Todd Blackledge sees a Notre Dame team that stacks up favorably against the 2024 group that reached the College Football Playoff championship game.
That’s the bar in the Marcus Freeman era. The 2024 runner-up has become the standard every Irish team gets measured against, and with expectations again running high this fall, Blackledge thinks this version might actually clear it.
When Yogi Roth asked him whether the 2026 Irish are better than the 2024 team, Blackledge didn’t hesitate.
“I think this team, roster wise, is better than the team that played for the national championship in ‘24. I think they’re better top to bottom defensively, they have more veteran experience and leadership. I think the defense is as good as any defense out there.”
He also likes what he sees on offense, starting with the quarterback upgrade.
“I think they’re better at quarterback. Riley Leonard was a great college quarterback, a real dual-threat guy… but CJ Carr is a much, much better passer than Riley Leonard was, and I think right now, the best thing they’re doing offensively is putting the ball in CJ’s hands.”
Blackledge pointed to a more aggressive passing approach on first down, along with a deeper receiver group than Leonard had in 2024.
He isn’t concerned about the ground game, either. Blackledge said the offensive line is excellent and the backs will bring more experience as the season goes on.
Put it all together, and his read is clear: Notre Dame has the look of a team built for another deep College Football Playoff run.
In Other News...
ESPNs CJ Carr Take Will Frustrate Notre Dame Fans
A box score can flatten a quarterbacks afternoon, and that is what happened with CJ Carr after Notre Dames win over Michigan State. ESPNs David Hale judged the performance largely through the numbers, but Carr still finished with a 75-percent completion rate and 234 passing yards, while helping the Irish move the ball in situations that mattered.
The bigger point for Notre Dame fans is that the game was not as empty as a stat-line critique made it seem. Carr connected on key throws on critical plays and showed the kind of influence that does not always show up in a quick recap, which is why the broader evaluation feels so much harsher than the actual performance. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Talent Edge Over Purdue Comes With One Small Concern
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Purdue carrying a clear talent edge on paper, and that advantage shows up most sharply when the two rosters are lined up through recruiting rankings and recent production. Purdues defense has been built mostly from three-star recruits and has struggled this season, while Notre Dames offense is stocked with several highly regarded prospects, including five-star talent, giving the Irish a profile that suggests they should be able to stress the Boilermakers in a variety of ways.
Still, the cleanest read on this game is not simply that Notre Dame has more blue-chip ability. The small concern is whether that edge translates as smoothly as expected when Purdues defense gets a chance to make the Irish earn every bit of it. Notre Dame has the better personnel and the better recent performance, but this is the kind of matchup where execution can matter more than reputation, and the Irish will want to leave no opening for a team that has already been backed into a difficult spot. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Poraths Purdue Return Adds Real Intrigue To Notre Dame Trip
Spencer Poraths first trip back to Ross-Ade Stadium with Notre Dame adds a little extra edge to an already interesting in-state matchup. The kicker transferred from Purdue to Notre Dame and enrolled in the spring semester, and this will be his first game at Purdue since making that move, a wrinkle that gives the Irishs visit to West Lafayette a more personal feel than most nonconference trips.
There is also a broader layer to the storyline, given the NCAAs new penalties for so-called ghost transfers, which has put a sharper spotlight on cases like Poraths. Notre Dame special teams coordinator Marty Biagi has praised Poraths focus and the way he has handled his work this season, and all of it now comes into view with a return to a place where the context will be impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]