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The NC State Wolfpack are looking for a new head coach, and three former Notre Dame coaches are already being mentioned as potential candidates for the job. BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Ryan Roberts breaks down the NC State coaching search and evaluates the fit for former Notre Dame coaches Brian Kelly, Lance Taylor and Tommy Rees. Which former Notre Dame coach makes the most sense for NC State? Ryan has a clear opinion. Brian Kelly is the most accomplished of the three candidates and has 297 career college coaching wins. After his disappointing tenure at LSU and his controversial departure from Notre Dame, Ryan believes the NC State job could actually be a very logical next opportunity for Kelly if he wants to return to the Power Four level. The NC State job does not come with the same expectations as some of the biggest programs in college football. Ryan believes the Wolfpack's realistic goals are to compete for the ACC, win around 10 games in a strong season and occasionally make the College Football Playoff. Ryan believes Brian Kelly could raise the floor of the program and consistently put NC State in position to win eight, nine or 10 games once he establishes himself in Raleigh. The second former Notre Dame coach Ryan likes for the NC State job is Lance Taylor. Taylor is currently the head coach at Western Michigan after previously serving as Notre Dame's running backs coach. He led Western Michigan to a 10-4 record and a MAC championship in 2025, and Ryan believes Taylor is an up-and-coming college head coach who could eventually earn a bigger job. Ryan believes the NC State job could make sense because Taylor has college recruiting experience, connections throughout the East Coast and experience building a program at the Group of Five level. The third candidate is Tommy Rees. Rees is currently the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons after previously working with Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland and serving as Alabama's offensive coordinator. Rees also has deep Notre Dame ties after playing quarterback for the Fighting Irish and later becoming Notre Dame's offensive coordinator. Ryan believes Rees is a smart offensive mind but questions whether the NC State job would actually appeal to him. Rees has spent much of his recent career in the NFL, and Ryan believes the NFL may ultimately be where Rees wants to remain. So which former Notre Dame coach makes the most sense for NC State? 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

Notre Dame football has reached a defining stretch of the 2026 college football season, and the Fighting Irish have no more excuses if they want to compete for a national championship. Notre Dame controls its own destiny in the College Football Playoff race, but after the disappointing 28-24 loss to BYU, the pressure is building on Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. With five games remaining in the regular season, Notre Dame has an opportunity to make a major statement — but that opportunity starts now. Ryan Roberts breaks down why the next two weeks could define Notre Dame's season and potentially become one of the most important stretches of Marcus Freeman's tenure. Notre Dame begins this stretch with a trip to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to face Navy. The Fighting Irish are significantly more talented than the Midshipmen, and Notre Dame should be expected to win the game even if it doesn't play its best football. But Navy isn't the real story. The real test comes November 7 when No. 1 Miami travels to Notre Dame Stadium. Miami is currently undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, while Notre Dame is coming off the BYU loss and has virtually no margin for error if it wants to make the College Football Playoff. The matchup also carries major rivalry implications with the return of Catholics vs. Convicts, a massive home-field opportunity and a huge recruiting weekend for Notre Dame. Notre Dame has everything it needs to win the game. The Fighting Irish have a second-year starting quarterback in CJ Carr, one of the best defenses in college football, NFL-caliber talent throughout the defense, a talented offensive line and a kicker who has shown he can make big kicks. Now Notre Dame has to prove it. The Fighting Irish also need to show signs of the changes they've talked about making. Offensively, Notre Dame needs more creativity, more pre-snap motion and more play action. Defensively, the Irish need to remain aggressive, play man coverage and utilize second-level pressure. Those changes can begin against Navy before Notre Dame faces its biggest test of the season against Miami. The larger opportunity is that college football appears to be wide open in 2026. Georgia has lost, BYU has lost, LSU has multiple losses, Alabama has lost and Texas has two losses. There does not appear to be one dominant team separating itself from the rest of the country. Can Notre Dame finish the regular season strong and make a run at the College Football Playoff? And does Notre Dame have what it takes to compete for a national championship? The next two weeks could answer all of those questions. 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 Has No More Excuses 01:05 Notre Dame's Playoff Opportunity 03:05 What The BYU Loss Really Means 04:32 Notre Dame's Defining Stretch 05:24 Four Top-25 Opponents 05:49 Notre Dame vs Navy Preview 06:27 Why Miami Is So Important 06:54 The Changes Notre Dame Needs To Make 07:23 Marcus Freeman's Defining Game 07:48 College Football Is Wide Open 08:53 Notre Dame Has Everything It Needs 09:32 Time To Prove It #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

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 five games remaining in the 2026 regular season, and Ryan Roberts believes the Fighting Irish need to win all five if they want to make the College Football Playoff. With Notre Dame coming off its 28-24 loss to BYU, the margin for error is extremely small. Ryan Roberts breaks down Notre Dame's final five games, explains which matchup will ultimately determine the Irish's playoff fate, and makes his prediction for how the rest of the season will play out. Notre Dame's final five games begin with Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Navy game presents a unique challenge because of the triple-option offense, and Notre Dame will have to prepare for that system coming off its bye week. The bigger issue, however, is the schedule placement. Miami comes to South Bend the following week. Ryan believes it will be difficult for Notre Dame players and coaches not to have the Miami game in the back of their minds while preparing for Navy. Even so, Ryan expects the Fighting Irish to take care of business against Navy. Then comes the biggest game of the season. Notre Dame hosts Miami on November 7, and the stakes could not be higher. Miami is ranked No. 1 in the latest AP poll, Notre Dame is coming off the BYU loss, and the Fighting Irish have virtually no margin for error if they want to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation. Ryan believes Notre Dame can win the game. The Miami matchup also has major significance beyond the field. Notre Dame is expected to have a huge recruiting weekend, giving Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish an opportunity to make an impact both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Ryan's prediction is simple: Notre Dame needs to win. It doesn't matter whether the Irish win by three points or 40 points. If Notre Dame beats Miami, Ryan believes the remaining schedule becomes much more manageable. After Miami, Notre Dame hosts Boston College. Ryan expects the Fighting Irish to handle Boston College comfortably and believes Notre Dame's talent advantage should be significant. Then comes SMU. Ryan doesn't believe Notre Dame can overlook the Mustangs because quarterback Kevin Jennings is talented and SMU has a coaching staff capable of making the game competitive. However, Ryan believes Notre Dame has the clear talent advantage and should win the game. Finally, Notre Dame travels to Syracuse. Ryan believes the Fighting Irish should win that game as well, meaning the biggest challenge of the final five is Miami. So what will Notre Dame's final record be? Ryan Roberts predicts the Fighting Irish will go 5-0 over their final five games, finish the regular season 11-1 and make the College Football Playoff. Subscribe to A to Z Sports for more Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, analysis, recruiting coverage, transfer portal updates, game predictions and College Football Playoff discussion throughout the 2026 season. 00:00 Notre Dame's Final 5 Games 00:43 What Is Notre Dame's Playoff Path? 03:18 Notre Dame vs Navy Prediction 04:52 Why Miami Is The Real Test 05:19 Notre Dame vs Miami Prediction 06:52 Boston College Prediction 07:13 Notre Dame vs SMU Prediction 07:35 Notre Dame vs Syracuse Prediction 07:58 Ryan's Final 5-0 Prediction 08:42 Why Notre Dame Makes The Playoff #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #GoIrish 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

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 played seven games in the 2026 season, and with only five games remaining to make its College Football Playoff case, Ryan Roberts believes the Fighting Irish need to unleash some of their most talented freshmen. Ryan breaks down the three Notre Dame freshmen who need to play bigger roles down the stretch: Jonas Walton, Ian Primer and Rodney Dunham. Notre Dame is coming off a 28-24 loss to BYU, and the Fighting Irish now have a much smaller margin for error as they prepare for the final five games of the season. Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to find ways to get its young talent onto the field and maximize the team's overall talent if it wants to compete for a national championship. First up is true freshman running back Jonaz Walton. Walton is already Notre Dame's leading rusher despite having the third-most carries on the team. Ryan believes he is the most explosive running back on the roster and needs to become one of Notre Dame's top two running backs in terms of touches. Walton has shown an ability to create explosive plays, and Ryan believes his speed and big-play ability can add another dimension to the Notre Dame offense alongside Nolan James Jr. With five games remaining, Ryan believes the Fighting Irish need to figure out the best way to utilize Walton immediately. Next is five-star freshman tight end Ian Premer. Notre Dame's tight end production has been a major concern, with the position producing just 20 receptions for 140 yards through seven games. Ryan believes Primer gives Notre Dame its best opportunity to create a legitimate threat in the passing game from the tight end position. Ryan isn't calling for Premer to suddenly become Notre Dame's starting tight end or play 50 snaps every game. Instead, he wants the Irish to design five to 10 opportunities per game specifically for Primer, including plays where he is the primary target in the progression. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Premer has the size and athleticism to create matchup problems, and Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to find a way to get him involved. The third freshman is defensive end Rodney Dunham. Dunham could be especially important after Notre Dame struggled to consistently generate pressure against BYU. Ryan believes Dunham is talented enough to become a designated pass-rushing weapon, particularly in obvious passing situations. Dunham is a 6-foot-4, 242-pound true freshman who has already shown flashes of his potential. Through seven games, he has one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and nine total tackles. Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to get Dunham on the field more alongside Boubacar Traore and give the defense another young pass rusher capable of affecting opposing quarterbacks. 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

Notre Dame football is entering its bye week at 6-1, and after the Fighting Irish suffered a 28-24 loss to BYU, Ryan Roberts believes this is the perfect time for Notre Dame to make some important changes before the final stretch of the 2026 college football season. Ryan Roberts breaks down six changes he believes Notre Dame needs to make during the bye week to give Marcus Freeman's team a better chance of becoming the best version of itself down the stretch. The biggest issue is Notre Dame's offensive creativity. Ryan believes the Fighting Irish offense has become too static and predictable, with too little pre-snap motion, play action and RPO usage. He explains why Notre Dame needs to create more deception and force opposing defenses to hesitate. Ryan also explains why true freshman running back Jonaz Walton needs a much bigger role. Walton had only 10 snaps against BYU despite coming off an 181-yard, two-touchdown performance against Stanford and averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Ryan believes Walton needs to become one of Notre Dame's top two running backs. The tight end position is another major concern. Notre Dame's tight ends have produced only 20 receptions for 140 yards through seven games, and Ryan believes five-star freshman Ian Primer needs to receive legitimate opportunities in the passing game. Ryan also wants Notre Dame to expand its wide receiver rotation and get more opportunities for young receivers including Mylan Graham, Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burris. On defense, Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to find a more consistent way to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The Fighting Irish need to create pressure with their defensive line and linebackers, particularly as they prepare for upcoming quarterbacks such as Miami's Darian Mensah and SMU's Kevin Jennings. Notre Dame has a smaller margin for error after the BYU loss, and the bye week gives the Fighting Irish an opportunity to make the adjustments necessary before the final stretch of the season. What changes do YOU want to see Notre Dame make during the bye week? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports for more Notre Dame football news, analysis, recruiting, transfer portal coverage, game predictions and College Football Playoff discussion throughout the 2026 season. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #CollegeFootball #GoIrish 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

BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame football just lost to BYU, and the quarterback who helped deliver the Fighting Irish a heartbreaking 28-24 loss has a fascinating history with Notre Dame. Ryan Roberts breaks down the recruiting backstory of BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who was once a serious Notre Dame target and came very close to joining the Fighting Irish. Bachmeier received his Notre Dame offer in 2023 and quickly became one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects on the Irish's recruiting board. His Notre Dame visit went extremely well, and at one point it appeared that Bachmeier could ultimately choose South Bend. Then everything changed. Notre Dame ultimately took the commitment of Deuce Knight, a highly regarded quarterback prospect who became the priority for the Irish. Bachmeier was left to reopen his recruitment, eventually signing with Stanford. After Stanford head coach Troy Taylor was dismissed, Bachmeier and his brother Tiger eventually transferred to BYU without ever playing a game for Stanford. Bachmeier went on to become a major part of BYU's program and eventually emerged as the quarterback who helped lead the Cougars to a massive 28-24 win over Notre Dame in Provo. After the game, Bachmeier also made comments indicating that he and his family had not been happy with how Notre Dame treated them during the recruiting process. He said he wasn't going to lose to Notre Dame, and then backed those words up on the field. That creates one of the biggest "what if?" scenarios in recent Notre Dame quarterback recruiting. Ryan Roberts takes you through the entire Bear Bachmeier and Notre Dame recruiting story, from his initial Notre Dame offer and visit to South Bend, to Deuce Knight's commitment, Bachmeier's eventual path to BYU and the comments he made after beating the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is now looking ahead to Navy and Miami, but the Bachmeier story is a fascinating reminder of how quickly recruiting decisions can come back into focus in college football. Subscribe for more Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, recruiting analysis, postgame reaction, transfer portal coverage, College Football Playoff discussion and year-round Notre Dame content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #BYU #CollegeFootball 00:00 Why BYU's QB Was Angry With Notre Dame 00:48 Looking Ahead To Navy And Miami 02:51 What Did Notre Dame Do To Bear Bachmeier? 03:31 The 2025 Recruiting Backstory 04:19 Notre Dame Offers Bachmeier 04:58 Bachmeier Visits Notre Dame 05:41 Deuce Knight Changes Everything 06:29 Notre Dame Moves On From Bachmeier 06:53 Bachmeier Ends Up At Stanford 07:14 Bachmeier Transfers To BYU 07:38 Bachmeier Becomes BYU's QB 07:58 The Deuce Knight Connection 08:41 Notre Dame Loses Deuce Knight 09:04 Notre Dame Scrambles For A QB 09:49 Notre Dame Tried To Reconnect With Bachmeier 10:06 Why Bachmeier Was Angry With Notre Dame 10:28 What's Next For Notre Dame? 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

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 College Football Playoff could be headed for another massive expansion, with a 24-team field reportedly trending toward becoming the new format in 2027. What would that mean for Notre Dame football? Ryan Roberts breaks down the potential 24-team College Football Playoff expansion, the biggest positives and negatives for college football, and how the new format could dramatically affect Notre Dame's path to a national championship. The College Football Playoff has already expanded from four teams to 12, and another major expansion could be coming much sooner than expected. Ryan's biggest issue with the proposed 24-team field is simple: he believes it is too many teams. He questions whether 24 teams in any given season actually have a legitimate opportunity to win a national championship. He also pushes back on the idea that expanding the field is primarily about giving underdogs more opportunities. Ryan Roberts breaks down the potential 24-team College Football Playoff, why he believes the field is too large, how the expansion could affect Notre Dame and why tougher scheduling may be the biggest benefit for the Fighting Irish. What do YOU think about a 24-team College Football Playoff? Would you support it? And do you think it would be good or bad for Notre Dame? 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 A 24-Team College Football Playoff? 00:28 Another Playoff Expansion Is Coming 01:16 Notre Dame vs BYU Prediction Update 02:45 The 24-Team Playoff Is Coming 03:09 Notre Dame's Schedule Could Change 03:40 Why Is The Playoff Expanding? 04:04 24 Teams Is WAY Too Many 04:53 Is This Really For The Underdogs? 05:13 This Is About The SEC And Big Ten 05:32 Why 24 Teams Is Too Much 05:53 More Playoff Blowouts? 06:35 What Does This Mean For Notre Dame? 06:54 Notre Dame Could Make The Playoff 99% Of The Time 07:34 The BIG Positive For Notre Dame 07:52 Notre Dame Should Play Better Teams 08:29 How A Tougher Schedule Helps Recruiting 08:54 Notre Dame Can Kill The "Cupcake Schedule" Narrative 09:16 Final Thoughts On The 24-Team Playoff #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

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 heading to Provo for a massive top-10 matchup against the BYU Cougars, and Ryan Roberts has his final score prediction for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame enters the game 6-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country, while BYU is undefeated and ranked No. 8. The Fighting Irish are favored on the road, but Provo is not an easy place to play, and Notre Dame has had its struggles in ranked road games in recent history. So what happens when these two teams meet? Ryan's final prediction is Notre Dame 31, BYU 14. However, don't expect this to be a runaway. Ryan believes BYU is a good football team and expects the Cougars to make this a competitive game for roughly three quarters. He could see the game sitting around 24-14 late in the fourth quarter before Notre Dame eventually puts it away with a touchdown. The biggest question for Ryan is how BYU is going to consistently score against Notre Dame's defense. BYU's offense will have to find another way to consistently move the football and finish drives against a Notre Dame defense that is playing some of its best football of the season. Notre Dame is also getting healthier on defense. Several important players are returning or have a chance to return for the BYU game, and Ryan believes this could be the healthiest the Fighting Irish defense has been in several weeks. Leonard Moore is expected to play, while Jason Onye also has a chance to return. That could be extremely important against a BYU offense that will test Notre Dame in multiple ways. On the other side of the football, Ryan believes Notre Dame's offense is trending in the right direction. CJ Carr has been playing good football, but the biggest reason for optimism is the running game. Notre Dame's tackles have been playing better, and the overall offensive line has become more consistent over the last several weeks. If Notre Dame can establish the run early, Ryan believes that will open the door for CJ Carr to create explosive plays through the air. That could ultimately be the difference. Ryan expects BYU to do enough early to keep the game competitive, but believes Notre Dame will eventually wear the Cougars down and pull away. The final prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 14. Ryan Roberts breaks down the matchup and gives his final Notre Dame vs. BYU score prediction. Subscribe for more 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 #NotreDameVsBYU #CollegeFootball 00:00 Notre Dame vs BYU Score Prediction 00:24 No. 2 Notre Dame vs No. 8 BYU 01:00 Notre Dame vs BYU Prediction 02:04 Why The BYU Game Is So Interesting 02:46 Why Notre Dame Is Favored 03:11 BYU's Biggest Offensive Threats 04:14 Can BYU Score Against Notre Dame? 04:53 Notre Dame Is Getting Healthier 05:41 Notre Dame's Defensive Advantage 06:04 Ryan's Final Score Prediction 06:43 Notre Dame's Running Game Is Improving 07:08 Notre Dame's Offensive Line Is Getting Better 07:44 Why Notre Dame Pulls Away 08:05 Final Notre Dame vs BYU Prediction 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:

BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame football is preparing for its biggest test of the 2026 season, and the Fighting Irish defense could be the difference against undefeated BYU. Notre Dame enters Saturday night's top-10 matchup in Provo ranked No. 2 in the latest AP Poll and sitting at 6-0. The Irish defense has been one of the best units in college football through the first six games, and Ryan Roberts believes this group has a chance to make a major statement against the BYU Cougars. Notre Dame currently ranks No. 3 in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 11 points per game. The Irish are also allowing only 155.8 passing yards per game and an incredible 58.3 rushing yards per game. Notre Dame's defense is allowing just 2.1 yards per carry on the ground, making the run defense one of the biggest reasons for optimism heading into the BYU matchup. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa missed the beginning of the season while recovering from an ACL injury and also missed the most recent game with a thumb injury. Leonard Moore was also sidelined recently with a concussion, while Tae Johnson has barely played this season because of his injury. Jason Onye has also missed the last few games and remains a question heading into the BYU matchup. Despite those absences, Notre Dame's defense has continued to perform at an elite level. Now, the Fighting Irish could be getting healthier at exactly the right time. Leonard Moore is expected to have a strong chance of returning, while there is also a possibility of seeing Jason Onye back on the field. BYU has an experienced offensive line, a dynamic dual-threat quarterback and a rushing attack averaging well over 200 yards per game. Even without its starting running back, BYU showed last week that it can run the football effectively. The Cougars also have talented pass catchers and a tight end capable of creating matchup problems. Can Notre Dame shut down BYU's rushing attack? Ryan Roberts breaks down Notre Dame's elite defensive numbers, the importance of several key injury returns and why the Fighting Irish defense could make a major statement against BYU. Subscribe for more 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 #NotreDameVsBYU #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's Defense Could Make A Statement 00:27 Notre Dame vs BYU Is A Top-10 Matchup 01:10 Why Notre Dame's Defense Is So Good 01:31 The Biggest Defensive Test Yet 03:19 Notre Dame's Defensive Numbers 03:40 The Secondary Has Been Elite 04:03 Why The Run Defense Has Improved 04:24 Chris Ash's Defensive Philosophy 04:49 Notre Dame Is Allowing Just 58.3 Rushing Yards 05:33 The Context Behind The Numbers 05:57 Notre Dame Is Getting Healthier 06:17 More Key Defensive Players Returning 06:57 Can Notre Dame Back It Up Against BYU? 07:21 Why BYU Is A Different Challenge 07:50 BYU's Offensive Weapons 08:17 Notre Dame's Defensive Lineup 08:57 The Biggest Keys Against BYU 09:14 Final Defensive Thoughts #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

Notre Dame football is 6-0, ranked No. 2 in the latest AP Poll and finally facing the type of opponent that can change the national conversation surrounding the Fighting Irish. BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame vs. BYU is a top-10 matchup in prime time in Provo, and Ryan Roberts believes this is a massive opportunity for Notre Dame to prove just how good this football team really is. The Fighting Irish have been dominant through the first six games of the season, but criticism of Notre Dame's schedule has continued. Ryan believes that while the early schedule has been better than some people want to acknowledge, there is no question that a matchup against an undefeated top-10 BYU team gives Notre Dame an opportunity to make a statement. Notre Dame is the favorite despite playing on the road, and there are plenty of reasons why. The Irish have an elite defense, a very good quarterback in CJ Carr, an improving running game, a talented offensive line and multiple pass catchers who could eventually play in the NFL. Notre Dame also has a defense loaded with NFL-level talent across all three levels. But BYU should not be overlooked. The Cougars are undefeated, have home-field advantage and are led by head coach Kalani Sitake. BYU also has several talented players who could eventually play on Sundays. With LJ Martin unavailable, BYU will need other players to step up in the running game. Ryan also discusses Bear Bachmeier's development at quarterback and the overall talent throughout the BYU roster. For Notre Dame, however, this game is about more than simply going 7-0. It's about changing perceptions. If Notre Dame goes into Provo and dominates a top-10 opponent, even some of the skeptics who have dismissed the Irish's schedule will have to reconsider their opinion. Ryan Roberts breaks down everything that is at stake for Notre Dame against BYU, why this matchup is so important to the Irish's national championship hopes and how a dominant performance could change the perception of Marcus Freeman's team. Subscribe for more 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 #NotreDameVsBYU #CollegeFootball 00:00 Notre Dame vs BYU Is Finally Here 00:31 Notre Dame vs BYU Is A Top-10 Matchup 01:14 Why This Week Is So Important 02:35 An Incredible College Football Slate 03:34 Why Notre Dame Is Favored 04:07 BYU Is A Legitimate Threat 04:58 Notre Dame Has To Stay Undefeated 05:32 Why BYU Is Dangerous At Home 06:11 Why Everyone Is Watching Notre Dame 06:36 Notre Dame Has Something To Prove 07:23 Notre Dame Has Championship Talent 08:15 Notre Dame Finally Has Championship Expectations 09:00 BYU Can Change The National Perception 09:18 Notre Dame Has To Prove It 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

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 five games of the 2026 season in the books, which means it is finally time to take a deeper look at the Fighting Irish's transfer portal class. Ryan Roberts grades all eight of Notre Dame's transfer portal additions and evaluates how impactful each player has been through the first five games of the season. These grades are obviously not final. Notre Dame still has seven-plus games remaining, and seven of the eight players discussed have another year of eligibility available after the 2026 season. But five games provides enough of a sample size to start evaluating what has worked, what has disappointed and which transfers could become major pieces for Notre Dame moving forward. The biggest story may be how much the defensive transfers have delivered. Francis Brewu has been one of Notre Dame's most impressive additions. Brewu has a couple of sacks and roughly 13 total tackles, but Ryan believes his film is even more impressive than his traditional statistics suggest. Ryan gives Brewu an A and believes he could eventually move into A+ territory. Tionne Gray has also made a major impact along the defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound defensive tackle transferred from Oregon and arrived needing to improve his body composition. Ryan has him in the A- range after initially giving him an A in his previous evaluation. DJ McKinney may be the biggest transfer portal success story of the group. The Colorado transfer has been starting at field corner opposite Leonard Moore and has been outstanding. McKinney already has an interception, multiple pass breakups, a tackle for loss and a pick-six. Ryan believes McKinney has a chance to become a top-100 NFL Draft pick. Spencer Porath has also exceeded expectations. The Notre Dame kicker has made 26 extra points and six of seven field-goal attempts, including a 52-yard field goal. Ryan gives Porath an A and says this is the best he has felt about Notre Dame's kicking situation in a very long time. The grades become more complicated at wide receiver. Quincy Porter receives an incomplete because he has not played a snap for Notre Dame. The former Ohio State five-star wide receiver entered the season recovering from knee surgery and ultimately required another surgery. Ryan does not believe it is fair to give Porter an F because Notre Dame simply has not had an opportunity to evaluate him on the field. Mylan Graham is a different story. Ryan gives Graham a D after entering the season with extremely high expectations. Graham generated major buzz during the offseason and was even viewed as a potential leader in Notre Dame's receiving yardage. Instead, through five games, Graham has only three receptions for 32 yards and did not play a single snap against North Carolina. Ryan believes the production has not matched the preseason expectations and hopes Graham can find his footing during the rest of the season. Keon Keeley receives a grade in the C+ to B- range. The former Alabama five-star and former Notre Dame commit has been solid against the run but has not provided much of a pass-rush threat or production behind the line of scrimmage. Jayden Sanders receives a B to A- range grade. Ryan believes the transfer corner has been rock solid, with multiple pass breakups, although he has given up some plays, including the Wisconsin double move. Ryan is encouraged by his future because he is still a true sophomore. 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 Transfer Portal Midseason Report Card 00:33 The 5-Game Sample Size 01:24 Why We're Grading The Portal Class Now 03:06 All 8 Notre Dame Transfers 03:46 Quincy Porter — INCOMPLETE 04:32 Mylan Graham — D 05:56 Francis Brewu — A 06:58 Tionne Gray — A- 07:47 Keon Keely — C+/B- 08:25 DJ McKinney — A+ 09:04 Jayden Sanders — B/A- 09:25 Spencer Porath — A 10:10 Final Notre Dame Transfer Portal Grades #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

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 looking to move to 6-0 in the 2026 season when the Fighting Irish host Stanford in Notre Dame Stadium, and Ryan Roberts is expecting a dominant performance. Ryan's final score prediction is bold: Notre Dame 52, Stanford 9. The Fighting Irish enter the matchup ranked No. 3 in the latest AP poll and heavily favored against the Cardinal. After an imperfect 37-26 victory over North Carolina, Ryan expects Notre Dame to come out focused and attack Stanford early. The biggest reason? Notre Dame's running game. All three of Notre Dame's primary running backs averaged more than five yards per carry against North Carolina. Ryan expects Jonaz Walton, Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. to help establish the game early against Stanford. The Cardinal's defense has struggled this season, allowing more than 38 points per game. Stanford has been better against the run than the pass, but Ryan believes the Cardinal have struggled to stop either phase consistently enough to slow down Notre Dame's offense. Once the running game gets going, Ryan expects CJ Carr and the Notre Dame passing attack to create explosive plays. Stanford does have some offensive players Ryan likes. Former Michigan quarterback Davis Warren has played well for the Cardinal, while running back Micah Ford is a talented player. True freshman wide receiver Zion Robinson, who Notre Dame recruited in the 2026 class, is another player Ryan likes. Ryan believes Stanford will struggle to run the football consistently because of its offensive line, making it difficult for the Cardinal to create the chunk plays and long drives necessary to keep pace with Notre Dame. If Notre Dame avoids turnovers and costly penalties, Ryan expects the game to be relatively clean. With BYU looming on the schedule, getting younger players valuable experience could be an important benefit of a blowout. Can Notre Dame win by 40+ points? Ryan Roberts gives his final Notre Dame vs. Stanford prediction and breaks down the key storylines to watch in South Bend. 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 vs Stanford Final Prediction 00:28 Notre Dame Is 5-0 And Ranked No. 3 01:19 Notre Dame vs Stanford Prediction 02:25 Why This Could Be A HUGE Blowout 03:20 Why Notre Dame Will Start Fast 03:50 Notre Dame's Running Game 04:29 CJ Carr And The Explosive Plays 04:48 Ryan's 52-9 Prediction 05:08 Can Stanford's Offense Keep Up? 06:05 Stanford's Biggest Offensive Threats 06:49 Which Young Notre Dame Players Should Play? 07:47 What Could Make This Game Interesting? 08:16 Final 52-9 Prediction #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame football may have finally found the ideal formula for its running back room. Ryan Roberts breaks down how Notre Dame should use Jonaz Walton, Nolan James Jr. and Aneyas Williams moving forward, and why Walton needs to become the Fighting Irish's primary ball carrier as the competition gets tougher. Notre Dame rushed for more than 240 yards against North Carolina, its best rushing performance of the season. Walton, James and Williams all averaged more than five yards per carry, showing just how much potential this running back room has. But Ryan believes the backs should not necessarily receive equal workloads. Jonaz Walton should be the lead ball carrier. The true freshman has already shown the combination of power, explosiveness and chunk-play ability that Notre Dame needs from its primary early-down runner. Ryan believes Walton is the most complete runner in the group and should receive the largest share of the carries, particularly when Notre Dame faces its best competition. That does not mean Nolan James Jr. or Aneyas Williams should disappear. Quite the opposite. James brings a completely different skill set. Against North Carolina, James averaged more than seven yards per carry and also scored a touchdown as a receiver. His quickness, change of direction and ability to create in space make him an ideal change-of-pace weapon. Ryan believes James should have an expanded role in the passing game while continuing to receive carries. Aneyas Williams also has an important role to play. Williams is a physical runner and, according to Ryan, may currently be Notre Dame's best pass blocker at the position. That makes him particularly valuable on third downs and obvious passing situations. Williams can also provide a physical change of pace when Notre Dame needs to grind out difficult yards or loosen up a defense through the passing game. The result could be a three-back rotation in which every player has a defined job. Walton becomes the primary early-down ball carrier. James becomes the space weapon and receiving threat. Williams becomes the physical complementary back and pass-protection specialist. That could give Notre Dame one of the most versatile running back rooms in college football. It is especially important with major games against BYU and Miami on the horizon, followed by a potential College Football Playoff run. Notre Dame does not need to force one running back to handle everything. It needs to maximize the strengths of all three. Ryan also discusses the potential future role of true freshman Javon Osborne, who could eventually become another contributor to the backfield. Can Jonaz Walton become Notre Dame's clear lead back? How much should Nolan James Jr. and Aneyas Williams continue to contribute? And what should the ideal carry distribution look like against Notre Dame's best opponents? Ryan Roberts breaks down Notre Dame's running back room and the formula he believes can help the Irish reach their peak at the most important time of the season. 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 #JonazWalton #NolanJamesJr #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's Ideal Running Back Formula 00:30 The Run Game Has Arrived 01:17 Notre Dame's Best Rushing Performance 02:56 Jonaz Walton Needs To Be RB1 04:14 Why Walton Is The Best Fit 05:07 Walton's Ideal Workload 06:10 Nolan James Jr.'s Role 06:57 James As A Space Weapon 07:18 Aeneas Williams' Role 08:00 The Ideal Three-Back Committee 08:47 Notre Dame Has The Formula 09:10 What Should The Carry Split Be? #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Notre Dame football's transfer portal strategy at wide receiver has not gone according to plan through the first five games of the 2026 season. Going into the year, expectations were high for Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter. Both were viewed as major additions who could give Notre Dame's offense another dynamic weapon at wide receiver. Instead, neither has become a meaningful part of the offense so far. Ryan Roberts breaks down what has gone wrong with Notre Dame's transfer portal wide receiver gamble, why Mylan Graham has barely played, what Quincy Porter's season-ending injury means and whether there is still reason to believe the situation can turn around. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman explained that the lack of playing time was not necessarily because Graham was doing something wrong, but because the other receivers were playing well enough that the coaching staff wanted to continue feeding them. That raises a larger question: What exactly is keeping Mylan Graham from playing? There is still reason for optimism. Graham has not played much college football overall, and when he has gotten opportunities, Ryan believes the athletic ability and physical tools are obvious. Quincy Porter is a different situation. The former five-star recruit from Bergen Catholic was one of the most intriguing additions to Notre Dame's roster, but he will miss the entire 2026 season after knee surgery. Porter originally underwent surgery in January while still at Ohio State and never appeared in a game for Notre Dame. The good news is that Porter still has three years of eligibility remaining after the 2026 season. So this story is not necessarily over. The bigger question is whether Notre Dame made the right bet by targeting inexperienced wide receivers with upside rather than more proven transfer options. The wide receiver portion of that strategy has not — at least not yet. Can Mylan Graham still break out later this season? Will Quincy Porter become the player Notre Dame expected once he returns? And does Notre Dame need to rethink how it approaches wide receiver in the transfer portal? Ryan Roberts breaks down the biggest questions surrounding Notre Dame's wide receiver room and the transfer portal gamble that has not paid off so far. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, recruiting updates, transfer portal coverage, game previews, postgame analysis, College Football Playoff discussion and year-round Notre Dame content. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #MylanGraham #QuincyPorter #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's Transfer Portal WR Gamble 00:28 The WR Room's Biggest Surprise 01:59 Faison & Gilbert Have Delivered 02:46 Notre Dame's Depth Problem 03:28 The Quincy Porter Situation 04:24 What Happened To Mylan Graham? 05:09 Why Isn't Graham Playing? 05:54 The Jaden Greathouse Question 06:20 Something Doesn't Add Up? 06:49 The Transfer Portal Gamble 07:37 Is It Too Early To Judge? 08:00 The Other Transfer Portal Options 08:20 Notre Dame's Portal Class Has Been Good 09:05 The Verdict On Notre Dame's WR Gamble #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

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