Honestly, if you’re looking for notre dame football live updates right now, you aren't finding scores. You’re finding a program trying to outrun the ghost of a playoff snub. January in South Bend is usually about freezing rain and film study, but the last 72 hours have been a whirlwind of NFL Draft declarations, transfer portal "saves," and Marcus Freeman essentially planting a flag in the middle of the Gug.
The biggest news? It's the "Run It Back" tour. Freeman spent the better part of the week swatting away NFL rumors like they were pesky gnats. He’s staying. That’s the headline. But underneath that, the roster is undergoing a massive surgery that most fans didn't see coming after the way the 2025 season ended.
The NFL Draft Bloodletting and the Big "Stays"
Wednesday was the deadline. It was the day we all held our breath to see who was actually heading to the league. We knew Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were gone—that backfield was too good to stay together forever. Seeing both of them and offensive linemen Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner declare for the 2026 NFL Draft hurts, though. It’s a lot of production to lose in one go.
But then the "live updates" started getting weirdly optimistic.
Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed? They’re back. Boubacar Traore? Returning. Christian Gray and Adon Shuler? Staying put. That is a massive win for Al Golden’s defense. Keeping those five guys, who all played over 300 snaps last year, is basically like landing five 5-star transfers in one afternoon. Traore led the team with 7.5 sacks, and having him back on the edge gives this defense a floor that most programs would kill for.
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The Transfer Portal: From "Rough Start" to Total Overhaul
Ten days ago, the message boards were on fire. People were losing their minds because Notre Dame had zero portal commitments while everyone else was shopping like it was Black Friday. The wide receiver and defensive tackle spots looked like a disaster zone.
Well, things changed fast.
The Irish just landed Tionne Gray from Oregon. The guy is 6-6 and 336 pounds. He’s a mountain. He’s the kind of nose tackle Notre Dame usually watches other teams have. Then they added Francis Brewu from Pitt. Suddenly, that "depth issue" on the interior line feels like a strength.
The New Weapons for CJ Carr
With CJ Carr officially taking the keys to the offense as the returning starter, he needed some toys. Enter the Ohio State connection. Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham are coming in, and the hype on Porter is already ridiculous. He’s 6-4, 210 pounds, and people are already penciling him in as the starting boundary receiver.
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It feels like a philosophical shift. Freeman has always been a "run the ball, play defense" guy, but looking at this roster, it’s a passing offense on paper now.
That "Leave No Doubt" Mentality
Why is everyone so intense right now? Because the 2025 College Football Playoff committee decided Alabama and Oklahoma were better bets than a 10-2 Irish team. Freeman isn't hiding from it. He’s been using the phrase "Leave No Doubt" in every team meeting since they got back from winter break.
He’s even taking that message to the national stage. If you turn on ESPN this Monday for the National Championship between Indiana and Miami, you’re going to see Freeman on the desk as a guest analyst. It’s a savvy move. He gets to look like the expert while reminding every recruit watching that he’s the guy who nearly knocked off both those teams last year.
Looking at the 2026 Gauntlet
The 2026 schedule is already out, and it’s not for the faint of heart. We’re starting things off at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin on September 6th. A Sunday night game in Green Bay? That’s going to be electric.
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Here’s what the early stretch looks like:
- Sept 6: vs Wisconsin (Green Bay)
- Sept 12: Rice
- Sept 19: Michigan State
- Sept 26: at Purdue
- Oct 3: at North Carolina
That’s three Big Ten-style brawls in the first month. No cupcakes. No "easing into it." If the Irish want to avoid another snub, they have to win that Wisconsin game convincingly.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the notre dame football live updates as the offseason moves into February, you need to focus on three specific areas:
- Watch the 200-Pound Club: Keep an eye on the winter workout reports coming out of the Gug. Specifically, look at Christopher Burgess. Reports say he’s already up to 298 pounds. If he successfully moves to the interior defensive line, the Irish front four becomes a nightmare.
- Monitor the Secondary Rotation: With DeVonta Smith gone to the NFL, there’s a massive hole at safety. Adon Shuler is the lock, but who starts next to him? The next few weeks of "voluntary" player-led drills will tell us if a younger guy or another portal addition is taking that spot.
- Check the "Shamrock Series" Logistics: If you're planning on that Wisconsin trip, tickets are already moving. It’s technically a Notre Dame home game but in Green Bay—don't wait until August to find a hotel.
The 2025 snub clearly stung, but the response in South Bend has been clinical. They didn't just complain; they reloaded. Between CJ Carr’s development and a defense that returns its core playmakers, the "Leave No Doubt" mantra might actually be more than just a locker room slogan. It looks like a plan.