One Foot Down
A never-ending discussion about Notre Dame and the greater CFB landscape
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I’m sorry, but I thought Notre Dame was supposed to JOIN A CONFERENCE
The article argues that Notre Vale’s long‑standing football independence makes more sense than joining a conference, especially as the upcoming 24‑team College Football Playoff will eliminate conference championship games. With conferences becoming mere scheduling partners, schools like Miami, Florida State and Clemson are even flirting with independence, but Notre Dame already thrives as an independent powerhouse. The piece contends that tying a program to a conference offers little benefit in the new playoff‑centric era, and suggests Notre Dame will remain independent into 2027 and beyond.
CFB STAFF PICKS: The Top 25 with Notre Dame eating tacos
One Foot Down’s October 23, 2026 staff picks preview the upcoming College Football Playoff rankings by showcasing every Top 25 matchup this week, from Pitt vs. Miami to Texas vs. Ole Miss, plus a key MAC showdown between Eastern Michigan and Ohio. The piece opens with a light‑hearted photo of a Notre Dame fan tailgating with tacos and burgers before the Fighting Irish face Georgia, then dives into the full slate of games and invites readers to track picks on Tallysight.
Notre Dame Football Midseason Grades: Defense
Notre Dame’s defense gets a mixed midseason report from One Foot Down (Oct. 23, 2026). The defensive line earns an A‑, highlighted by solid rotation and disruptive play despite early injuries and a player ejection. Linebackers receive a B+, thanks to a #3 national rush‑defense ranking and only three rushing TDs allowed, but they struggle with pass coverage and blitz effectiveness. Defensive backs also get a B+, as the once‑top secondary now bears the blame for a 88th‑ranked third‑down defense and injuries to Brauntae Johnson. Coordinator Chris Ash is rated a C, with critics pointing to confusing schemes, while the overall defense is praised with an A‑, holding the nation’s #1 total‑defense and #5 scoring‑defense spots.
Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Hannah Hidalgo is a Preseason AP All-American
Senior guard Hannah Hidalgo is named a Preseason AP All‑American, joining the elite ranks of college basketball. The Notre Dame star, already the Preseason ACC Player of the Year, posted a historic 2026 season with 25.3 points, 5.6 steals (an NCAA record), 6.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game, becoming the only player this century to average at least 25‑5‑5‑5. She also joins a tiny group of major‑conference athletes with 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists and 400 steals, reaching those milestones before her junior year. Notre Dame opens with an exhibition vs. Truman State on Oct. 26, then faces Villanova in Rome on Nov. 1.
Notre Dame Football Midseason Grades: Offense
One Foot Down grades Notre Dame’s offense at the midseason mark after the BYU loss. Quarterback CJ Carr earns an A‑, leading the team with 10 TD passes and just one interception, though his big‑game poise remains in question. The offensive line improves to a B+, allowing only two sacks, while the tight ends lag at C+ with just 20 catches. Wide receivers receive a B‑, highlighted by Jordan Faison, Micah Gilbert and Jaden Greathouse, but depth is thin. Running backs are a solid B, driven by Jonaz Walton’s 7.5 YPC despite limited touches. Coaching stalls at C+, pulling the overall offensive grade to B‑.
The Wayward Train: My Dad’s Notre Dame Thanksgiving Adventure in 1963
The post recounts a 1963 Thanksgiving adventure of a Notre Dame student who, after a holiday stint with a Long Island host family, travels to Yankee Stadium for the Irish’s game against Syracuse. Set against the national grief following President Kennedy’s assassination, the season was already shaky—Notre Dame had won only two of eight games and faced economic woes in South Bend. The game kicks off at 10:30 a.m. before 56,672 fans, and after the loss, the group’s return train mistakenly routes through Canada, ending with a photo of the narrator’s dad sleeping upside down. The piece blends personal memory, historic context, and a quirky travel mishap.
Why are Notre Dame fans so mad?
Notre Dame fans are venting their frustration midway through the 2026 season, despite the Irish sitting 6‑1 and ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25. Host of One Foot Down reflects on the anger sparked by a recent "leave no doubt" loss and a week‑long bye, urging fans to unload their grievances on the show’s latest podcast. The article highlights the team’s strong standing, the lingering disappointment, and invites listeners to join the conversation about what’s bothering them.
Notre Dame wants a home cupcake to start the season
Notre Dame announces its 2027 football opener will be a home game against Kent State on August 28, moving the matchup up from the originally slated October 2 date. The change aligns with the NCAA’s new 14‑week regular season and the expansion of the playoff to 24 teams. It marks the first time under Marcus Freeman that the Irish start a season at home against a Group 6 opponent since 2017, while they also schedule ten Power 4 games and two other Group 6 foes (Navy and Kent State) for 2027.
Notre Dame 24, BYU 28: Online Overreactions
Notre Dame fell 28-24 to BYU on Oct. 17 in Provo, marking the first true test the Irish have faced in over a year and raising doubts ahead of a must‑win matchup with #1 Miami. The article dissects the game’s costly first‑half errors, defensive lapses, and quarterback CJ Carr’s uneven performance, while highlighting the loud online overreactions—from calls to fire coach Chris Ash to criticism of Carr’s play. The loss fuels questions about the team’s readiness heading into a bye week.
Three things we saw in Notre Dame’s loss to BYU
Notre Dame fell 6-1 after a controversial 59‑minute loss to BYU on Oct. 17, 2026. The Irish missed Boubacar Traore, ejected for targeting, which crippled their front seven early. Offensive woes surfaced as the team relied on just three receivers—Jordan Faison, Micah Gilbert, and Jaden Greathouse—while Mylan Graham saw only two snaps, a problem exacerbated by the 5,000‑foot altitude. Defensive confusion plagued the first half, with players often out of position until halftime adjustments limited BYU to 126 yards and seven points in the final stretch. These three issues could linger into upcoming games, especially against Miami.
Notre Dame Football 2026: Schedule, Stats, and Results after Week 7
Notre Dame sits 6‑1 and No. 4 in the AP Top 25 after a 28‑24 loss at BYU, but its defense tops the nation (1st in total yards allowed, 5th in points allowed). The Irish have racked up dominant wins—49‑13 over Wisconsin, 52‑0 at Rice, 27‑10 vs. Michigan State, 49‑10 over Purdue, 37‑26 at North Carolina, and a 58‑7 home thrashing of Stanford—before the BYU setback. Week 7 stats rank Notre Dame 35th in total offense (445.1 ypg), 5th in scoring offense (41.1 ppg), and No. 2 overall in Sagarin. Upcoming games include Miami, Boston College and SMU.
How Notre Dame’s opponents fared in WEEK 7 of the CFB season
Week 7 sees Notre Dame’s opponents reveal a mixed bag of results. Wisconsin falls to UCLA 17-7, while Rice loses to Tulsa 38-17. Michigan State drops to Northwestern 24-21, and Purdue falls to Washington 38-26. North Carolina bounces back with a 24-20 win over Duke, and Stanford beats Elon 34-7. BYU defeats Notre Dame 28-24, marking the Irish’s only loss so far. Navy loses to UTSA 38-34, Miami beats Florida State 43-35, Boston College edges Pitt 27-21, SMU tops Virginia 23-13, but Syracuse falls to Louisville 34-26. The roundup highlights how Notre Dame’s schedule strength is shaping up amid mostly dominant wins and a few setbacks.
Notre Dame is still one of the favorites to win the 2026 National Championship
Despite a painful 28-24 loss to BYU on Oct. 17, Notre Dame remains a top contender for the 2026 National Championship. Betting lines from FanDuel and other sportsbooks still list the Irish near the top, with only Ohio State and Georgia slightly ahead. While oddsmakers aren’t perfect predictors, the favorable odds suggest the season is far from over for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame Football Stats: Week 7 Review of Loss to BYU
Notre Dame’s 24-28 loss to BYU on Oct. 17 marks the Fighting Irish’s first blemish of the season, dropping them to 6‑1. BYU seized an early lead and held on despite Notre Dame’s 6‑0 third‑quarter surge and a fourth‑quarter effort that outscored the Cougars 8‑7. The Irish posted 376 total yards (+16) but fell short on the ground, netting just 115 rushing yards (‑6 vs. BYU). Quarterback C.J. Carr threw a career‑worst 49 attempts, completing 27 for 261 yards with no touchdowns and a costly fumble. Standout performances came from RB Nolan James Jr. (77 yards, 1 TD) and WR Jaden Greathouse (8 catches, 125 yards).
Notre Dame slides back a bit in both the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll
Notre Dame entered the BYU matchup on Oct. 17 as the No. 2 team in both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll, but a loss—officially noted by the Big 12—sent the Irish tumbling to No. 4 in the AP and a steep drop to No. 8 in the Coaches Poll. The split reflects differing poll philosophies, with the AP offering a nuanced view and the Coaches poll favoring conference biases. Meanwhile, Miami remains No. 1 and will travel to South Bend for a showdown on Nov. 7, just before the first CFP rankings are released.
Two things can be true at the same time after Notre Dame’s loss to BYU
It’s funny when you see true catholic guilt from the Notre Dame fanbase, and after Notre Dame’s 28-24 loss to BYU — it’s something other than funny. It’s annoying. Two things can be true at the same time. Hell, THREE THINGS can be true at the same time. So let’s state clearly what those “things” […]
Notre Dame loses on controversial no call at the end to BYU, 28-24
Saturday turned out to be a real BLOOD WEEK and Notre Dame wasn’t immune to that college football curse against the BYU Cougars in Provo, Utah. In real BLOOD WEEK fashion, Notre Dame made their own mistakes and poor officiating at the end to hand BYU a massive victory and now they will go back […]
Today’s Irish Fan Game Plan: Contain BYU’s Bear Bachmeier
This week, One Foot Down asked our connected Notre Dame football fans to weigh in on what they say is the biggest obstacle to the Irish prevailing in Provo today. We heard from 53 respondents, and almost six out of every ten said: Box in Bear Bachmeier, beat BYU. Bachmeier is 77-for-106 for 1,o33 yards, […]
GAME THREAD: No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS No. 8 BYU Cougars
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 6-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation but have plenty of work still to do this season as they loo to make a big playoff run for a possible national championship. Next up on that path is the BYU Cougars in Provo, Utah. WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO […]
The Anti-Preview: No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS No. 8 BYU Cougars
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are back on the road this week, as they’re making a mission trip to Provo, Utah, to force the BYU Cougars to submit to Rome. Notre Dame has been under fire for months about its schedule this season, but with the Cougars ranked inside the top ten, this game is […]
Three things I want to see during Notre Dame VS BYU
Notre Dame is finally back in Provo to take on BYU after a short couple of decades, and it’s a top 10 matchup. It’s currently late Friday night, and this was supposed to be a Wednesday column… so let’s get right after it. TIGHT (END) COVERAGE There are some people that seem to believe that […]
What they have been saying about No. 2 Notre Dame VS No. 8 BYU…
Notre Dame is travelling out west this week to take on the No. 8 ranked BYU Cougars in a prime time matchup that has ESPN’s College Gameday on site. It’s a massive game for both schools, but probably not “do or die” when it comes to the college football playoff. The Irish have a 16 […]
STAFF PICKS: No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS No. 8 BYU Cougars
The 6-0 and No. 2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish travel west this week to take on the No. 8 ranked BYU Cougars in what has been called the biggest home game ever for the Cougars. It’s kind of funny how there are so many people calling out Notre Dame for this game — “finally […]
College Football Playoff expansion to 24 teams is good for Notre Dame and bad for the sport
The College Football Playoff is going to expand to 24 teams. It’s not “official-official” just yet, but it’s going to happen — and it’s going to start next season. I’m going to try and not pontificate too much on the absurdity of this decision, but there are things that have to be said. This isn’t […]
Notre Dame Football: Hot and Cold Takes VS the BYU Cougars
How’d We Do Last Week? As a refresher, each week I will feature the Most Accurate, Most interesting, and Most Wildly Inaccurate takes. Let’s get to it! Most Wildly Inaccurate To be honest, the takes were all very good last week. Good on everyone! Most Interesting Rice dishes during Tree work? Sure, why not! Also […]
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