Micah Shrewsberry is still chasing a real breakthrough at Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish head into 2026-27 with another roster that needs to be pieced together carefully. Through three seasons, Shrewsberry has gone 41-56, and last year’s team tied for 16th in the ACC while struggling to find traction.
The offseason losses didn’t make things any easier. Markus Burton, Cole Certa, and Jalen Haralson all moved on through the transfer portal, leaving Notre Dame to retool around a few key returners and a batch of newcomers. Braeden Shrewsberry is back for his senior season, and Brady Koehler returns in the frontcourt after showing promise as a freshman.
There are fresh faces in the mix, too. Four-star point guard Jonathan Sanderson should have a role, while the Irish also went shopping in the transfer market for help up front.
Winthrop center Logan Duncomb, who previously transferred from Indiana, is one name Notre Dame is counting on for steadiness. Ethan Roberts, an Illinois native who made his mark at Penn, is another frontcourt addition the staff is banking on.
But the most important addition may be Braeden Smith.
The 6-foot point guard from Seattle arrives with a strong college résumé. He spent two seasons at Colgate and was named Patriot League Player of the Year in 2024 after averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists as a sophomore. Smith then redshirted and transferred closer to home at Gonzaga, though he didn’t produce the same kind of playmaking impact with the Bulldogs last season.
Notre Dame is hoping the version of Smith that starred at Colgate shows up in South Bend. His veteran feel and leadership give the Irish something they’ve needed in the backcourt, especially with Braeden Shrewsberry expected to carry a heavy scoring burden. If Smith can get back to being a steady scorer and distributor, Notre Dame could have a much cleaner 1-2 punch in the backcourt.
This still doesn’t look like a roster built to contend for the ACC or make noise nationally. But Shrewsberry needs his son and the rest of this group to mesh, and Smith stands out as the offseason move with the biggest potential payoff. Notre Dame needed a dependable point guard, and that’s exactly why Smith matters so much.
In Other News...
Notre Dames Summer OL Riser Is Forcing A Real Fall Debate
Matty Augustine has spent the summer turning a quiet developmental track into something Notre Dame has to pay attention to. The redshirt freshman offensive lineman was already on the radar after holding his own in limited snaps last season, and his spring work at right tackle only strengthened the sense that he is not just filling a camp body role. With offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock noting that Augustine is in the mix for one of the five starting jobs, the Irish suddenly have a legitimate young lineman adding pressure to an already competitive room.
The bigger question now is where that path actually leads. Augustines best route to the field may not be at tackle if those spots stay largely spoken for, which makes the interior worth watching as fall approaches. He has earned the kind of consideration that can force a real conversation, and Notre Dame still has to sort out whether his growth turns into a clearer role when the lineup decisions get real. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame May Finally Have Its Freeman-Era Title Edge
For all the turnover that usually comes with a new era, Notre Dame heads into 2026 with a rare kind of stability where it matters most. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy pointed to the combination of continuity at quarterback and offensive coordinator as a major reason the Irish look like a real national title threat, with CJ Carr back as the starter and Mike Denbrock still steering the offense.
McElroy also framed the defense as a major part of the equation, noting the kind of experience Notre Dame is bringing back on that side of the ball, with Leonard Moore among the names setting the tone. Just as important, the Irish still have the memory of being on the outside looking in a year ago despite a strong close, and that kind of unresolved finish can be a powerful edge once preseason arrives. [Read more 🡒]