen Harvey provides another challenge off the edge. The younger pass rusher already has two sacks and three tackles for loss and gives North Carolina another player capable of creating pressure. That means Notre Dame's offensive line has a major assignment. Sullivan Absher, Anthonie Knapp and Ashton Craig will need to be ready to handle a defensive front that can attack from multiple positions and with different body types. The biggest key may be protecting CJ Carr. Carr is athletic enough to escape pressure, but Ryan believes he is at his best when he can operate in structure with clean vision. If North Carolina consistently gets defenders in his face, it could disrupt the entire Notre Dame passing game. That is how the Tar Heels can make this game more competitive than expected. North Carolina probably does not need to shut down Notre Dame's offense. It needs to create enough negative plays, third-and-long situations and early pressure to keep the Fighting Irish from establishing rhythm. If Notre Dame's offensive line protects Carr, however, the matchup changes. That would give Carr time to get the ball out to Jordan Faison, Micah Gilbert and the rest of Notre Dame's receiving weapons, creating opportunities for explosive plays. Ryan does not expect North Carolina to pull the upset, but he believes the Tar Heels' defense is being significantly underrated heading into this matchup. Can Notre Dame avoid another slow start? Will the Fighting Irish offensive line hold up against North Carolina's pass rush? And can CJ Carr stay clean enough for Notre Dame's passing game to take over? Ryan Roberts breaks down the biggest defensive concerns for Notre Dame against North Carolina. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, game previews, postgame analysis, recruiting updates, transfer portal coverage, College Football Playoff discussion and year-round Notre Dame content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #NorthCarolina #UNCFootball #CollegeFootball Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 00:00 Notre Dame vs North Carolina Defensive Preview 00:44 Why UNC's Defense Is Being Overlooked 02:01 North Carolina's Defense Is Legit 03:20 The Return Of UNC's Best Pass Rusher 04:25 Notre Dame's Offensive Tackles Have To Be Ready 05:00 Xavier Lewis Could Cause Problems 05:49 Why CJ Carr Is The Key 06:19 Jaylen Harvey Adds Another Pass-Rush Threat 07:02 A HUGE Game For Notre Dame's Offensive Line 07:36 How Notre Dame Can Beat The Pass Rush 08:21 Final Thoughts #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  3. 6d ago

    Notre Dame vs North Carolina Has A WILD Coaching Matchup...

    BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame football is heading to Chapel Hill to face Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels, and the matchup between Marcus Freeman and Belichick may be one of the most fascinating coaching contrasts in college football. Notre Dame enters the game looking to move to 5-0 and continue its pursuit of a deep College Football Playoff run. North Carolina, meanwhile, has an opportunity to pull off a major upset against one of the top teams in the country. But beyond the teams themselves, the coaching matchup is incredibly unusual. Marcus Freeman and Bill Belichick are both defensive-minded coaches, but that's about where the similarities largely end. Freeman is 40 years old, while Belichick is 74. The 34-year age gap is just the beginning. Belichick spent 49 years coaching in the NFL, including 29 seasons as an NFL head coach. He spent 24 years as the head coach of the New England Patriots and five years as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. According to the career figures discussed in this video, Belichick has 302 NFL wins, including 266 with New England and 36 with Cleveland. Marcus Freeman, meanwhile, entered the North Carolina matchup with 47 wins as a college head coach. The experience gap is almost impossible to comprehend. Bill Belichick had already been coaching in the NFL for 11 years when Marcus Freeman was born. Belichick began his NFL coaching career with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. By 1986, when Freeman was born, Belichick was already the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants under Bill Parcells. That 1986 Giants team would go on to win the Super Bowl, giving Belichick his first Super Bowl championship as a coach. Freeman wouldn't begin his playing career at Ohio State until 2004. The two coaches also arrived at their current positions in completely different ways. Freeman became Notre Dame's head coach in 2021 after serving as the Fighting Irish defensive coordinator. He had never been a head coach before being elevated to the position. Belichick arrived at North Carolina after nearly five decades of coaching exclusively in professional football. He had never coached at the college level before taking over the Tar Heels. That makes both hires unconventional, just in completely different ways. Freeman was an unconventional hire because Notre Dame promoted a coach with no previous head-coaching experience. Belichick was an unconventional hire because one of the most accomplished coaches in NFL history made the jump to college football after decades in the professional game. Now they meet on the same field. Notre Dame is trying to remain undefeated and continue building toward its College Football Playoff goals, while Belichick and North Carolina are looking to deliver a major upset at home. Ryan Roberts breaks down the fascinating contrast between Marcus Freeman and Bill Belichick, their coaching backgrounds, the enormous experience gap and why this matchup is unlike almost anything else in college football. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, game previews, postgame analysis, recruiting updates, transfer portal coverage, College Football Playoff discussion and year-round Notre Dame content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #MarcusFreeman #BillBelichick #NorthCarolina #CollegeFootball Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  4. Sep 28

    Notre Dame Just Got Some BRUTAL Injury News...

    BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame football just received two major injury updates from head coach Marcus Freeman, and they couldn't be more different. The good news: senior safety Luke Talich is expected to return for Notre Dame's trip to North Carolina. The bad news: Ohio State transfer wide receiver Quincy Porter will miss the remainder of the 2026 season and undergo knee surgery. Ryan Roberts breaks down both injury updates, what they mean for Notre Dame's roster and the biggest depth questions the Fighting Irish now have to answer. Talich's return is a major boost for Notre Dame's defense. Talich suffered a broken thumb and underwent a minor surgical procedure last week. He had been seen wearing a cast, but he is expected to return against North Carolina while protecting the injured hand. That is especially important because Notre Dame is already without Brauntae Johnson, who is recovering from his own injury. Despite those injuries, Notre Dame's safety room continues to look incredibly deep. Freshman Joey O'Brien stepped into the starting lineup against Purdue and performed well, including contributing to a sack with Boubacar. Adon Shuler remains a key piece of the secondary, while Ethan Long provides additional depth. Tae Johnson is also expected to return within the next couple of weeks. Notre Dame may now have more safety depth than it has had in years. But the Quincy Porter news is a different story. Porter, who transferred to Notre Dame from Ohio State, will miss the rest of the season and undergo knee surgery. Porter was one of the most anticipated additions to the Notre Dame roster. He was a five-star recruit coming out of Bergen Catholic in New Jersey and entered Notre Dame with the expectation that he could eventually become the team's starting boundary receiver. Notre Dame will now have to move forward without him. Fortunately, Micah Gilbert has emerged as a major part of the passing attack. Gilbert currently leads Notre Dame with 337 receiving yards, while Jordan Faison has continued to establish himself as one of the team's most reliable offensive weapons. But Porter was also supposed to provide something Notre Dame still needs: depth at boundary receiver. Jaden Greathouse and Mylan Graham have combined for just nine receptions and 122 yards, leaving Notre Dame with questions about who can consistently contribute outside of Gilbert. That means the Fighting Irish could need more from Greathouse and Graham, while younger players such as Jerome Bettis Jr., Elijah Burris and Devin Fitzgerald could have opportunities to earn more snaps. Notre Dame also has the option of moving Gilbert around more frequently and finding creative ways to get its best receivers on the field together. The immediate impact of Porter's injury is significant, but it does not necessarily define his future in South Bend. Porter is still young and has multiple years of eligibility remaining. For now, however, Notre Dame has to figure out its boundary receiver depth without him. Ryan Roberts breaks down the latest Notre Dame injury news, Luke Talich's return, Quincy Porter's season-ending injury and what both developments mean for the Fighting Irish moving forward. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, injury updates, game previews, postgame analysis, recruiting coverage, transfer portal news and year-round Notre Dame content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #QuincyPorter #LukeTalich Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 0:00 Notre Dame Gets Two Major Injury Updates 0:35 Luke Talich Is Returning 1:45 What Talich's Return Means For The Safety Room 3:45 The BAD News On Quincy Porter 4:30 Why Porter's Injury Is So Disappointing 5:30 Micah Gilbert Changes The Equation 6:25 Notre Dame's Boundary WR Depth Problem 7:00 Who Can Step Up? 7:45 The Long-Term Outlook For Quincy Porter #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  5. Sep 25

    Notre Dame Has A HUGE Opportunity Against Purdue...

    Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Notre Dame football is one win away from moving to 5-0, and the Fighting Irish have a major opportunity against the Purdue Boilermakers. Ryan Roberts breaks down Notre Dame vs. Purdue, including the biggest storylines, key matchups, players to watch and his final score prediction. His prediction: Notre Dame 45 Purdue 17 The biggest question entering this matchup is whether Notre Dame can finally get its rushing attack moving. The Fighting Irish showed progress against Michigan State, rushing for 161 yards as a team while Nolan James Jr. recorded the first 100-yard rushing game of his Notre Dame career. But Ryan believes that still is not enough. For Notre Dame to reach its goals this season, the running game needs to continue improving. Purdue presents the perfect opportunity because the Boilermakers have struggled stopping the run, allowing more than 200 rushing yards per game. Purdue recently allowed UCLA to rush for 370 yards, and Ryan believes Notre Dame should be able to attack that weakness. His expectation: Notre Dame rushes for more than 200 yards. If the Irish can establish the run, it should open up the passing game for CJ Carr. Notre Dame's quarterback has already shown the ability to attack defenses vertically, and Ryan believes forcing Purdue to bring extra defenders into the box will create opportunities for explosive plays through the air. Micah Gilbert is coming off a breakout performance against Michigan State with eight catches for 170 yards, while Jordan Faison has continued to make the most of his opportunities. Ryan also wants to see Notre Dame involve its tight ends more in the passing game after limited production through the first three games. Defensively, Notre Dame faces a Purdue offense led by quarterback Ryan Brown. Brown has improved significantly compared to last season and gives Purdue the ability to create explosive plays both through the air and with his legs. Ryan believes Purdue can score points, which is why he has the Boilermakers reaching 17 points. However, he expects Notre Dame's defense to take over in the second half. The key matchup? Notre Dame's defensive line against Purdue's offense. Ryan wants to see big performances from Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young, Rodney Dunham and Keon Keely. If Notre Dame builds a lead and forces Purdue into obvious passing situations, he believes the Irish defensive front can create major problems. Can Notre Dame finally establish the running game? Will CJ Carr and the passing attack explode? Can Notre Dame's defensive line dominate? Ryan Roberts breaks down Notre Dame vs. Purdue and gives his final prediction. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, game previews, postgame analysis, recruiting updates, transfer portal coverage and year-round Notre Dame content. ****** Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: ***** #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #PurdueFootball #CollegeFootball

  6. Sep 24

    The Notre Dame-BYU debate that BYU fans are completely WRONG about!

    Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. The BYU vs Notre Dame football matchup is still weeks away, but the debate between the two fan bases has already started. The biggest question: How many BYU defenders would actually start for Notre Dame? After a viral discussion on social media about the talent level of BYU's defense compared to Notre Dame's defense, Ryan Roberts breaks down the individual players and explains which Cougars defenders could realistically earn starting jobs for the Fighting Irish. The answer? Ryan believes there are only one or two BYU defenders who would legitimately start for Notre Dame. The first is linebacker Cade Uluave Uluave transferred to BYU after earning All-ACC recognition at Cal and has quickly become one of the best linebackers in college football. Ryan believes he is a legitimate difference-maker and would likely start alongside Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa for Notre Dame. The other player with a realistic argument is cornerback Evan Johnson. Johnson is an excellent player who could compete for a starting role at outside corner or potentially challenge for the nickel position. Ryan does not believe he would replace Leonard Moore, but believes there is a legitimate conversation about where Johnson fits in Notre Dame's secondary. Beyond those two players, Ryan believes the gap is much larger than some BYU fans are suggesting. Keanu Tanuvasa is a talented defensive tackle, but Ryan views him as more of a rotational player rather than someone who would immediately take over a starting job at Notre Dame. Isaiah Glasker has impressive statistics and production, but Ryan believes Notre Dame's linebacker depth would prevent him from becoming a starter. BYU safety Tanner Wall is a good player, but Ryan does not believe he would start over Notre Dame's safety group of Adon Shuler, Brauntae Johnson and Luke Talich. Tausili Akana is another talented edge rusher, but Ryan believes Notre Dame's defensive line rotation with players like Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young, Keon Keeley and Rodney Dunham would prevent him from becoming a starter. This conversation is not meant to disrespect BYU. Ryan believes BYU has a talented roster, a strong coaching staff and several players who could help Notre Dame. He specifically highlights LJ Martin as a player he believes would immediately become Notre Dame's RB1. But when comparing the two defenses, Ryan believes Notre Dame still has the deeper and more talented unit. The Fighting Irish secondary, in particular, may be the deepest group Notre Dame has had in South Bend in a very long time. So who is right? Would multiple BYU defenders actually start for Notre Dame? Or is the gap between the two defenses bigger than some fans believe? Ryan Roberts breaks down the BYU vs Notre Dame defensive talent debate. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, recruiting updates, transfer portal coverage, game previews, player evaluations and year-round college football content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #BYUFootball #FightingIrish #CollegeFootball ***** Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: **** 0:00 BYU vs Notre Dame Defensive Debate 1:05 Why This Became A Viral Conversation 3:00 Would BYU Have 5-6 Starters At Notre Dame? 5:45 Cade Uluave Is The Clear Answer 7:00 Evan Johnson Has A Real Argument 8:00 Keanu Vasa Debate 9:20 Isaiah Glasker Debate 10:30 BYU Safety vs Notre Dame Safety 11:30 BYU Edge Rushers vs Notre Dame 13:00 Final Answer: How Many Would Start? #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  7. Sep 22

    Notre Dame's Safety Situation Just Got MUCH More Complicated...

    BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame football could have another important question to answer at safety heading into Friday night's matchup against Purdue. Senior safety Luke Talich is currently listed as questionable with a left wrist/hand injury after playing a major role in Notre Dame's 27-10 victory over Michigan State. Ryan Roberts breaks down the latest on Talich, what his potential absence would mean for Notre Dame's defense and how the Fighting Irish could handle another challenge at safety. Talich has become an increasingly important piece of Notre Dame's defense after Tae Johnson suffered a foot injury in the season opener. Against Michigan State, Talich delivered one of the best games of his Notre Dame career. He finished with three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup. His versatility has also made him particularly valuable. Notre Dame has been able to move Talich around the defense, using him at safety, near the line of scrimmage and as a blitzer. His size and athleticism also give the Fighting Irish another option when matching up against bigger receivers and tight ends. Now Notre Dame could potentially have to play without him against Purdue. Head coach Marcus Freeman said Notre Dame was still evaluating the injury and would have a better idea of Talich's availability after further testing. The current injury report lists Talich as questionable. The good news is that the injury does not currently appear to be viewed as a long-term absence. Freeman indicated that Notre Dame was determining whether Talich could potentially play with the hand taped or casted or whether he would need roughly a week to recover. But even a short absence would matter. Notre Dame is already without Tae Johnson, meaning another injury at safety would put more responsibility on the rest of the secondary. Freshman Joey O'Brien is one potential option who could see his role increase if Talich is unable to play. The situation also raises a fascinating question about Notre Dame's secondary when everyone eventually gets healthy. With Johnson, Adon Shuler and Talich all available, the Fighting Irish could have the ability to deploy three safeties in creative ways. Talich's versatility could allow Notre Dame to move him around the defense while using Johnson as a rangy deep safety and Shuler closer to the box. That could become one of the more interesting defensive packages for Notre Dame as the season progresses. But first, the Fighting Irish need to get through Purdue. Can Notre Dame afford to lose Luke Talich for this game? Who would replace him if he cannot play? Could Joey O'Brien be ready for a larger role? And what does Talich's emergence mean for Notre Dame's secondary once Tae Johnson returns? Ryan Roberts breaks down the latest Luke Talich injury news and what it means for Notre Dame football. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, injury updates, game previews, postgame analysis, recruiting coverage, transfer portal news and year-round Notre Dame content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #LukeTalich #CollegeFootball Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 0:00 Notre Dame Has Another Safety Injury 0:35 What Happened To Luke Talich? 1:30 Talich's HUGE Michigan State Performance 2:35 Why Talich Has Become So Important 4:00 What The Injury Means For Purdue 5:10 Could Joey O'Brien Step In? 6:15 Notre Dame's Safety Depth 7:30 The Bigger Picture With Tae Johnson 8:40 Could Notre Dame Use 3 Safeties? 9:35 Final Thoughts #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  8. Sep 21

    Notre Dame's National Championship Checklist Has ONE Problem...

    BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Is Notre Dame football actually good enough to win a national championship? After three games of the 2026 season, we finally have enough evidence to start answering that question. Notre Dame is 3-0 after wins over Wisconsin, Rice and Michigan State, and Ryan Roberts is putting the Fighting Irish through a five-part national championship checklist to determine whether this roster has what it takes to make a deep College Football Playoff run. The checklist covers five critical areas: Quarterback play Offensive line Defensive line Defensive playmakers Turnovers and the ability to avoid beating yourself And through three games, Ryan believes Notre Dame has checked four of those five boxes. The first box is quarterback play, and CJ Carr has gotten off to an excellent start. Carr has thrown for more than 700 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions while completing more than 70% of his passes. Ryan believes the redshirt sophomore has taken a significant step forward and looks more confident, decisive and in control of the offense. Notre Dame also has established weapons around him. Jordan Faison has continued to produce, while Micah Gilbert is coming off a huge performance against Michigan State and has emerged as an important boundary receiver for the Fighting Irish. The second and third boxes focus on the trenches. Ryan believes Notre Dame's defensive line absolutely checks the championship box. Boubacar is one of the team's premier pass rushers, Bryce Young has taken a major step forward, and the defensive tackle room has continued to produce despite injuries. Tionne Gray and Francis Brewu have played at a high level, while Elijah Hughes and Armel Mukam have also provided encouraging depth. Ryan believes Notre Dame may have its deepest defensive line in a very long time. The offensive line is a different story. Ryan believes the unit has the potential to become very good, but it has not consistently played at a championship level yet. Anthonie Knapp has been strong at left guard and Ashton Craig has mostly been good at center, but the tackle positions have been inconsistent and the right guard spot remains a major question mark. That is the one box Ryan refuses to check right now. Notre Dame does, however, have the defensive playmakers needed to win big games. A safety has already forced a fumble and recorded an interception, Leonard Moore continues to make impact plays, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is getting healthier and more explosive, Drayk Bowen has a knack for finding the football, and Boubacar gives Notre Dame a difference-maker up front. The final box is turnovers. Notre Dame has done a good job protecting the football, with CJ Carr yet to throw an interception. Ryan also expects the Notre Dame defense to continue creating turnovers based on the playmakers it has across the defense. So that leaves Notre Dame at four out of five. Ryan believes the Fighting Irish can win a national championship. But the biggest question is whether the offensive line and running game can come together before Notre Dame reaches the most important part of the season. With BYU, Miami, SMU and a potential College Football Playoff run still ahead, Notre Dame has plenty of time to answer that question. Is Notre Dame a national championship team right now? Which boxes would YOU check? And what does Notre Dame need to improve before the playoff? Ryan Roberts breaks down the complete Notre Dame national championship checklist. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, game analysis, recruiting updates, transfer portal coverage, College Football Playoff discussion and year-round Notre Dame content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #GoIrish #CollegeFootball Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 0:00 Is Notre Dame A National Championship Team? 0:45 The 5-Part Championship Checklist 2:19 CJ Carr Checks The First Box 3:28 Notre Dame's Offensive Weapons 4:55 Why CJ Carr Has Taken A Step Forward 6:00 Defensive Line Checks The Box 7:22 The Offensive Line Is Still A Question 8:39 Does Notre Dame Have Enough Defensive Playmakers? 9:55 Notre Dame Is Winning The Turnover Battle 10:53 4 Out Of 5 Boxes Checked 11:09 What Notre Dame Must Fix #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

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