Yeah… we’re bringing back the Triple Option for Notre Dame here at OFD, and from here on out, you should expect it every weekday moving forward. So let’s jump right into it (or pitch it out).
TRADING TROJANS FOR SKUNKBEARS
Recently, Jeremiyah Love went on Hard Count with JD Pickell for a nice conversation about a number of different things. It looked like Pickell was trying to ask Love about the end of the Notre Dame and USC rivalry, but before he could get his particular question out of his mouth, Jeremiyah jumped all over it.
“I think they’re done, I think they’re done. I think they got their butt kicked, they got their last whooping, and I think they want to be done. They’re done. I don’t think they want no more smoke, especially if I was back. I don’t think they want no more because it doesn’t look too good for them for the past couple of years.”
Perfection.
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Love called USC out for being soft, and didn’t mince words while doing so.
Pickell then asked Love which team Notre Dame should play in USC’s place as a rivalry game, and he was quick to answer that as well.
“Honestly, I say, bring back the Michigan rivalry,” added Love, “They bring that back, that’ll be great, good to play against somebody in the Big and yeah, I fee like that. That rivalry would be very, very cool for Notre Dame. Just bring it back.”
I can’t (and won’t) argue with Love — and I doubt many Irish fans would either.
TRANSFER PORTAL NIGHTMARES
Notre Dame basketball is in the middle of a gutting via the transfer portal. Publicly, four Irish players are known to be headed to the transfer portal in Jalen Haralson, Garrett Sundra, Sir Mohammed, and Ryder Frost. Also publicly, we know Markus Burton and Cole Certa are going to be more publicly known to be entering the transfer portal.
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Got it? Good — because Notre Dame doesn’t.
The root of all of this is a lack of funding for the roster. So… is Notre Dame basketball dead?
TOP NEWCOMER FOR NOTRE DAME ACCORDING TO ESPN
ESPN is listing every team’s top newcomer in 2026, and for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, it’s one of the best defensive recruits in the nation.
Safety, Joey O’Brien
Why: It’s unfair to compare a college freshman to an NFL All-Pro, but it’s impossible not to mention former Irish safety Kyle Hamilton when discussing O’Brien’s trajectory in South Bend. They share an uncommon blend of physical and mental traits at safety. O’Brien will be difficult to keep off the field. The 6-foot-5, 203-pounder was a 2025 Under Armour All-American and the fifth-ranked safety in the 2026 ESPN 300. He has elite ball-hawking instincts and impressive range. O’Brien’s rare size-speed combination makes him a particularly intriguing prospect who can match up in man-to-man over quicker slots and slide down into the box and take on blocks, similar to a linebacker. He has the scheme versatility to make an immediate impact in Chris Ash’s defense, which has consistently leaned on versatile, intelligent safeties who can handle multiple responsibilities at all levels of the defense and hold up physically versus the run.
What to expect: Though most true freshmen need time to adjust to college football, O’Brien projects as one of the rare exceptions who could crack the two-deep and see valuable snaps in 2026. Ash’s defense strives for fast-attacking defenders who can create turnovers, and O’Brien has those traits. Expect him to start off in subpackages and play a significant role on special teams while he acclimates to the speed of the game and develops physically. O’Brien’s role should increase as the season progresses, even in a veteran safety room. He’s too big, smart and athletic not to add value. His presence gives Notre Dame a legitimate playmaker in the secondary and adds another layer of depth to a unit that will be crucial to its 2026 championship aspirations.
What they’re saying: “We’ve been very impressed with Joey’s athletic ability, but we’ve been more impressed with this ability to pick things up mentally and to be able to go out on the field and compete at a high level at such an early stage in his career. He works extremely hard. He has spent a lot of time in the film room learning more about the intricacies of football. He’s already shown that he’s a great teammate and he’s going to be a tremendous leader in the program.” — Chris Ash, defensive coordinator
SWORD SCHOOL
Now that Notre Dame Fencing just won its 15th and 16th National Championship, more and more people are starting to call Notre Dame a Fencing School rather than a Football School.
Chris Dailey explains why Notre Dame’s fencing success rivals its more widely known football program.
