Notre Dame Fighting Irish - A to Z Sports

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

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