The biggest football buzz on Sunday came from a familiar name making a very unexpected return. Aaron Donald is back with the Los Angeles Rams after retiring in the offseason, and the move only got louder once the Rams traded with the Cleveland Browns for Myles Garrett. That deal kicked off talk that Los Angeles might try to build the NFL’s nastiest defensive end pairing.
Donald had spent the past few months leaving the door cracked open, never really shutting down the idea that he could return. By Sunday evening, he was making it clear why the rumors kept hanging around.
"Obviously, seeing what was being done with this team, pieces that were getting brought here. It's like, 'OK, that's a complete team,'" Donald said Sunday evening. "And then you see other moves they make, and it's like, 'OK, I wish I was still out there playing right about now.'"
While Donald was back in the spotlight, USC was dealing with another ugly look. The Trojans played San Jose State in Week 0, a game that existed only because USC backed out of the series with Notre Dame, and the Coliseum did not exactly look packed. Photos of the empty seats spread quickly online, and the reaction from fans mostly settled on the same tired explanation: it was hot, and they never go to games.
USC then put out a statement on Sunday night that basically acknowledged the issue. “We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance.
We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to increased attendance the rest of the season.”
Back on the Notre Dame side, the Irish are still sorting out their cornerback situation opposite Leonard Moore. Jayden Sanders and DJ McKinney are both in the mix, and there’s a real chance defensive coordinator Chris Ash doesn’t settle on one starter at all, instead finding ways to keep both on the field.
And in a quieter but much more personal note from the spring of 2025, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman made a hospital visit that clearly meant a lot. Former walk-on holder Chris Salerno, whose last game was the CFP finals in 2024, was dealing with congenital hydrocephalus. The condition had been part of his life for years, but it suddenly worsened to the point that he was placed in a medically induced coma for nearly three days.
Salerno told the Irish Star that Freeman came by while he was still unconscious and stayed with his family. "While in the hospital, Coach Free got word and came to visit me even while I was fully sedated. He sat with my parents and offered any support he could provide."
In Other News...
Notre Dame Opens Season With Adon Shuler Facing Heartbreaking Loss
Notre Dame is heading into its 2026 opener against Wisconsin with a heavy off-field burden hanging over one of its most important defenders. Adon Shuler, a two-time team captain and a key piece of the secondary, is dealing with the death of his father, Don Shuler, whose passing was announced by the family on social media.
For a player whose leadership role has made him central to the Irish defense, the timing adds a deeply personal layer to the start of the season. No public arrangements for Don Shuler had been announced at the time of the report, leaving the program and its supporters to navigate the opening of camp and the first game week with the Shuler family foremost in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Camp Buzz Is Building Around 3 Irish Difference Makers
With Notre Dames opener closing in, camp has started to sharpen the picture around a few players who could matter more than expected once the season settles in. Mylan Graham and James Flanigan are both being tracked as possible starters at wide receiver, giving the Irish a couple of younger options whose roles could grow quickly if they keep building through August.
Joey OBrien is in a different spot, but he is drawing attention for his own reasons. The true freshman safety has recovered from an injury and is back in the mix as the top backup, which puts him in position to compete for real playing time rather than just developmental snaps. For a team looking ahead to the 2026 season, those are the kinds of camp developments that can quietly shape the depth chart before anyone really notices. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Captain Vote Revealed A Leadership Problem Freeman Welcomed
Notre Dame settled on four captains for the current season, a group that blends experience and fresh voices in a way Marcus Freeman clearly values. Drayk Bowen and Adon Shuler return from last years leadership group, while CJ Carr and Jordan Faison join them after earning enough trust from their teammates to be elevated into the role.
Freeman said nine players drew significant votes, which is the kind of detail coaches usually welcome more than worry about. The Fighting Irish still chose to keep the captaincy to four, the third time in five years they have landed on that number, and the result says as much about the depth of leadership on the roster as it does about the names wearing the title. [Read more 🡒]