Week 9 gave former Notre Dame players plenty of chances to leave their mark, and a handful of them did just that across the NFL schedule.
The weekend action began on Thursday night in Baltimore, where the Jacksonville Jaguars fell 33-10 to the Ravens. Even in the loss, Kyle Hamilton kept stacking production for Baltimore, finishing with three total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and one pass defensed.
The defensive numbers kept rolling from there. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquil paced the unit again with 13 total tackles and seven solo stops.
In Madrid, Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts logged five total tackles in a 34-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and also came up with a couple of touchdown-saving tackles against Ja'Marr Chase. Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love added eight tackles, which led the team.
On the offensive side, rookie running back Jadarian Price turned in his strongest showing yet. His nine carries produced 24 yards, but he made his biggest impact as a receiver, catching four passes for 54 yards and leading the team in receiving yards during a 17-3 win over the Arizona Cardinals. That matchup between Price and Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love will have to wait until the 2027 season.
Audric Estime also had a statement game. In the New Orleans Saints’ 23-22 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns, the former Notre Dame back rushed for 72 yards on 15 carries, led the team on the ground and scored a touchdown against the team that released him earlier this season.
The tight ends got involved, too. Tommy Tremble finished with four catches for 24 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 26-21 loss to the Denver Broncos, while Mitchell Evans added two receptions for 20 yards.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer posted three catches for 37 yards in a 38-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and also had a touchdown wiped out by offensive pass interference. Patriots tight end Eli Raridon continued his rookie season with three receptions for 52 yards in a 45-27 loss to the Packers.
Kyren Williams wrapped up the slate with another useful outing in the Los Angeles Rams’ 20-13 win over the Washington Commanders. He ran 15 times for 45 yards and added three catches for 16 yards. With Puke Nacua expected to miss a few weeks because of a knee injury, Williams’ workload and production should rise as November rolls on.
In Other News...
Marcus Freeman's CFP Reaction Will Spark A Big Notre Dame Debate
Marcus Freeman wasted little time weighing in on the College Football Playoffs move to 24 teams starting in 2027, and his reaction was pretty easy to read from a Notre Dame perspective. Speaking after the official announcement, the Irish coach said the expanded format would benefit Notre Dame, a program that has long lived with the pressure of making its case for a postseason spot without the safety net of a conference championship game.
Freeman also made clear that the new setup wont feel like a win for everyone, but for Notre Dame it opens more doors and more chances to get in. That is exactly why his comments are likely to stir debate around the program, because the Irish have spent years navigating the tension between independence and access, and this change only sharpens the question of how the playoff should reward teams like Notre Dame. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Just Added Another Big Ten Test To Its Future Schedule
Notre Dame has filled another spot on its future calendar with a matchup that should carry plenty of weight when it arrives. The Irish have lined up a two-game home-and-home series with Washington for the 2031 and 2034 seasons, a swap that comes after a previously planned series with Florida was canceled. The first meeting will be in South Bend, with Notre Dame Stadium hosting the opener before the return game shifts to Seattle three years later.
For Notre Dame, the addition keeps the schedule lined up with the kind of high-profile nonconference tests the program has long valued. Washington brings real pedigree into the series as a current Big Ten member with a football history that includes multiple conference and national championships, which gives the matchup a little extra heft beyond the usual future scheduling announcement. The only question now is how much both programs will have changed by the time the first kickoff finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has The Edge But Boston College Brings A Real Trap
Notre Dame enters this matchup with the cleaner recruiting profile and the more obvious edge in several position groups, which is why the Irish are being viewed as the more complete team on paper. The numbers behind the roster construction point in their favor, and the matchup breakdowns suggest Notre Dame should have answers if it plays to its strengths.
Boston College, though, has enough veteran experience and transfer portal help to make this feel less comfortable than the rankings might suggest. It has the look of a classic trap game, the kind that can echo a past meeting from 1993, where the favored team still has to handle a physical, older opponent that knows how to make things awkward if the favorite is even a little off. [Read more 🡒]