Notre Dame is carrying Lou Holtz’s name onto the field in 2026.
The school has unveiled a special “Lou” helmet sticker that the Fighting Irish will wear this season in honor of the former head coach. In a University-produced video, the sticker appears on the back of Notre Dame’s gold helmets, positioned just to the right of the NCAA logo.
The design is simple and unmistakable: the name “Lou” paired with the familiar “L” shaped hand signal on both sides.
Holtz, who guided Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship, died on March 4 at 89. His run with the Irish stretched from 1986 to 1996, a stretch that produced a 100-30-2 record and helped establish some of the program’s signature traditions, including the “Play Like A Champion” sign.
Marcus Freeman reflected on Holtz’s impact shortly after his death, saying, "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lou Holtz," coach Marcus Freeman said shortly after Holtz's passing. "Lou and I shared a very special relationship.
He welcomed me to the Notre Dame family immediately, offering me great support throughout our time together. Our relationship meant a lot to me as I admired the values he used to build the foundation of his coaching career: love, trust and commitment.
"Lou's impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the football field. He and his wife, Beth, are respected across campus for their generous hearts and commitment to carrying out Notre Dame's mission of being a force for good.
"On behalf of the Notre Dame Football program, we send our love to Lou's family, friends and former players, wishing you all comfort and peace during this difficult time."
No. 4 Notre Dame will debut the sticker when it opens the season on Sunday, Sept. 6, against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Fighting Irish as a 20.5-point favorite.
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