Notre Dame wasted no time making a statement in its 2026 home opener, flattening Rice 52-0 and piling up points early and often in a performance that looked every bit like a top-tier team.
The Irish are now 2-0, and the timing of the win could matter in the polls. No.
1 Ohio State blew a 20-point halftime lead against No. 3 Texas and fell 24-23, while No.
6 Oregon also went down to unranked Oklahoma State. That opens the door for Notre Dame to climb, possibly all the way toward the top of the rankings.
What stood out most was how complete the night felt. The offense scored touchdowns on six of seven drives with the first-team on the field, and even when some possessions were shortened by the defense, the whole operation kept humming.
The kicking game held up too, with Spencer Porath drilling his long attempt. From the opening whistle to the final snap, it was one-sided in every phase.
The offense, in particular, looks like it has found a rhythm. The streak eventually ended, but that didn’t change the larger picture: Notre Dame controlled the pace and kept finding the end zone.
Over the last two quarters against Wisconsin, then the first two quarters plus one drive against Rice, the first-team offense has been producing at a high level. The real test still comes against better competition, but the early returns are hard to ignore.
There was also a clear effort to spread the ball around. Notre Dame completed 25 passes, and nine different receivers recorded at least one touch.
Jordan Faison led the way with 54 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Micah Gilbert added 47 yards and a score and Jaden Greathouse chipped in 48 yards. Jerome Bettis Jr., listed as a backup, finished with 61 yards on two catches.
That kind of distribution makes the receiver room look deeper than it has in a long time.
The one area that still needs work is the run game. Against Rice, it never really got rolling.
Five backs combined for 32 carries and averaged just 3.7 yards per attempt. Nolan James Jr. scored twice, but the ground game didn’t produce much beyond that.
Aneyas Williams had some solid runs but totaled only 29 yards, while Jonaz Walton was the bright spot with 48 yards on 8 carries. If there was a concern to take from the blowout, that was it.
Notre Dame also got a major boost from Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa’s return. After missing the opener, he was back on the field and made his presence felt right away.
Viliamu-Asa finished tied for the team lead with 5 tackles, added 1.5 tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble. Even when he wasn’t the one finishing the play, he was around the ball and affecting the action.
For the Irish, that was a welcome sight.
In Other News...
Notre Dame May Have Seized Early Control In A Huge Recruiting Fight
Notre Dames 52-0 rout of Rice did more than pad a season opener, it also gave the Irish another chance to make a strong impression on one of their top long-term targets. Wyatt VanBoening, a four-star offensive tackle in the 2028 class, was among the visitors taking in the atmosphere, and the performance only reinforced what the program wanted recruits to see: a team that can dominate on the field while making campus feel like a place worth returning to.
VanBoening has been around Notre Dame several times already, and that familiarity matters in a recruiting battle that includes offers from several major programs. The Irish appear to have given themselves an early edge, but with so much time still left in his recruitment, the real question is whether those repeated visits and the latest trip can eventually turn into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Defense Faces A Bigger Week 3 Concern Than Expected
The injury picture on Notre Dames roster got a little clearer this week, and not in a way that eases much concern for the defense. Safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye will remain out for the matchup with Michigan State after being hurt in Week 1, leaving the Irish to keep adjusting on the back end and up front as they prepare for another early-season test.
Head coach Marcus Freeman said both defenders are expected back later in the season, which helps explain why there is no panic yet. Even so, their continued absence makes this a deeper Week 3 issue than it first appeared, especially with the defense trying to hold up while other pieces remain unavailable and the staff waits to see when the full group can finally be back together. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Freshman Just Made The Irish Backfield More Interesting
A freshman running back already finding his way into Notre Dames rotation is the kind of development that can quietly change the feel of an offense, and Jonaz Walton did exactly that in the home opener against Rice. Walton led the Irish in rushing yards with 48 on eight carries, giving the staff a glimpse of what his speed can add as the season moves forward.
Marcus Freeman singled out Waltons growth at the college level, and the broader takeaway from the opener was just as important for Notre Dames depth chart. Young contributors such as offensive lineman Cam Herron and wide receivers Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burress also got involved, and their early usage suggests the Irish may keep leaning on this next wave of talent sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]