Instead of getting ready for a first-round playoff matchup this weekend — the assumed destination for a 10–2 Notre Dame team — the Irish coaching staff is already turning its attention to the transfer portal and long-term planning for 2026. That reality is far from ideal, but it does come with one advantage: time. And with extra time comes an opportunity to attack the portal proactively, the way Notre Dame has successfully done in recent years.
One position stands clearly above the rest as Notre Dame’s most pressing need heading into 2026: defensive tackle.
Notre Dame has long preferred to build its roster through recruiting and development, using the transfer portal as a supplement rather than a yearly free-agency free-for-all.