Leonard Moore’s rise off the field has landed him on another national list, and the Notre Dame cornerback is now one step away from one of college football’s most respected community-service honors.
The junior was named to the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which recognizes 22 college football players and one head coach for their commitment to service. That selection also puts Moore in the running for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, awarded each year to the FBS player who best blends community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. For Notre Dame, it keeps the program’s recent run of semifinalists alive - Moore is the fourth Irish player in the last four years to reach that stage.
On the field, Notre Dame’s national standing continues to look strong after Bill Connelly updated his SP+ rankings following Week 2. The Irish sit No. 3 overall, trailing only Georgia and Ohio State, and they’re also No. 1 in offense after the first few weeks of the regular season. That combination is fueling the idea that Marcus Freeman’s team has the profile of a national title contender.
There was also a big result in another Notre Dame sport on Tuesday night. The No.
20 Irish men’s soccer team rolled past Detroit Mercy 4-0 at Alumni Stadium, improving to 4-1-2 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play. The win was Notre Dame’s fourth straight, and the Irish stayed unbeaten at home this season.
Back with football, the running back situation may be getting a harder look. Comments from running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider earlier this week suggested Aneyas Williams could be in line for a reduced role, or even lose his starting spot, unless he becomes much more effective running the ball. Seider said he believes Williams is pressing and that seeing others handle the job could help him.
Notre Dame also has a future nonconference matchup on the calendar with Nebraska. The two schools will renew a series that goes back to the early 20th century, with games set for 2032 and 2033. The first meeting will be in Lincoln, the second in South Bend, and the 2032 game will be the first time the teams have played since 2001.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Backfield Rivalry Is About To Hit The NFL Stage
Notre Dames backfield tandem is already making its way into NFL storylines. Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love, who spent their college days sharing the spotlight in South Bend, opened their pro careers with encouraging first outings - Price with the Seattle Seahawks and Love with the Arizona Cardinals. Their next chapter comes quickly, with the two rookies set to line up against each other in an upcoming game, a fitting collision for a pair of backs who pushed one another long before either reached the league.
The matchup adds a little extra edge for Irish fans who watched the duo grow into one of the programs most intriguing backfield pairings. Their rivalry has always been a friendly one, and they already have a nod to the moment in mind: a jersey swap to mark their first NFL meeting. It is the kind of small but meaningful gesture that underscores how much the competition has meant, and how fast both players have gone from college teammates to opposing pros. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Faces An Early Test With New Names In Focus
Notre Dames early schedule has already put it in a familiar but demanding spot, lining up against multiple Big Ten opponents before the season gets too deep. At 2-0, the Fighting Irish have opened with enough momentum to keep attention high, but the next stretch brings a different kind of examination, with Michigan State and Purdue both offering the sort of physical, conference-style test that can expose where a team really stands.
The matchup layers make it especially interesting because Notre Dame is still operating as an independent while effectively measuring itself against Big Ten competition week after week. That means the focus falls not just on the teams record, but on which players can carry the load in these games and which opposing names can swing the tone of the matchup, turning early September into a useful snapshot of where Notre Dames season may be headed. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame May Have Found A Passing Game Difference Maker
Jaden Greathouse is back to full health after the hamstring injury that cut into his 2025 season, and Notre Dame got an immediate glimpse of what that could mean in the passing game. In the season opener against Rice, the wide receiver finished with three catches for 48 yards, a small but encouraging sign that he and quarterback CJ Carr are starting to find a rhythm.
For an offense looking for more consistency through the air, Greathouses return gives the Irish a potential difference maker at the right time. The chemistry is still in the early stages, but both Greathouse and Notre Dame are optimistic about what this season can become if that connection continues to grow. [Read more 🡒]