Notre Dame didn’t waste any time answering Ohio State’s record jersey patch deal.
The Fighting Irish athletic department announced its own agreement, one the source says is worth about $1 to $3 million more per year. In the school’s release, Notre Dame framed the partnership this way: “Rooted in a shared commitment to empowering people to realize their ambitions through education, opportunity, and leadership, SoFi and Notre Dame Athletics are collaborating to help the next generation of Notre Dame student-athletes build the foundation for long-term financial success. The new collaboration will establish an annual fund to further Notre Dame’s “4 for Forever” promise, which will support all Notre Dame student-athletes through scholarships, financial education, career development, and exclusive opportunities,”
There’s also plenty to like on the field, especially on defense. Earlier this week, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Drayk Bowen were both recognized by PFF as two of the best returning linebackers this season, another sign that Notre Dame’s 2026 defense could be loaded.
The quarterback conversation around the program is getting attention too. CJ Carr is already one of the best quarterbacks in the sport this season, and there’s growing buzz that he could be one of the top rookie quarterbacks in the NFL by this time next year. That talk picked up after Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield made it clear that 2026 will be his last year with the Buccaneers, fueling earlier whispers that the team could view Carr as the heir apparent.
Former Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book is still chasing another NFL opportunity, but he’s also realistic about what comes next. If no team gives him a shot to make a roster, he’s comfortable with that because he’s already built a lucrative career away from football. Book recently spoke about life after playing and said the one thing he has no interest in is coaching, other than helping out in youth leagues and guiding kids as they begin their football journey.
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell also had Notre Dame on his mind at Big Ten Media Days. He discussed the Badgers’ season opener against the Irish and made it clear he wasn’t pleased about having to face such a strong Power 4 opponent while other Big Ten teams were lined up against weaker Group of 5 or FCS competition.
And when it comes to the 2026 CFP picture, On3’s Ari Wasserman has Notre Dame at the top. In his latest prediction, he slotted the Fighting Irish as the No. 1 overall seed, but he doesn’t see the run lasting long. Wasserman believes Marcus Freeman’s team would be bounced early by Oregon.
In Other News...
Brian Kelly Is Already Getting Roasted For His Latest Hot Take
Brian Kelly is wasting no time trying to settle into his next act, and the former Notre Dame and LSU coach has already put himself back in the spotlight with a bold prediction about the national title race. Now moving into broadcasting, Kelly publicly picked Texas as the team to beat in 2026, a take that was meant to sound authoritative but quickly turned into another online talking point for a coach whose public image has taken plenty of hits.
Instead of sparking respect, Kellys forecast drew heavy criticism and mockery from fans and analysts, many of whom questioned whether he was the right voice to handicap the SEC after the way his recent coaching run played out. For Notre Dame fans who remember plenty of Kelly-era debate already, it was another reminder that even off the sideline, he still tends to invite a reaction before he can finish a sentence. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Suddenly Sits At The Center Of A Major Independence Fight
College sports realignment has found Notre Dame in a familiar but increasingly consequential spot. Big Ten presidents and chancellors have officially voted to back new language in the Protect College Sports Act, nudging the legislation closer to a Senate vote and putting fresh attention on one of the sports most talked-about independents. Notre Dame has already signaled support for the bill, in large part because it would preserve a path to join a conference right away if the situation ever demanded it.
The broader push is still very much unsettled, though, and that is where the intrigue for Notre Dame really begins. The SEC is holding meetings to weigh its own support, Congress remains divided, and the measure still needs 60 Senate votes to move forward. For a program that has built its identity around independence, the fact that its preferred fallback plan is now part of a major legislative fight says plenty about how much the ground beneath college sports continues to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Malachi Fields Forces Giants To Notice With Camp Surge
Malachi Fields has carried his Notre Dame momentum straight into his first months with the Giants, turning heads during offseason workouts and again in training camp. The third-round pick arrived with a reputation as a standout from last season for the Fighting Irish, and he has quickly shown enough to get the attention of a team that brought in multiple receivers this offseason.
For now, Fields is still listed as the Giants WR4 behind several more established options, which makes the climb in front of him a real one. Even so, the early surge is the kind of thing teams notice in camp, especially when a rookie is trying to force his way into a crowded room and push the conversation beyond where he was drafted. [Read more 🡒]