The FOX TV crew - Gus Johnson & Stephanie White - spent almost the entire first half of last night's game talking about what a great, dominant team UConn is, and how ND would not have answers for Paige Bueckers & Aaliyah Edwards. They clearly assumed that UConn was gonna blow out ND... Even at the end of the 3rd quarter, Stephanie White said that she expected Paige Bueckers - whom Sonia Citron had shut down for 3 quarters - to take over the game in the 4th quarter. That didn't happen. Citron was never given enough credit by the announcers for shutting down Bueckers on defense. In fact, Citron outplayed Bueckers both offensively and defensively throughout the game, and ND dominated the 4th quarter. ☘️ 🏀☘️

Senior quarterback Riley Leonard discusses his choice to transfer from Duke to Notre Dame, his offseason surgery and health, transition to new program, head coach Marcus Freeman, adjustment to new team personnel and more.


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Graduate transfer wide receiver Kris Mitchell tells reporters about how he landed at Notre Dame through the transfer portal, Notre Dame's culture, early bonding inside the wide receiver room, his abilities, excitement to compete in Mike Denbrock's offensive scheme and more.

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JD Bertrand impressed his teammates in practices for the Senior Bowl this week.

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I have been closely following ND men's basketball since I entered ND in 1968. My memory might be faulty, but I do not recall the team being this bad in past six decades Edit: I should have said the past two years.
What is the outlook for the next few years?

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2025 three-star wide receiver Vernon Allen III reported an offer from Notre Dame on Friday.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Allen holds 12 total offers including Boston College, Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

In 12 games last season for Baltimore City College High, Allen had 74 receptions, 1,123 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Per Rivals, Allen is not yet ranked at his position or nationally. He is the No. 26 player in Baltimore for the 2025 recruiting class.


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Notre Dame football defensive graduate assistant Max Bullough offered 2025 linebacker Antoine Deslauriers last week at Rabun Gap (Ga.) Nacoochee. Deslauriers, originally from Canada, moved to the U.S. last summer to play competitive football.

Deslauriers has 17 total offers including Auburn, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M. He finished his junior season with 72 tackles including 18 for loss, four quarterback hurries, two sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Per Rivals, Deslauriers is currently unrated and unranked. His last recorded measurements have him at 6-foot-2, 225-pounds. Deslauriers said Bullough talked about getting him up to campus for a visit this spring but no date has been set yet.

I spoke with Deslauriers on Tuesday evening to discuss his offer, skill set, thoughts on Notre Dame's past with Canadian players and more.

On his offer:

"I was thrilled about it. I think it comes from the fact not only that this is a big-time program, not only for football but also for academics," Deslauriers told Inside ND Sports. "Being a Canadian football player and having the chance to be recognized by such [a] prestigious program is absolutely phenomenal. I'm honored by it."

On ND's history with Canadians and recently signing Sean Sevillano Jr, Devan Houstan and Armel Mukam:

"There's something that I like about it ... the fact that they already had Canadian players is just showing that they know how to deal with it maybe [the] best. For me, it won't be such a difference because I would have already learned how to play football in the states."

On play style and what he could bring to a college program:

"I'm a physical football player. I think I can stop somebody running by me and really deliver that blow. I can get from sideline to sideline pretty quickly ... reading plays and everything. As far as how I fit in, in my I believe I'm positive. I'm not that loud outside the field, I prefer leading by example. If you talk to any of my coaches, that's what they'll say. I'm always trying to do the right thing. I won't be the loudest outside of the field but on the field, I'll talk and I'll be vocal."

Deslauriers self-reports a 4.08 GPA and said academics will be a main factor in his recruitment because he was taught football doesn't last forever.

Link to full story;


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In @Adam Gorney's Three-Point Stance, he discusses the murky waters of NIL, the battle to be crowned the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class and Notre Dame's pursuit of the No. 1 overall class.

Thanks to all who submitted questions for me and @Eric Hansen on our latest podcast. These are the questions we answered with timestamps.

34:22 • Ron - @Ron67214614: With Riley Leonard lookin like he will miss winter and maybe part of spring practice it would seem Steve Angeli or Kenny Minchey have an opportunity to win the starting QB position. Your thoughts?

36:30 • @CharlesWWolfe: Was the Leonard surgery a surprise, a surprise to Notre Dame, or something that all parties knew about when he entered the portal?

39:55 • Marie Biafore - @biafore_marie: How many ND players do you think will get drafted this year and who do you think they will be? Also, can you predict what day they will be drafted?

43:44 • Ron - @Ron67214614: What can you guys share about the LB from Montreal? Any information that you have learned about him.

45:57 • Jack Quinn - @jq6008: Follow up re: Stanford. Miami has no end of season rival. Could ND and the ACC make Miami a perm. opponent and end there there in odd years. I’m sure The U would love it- as opposed to having 18,000 show up to close vs Pitt. (Or rotate an end of season ACC team w no rivalry game)

48:40 • Nathan Reynolds - @Enforcers2117: Thoughts on Al Golden taking the BC job?

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USA Basketball announced Friday its coaching staff for the 2024 USA Men’s U18 National Team. Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd will be the head coach of the team. Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry and Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland will be the assistant coaches.

They will lead the U.S. in the 2024 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup (date and location TBA).
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@Greg Smith put together a list of five Midwest prospects who attracted a lot of attention in January.

Some of these guys have visited Notre Dame, but only DL Julian Marks has an Irish offer.


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Live Stats: Link

I have it on very good authority through a Notre Dame source that a recent report at blueandgold.com about new Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard's January ankle surgery contains some inaccuracies.

Here is what we do know as ACCURATE, and we'll have a chance to talk to Riley Leonard on Friday, at which time he will provide any additional details:

The Duke transfer quarterback underwent surgery on his right ankle roughly two weeks ago AND IS EXPECTED to be fully recovered when Notre Dame begins spring practice on a yet-to-be released date in March. At that time, he is expected to battle junior-to-be Steve Angeli for the No. 1 QB job for the Irish. The surgery was the result of an ankle injury he suffered during Duke's 21-14 home loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 30 on a sack by Howard Cross III.

Inaccurately reported was that Leonard suffered a new ankle injury at ND and that the injury to and surgery on was performed on the ankle opposite of the one he injured against the Irish. The speculation that he might not be ready for the start of spring practice was also incorrect, according to the source.

Release from FightingIrish.com

Consider it a pipeline from South Bend to Paris for Notre Dame senior Eva Gaetino signed a pro contract with Paris Saint Germain. Gaetino is now reunited with her former Irish teammate Korbin Albert, marking back-to-back years in which a Notre Dame player has signed with the Rouge et Bleu squad.

“I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to play for PSG,” Gaetino said. “I have always dreamed about playing soccer in Europe. Following my trial, it was clear to me that PSG was my future home, as I found that the club’s goals and values aligned with my own. I am very excited to play alongside such incredible players, one of which being Korbin. I’m so happy that we get to reunite on the field, and hopefully bring some Notre Dame magic to France.

PSG’s roster now boasts the 2022 ACC Midfielder of the Year in Albert and the two-time (2022, 2023) ACC Defender of the Year in Gaetino. Both Albert and Gaetino were also First-Team All-Americans.

Gaetino started in 75 of her 76 games played at Notre Dame and captured the nation’s attention over her final two seasons. Defensively speaking, she spearheaded 20 shutouts in that two-year timespan. Offensively speaking, she saved her best season for last, posting career numbers in goals (4), assists (3) and points (11).

She helped guide the Irish to back-to-back top-three finishes in the ACC and back-to-back ACC Tournament semifinal appearances. In 2022, the Irish achieved a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the quarterfinal round.

“I can’t wait to get to work and help the team in any way I can to push them forwards to their goals,” Gaetino added. “I feel confident coming in knowing that Notre Dame has prepared me with all of the tools I need to be successful, both on and off the field.”

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Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming discusses Notre Dame keeping director of recruiting Chad Bowden from Michigan, why Bowden is so valuable to the Irish, the toughest and easiest positions to evaluate, if quarterback recruits are worried about ND's transfer portal reliance, the top quarterbacks in the 2026 class, what he likes about ND's 2025 class, how Mike Denbrock and Mike Brown are received on the recruiting trail, what the Irish need at wide receiver and more.

Then @Eric Hansen and I answer questions from Twitter and The Insider Lounge (33:28).

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Nate Tice's Big Board has Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt at No. 6. He has him being selected by the Tennessee Titans.

He also has the Chicago Bears taking UNC's Drake Maye over USC's Caleb Williams.

Read and discuss:

The ND women - who were 16-point underdogs and played without All-American Olivia Miles, Cass Prosper, and Emma Risch - just beat #8 UConn on the road 82-67, ending UConn's 13-game winning streak. Terrible coaching... ☘️ 🏀☘️

The first offer Notre Dame has extended in the 2027 class went to a recruit from the same high school that ND head coach Marcus Freeman and cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens attended.

Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne freshman Jamier Brown reported a Notre Dame offer Thursday morning. He caught 31 passes for 512 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games as a wide receiver last season. Brown also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.

His offer list now includes eight schools: Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue, Marshall, Toledo, Ball State, Central Michigan and UMass.

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In @John Garcia Jr.'s Southeast Rumor Mill, he has notes on a 2026 quarterback who wants to get back to Notre Dame for another visit.


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With Notre Dame’s coaching staff finished with its travels for the spring evaluation period, we’re ready to debut a new feature on The Insider Lounge. The Heat Index will track Notre Dame’s standing with its top remaining targets in the 2024 class.

We will keep The Heat Index pinned and continually update it for the remainder of the 2024 recruiting cycle. That way you should have always have a clear picture of the top candidates to be future Notre Dame commitments.

The Heat Index is intended to reflect a combination of interest being shown by the recruit and how much Notre Dame is prioritizing said recruit.

These are the various levels we will assign to recruits in The Heat Index and what they’re intended to mean.

Plain: The recruitment remains in the beginning stages, so there’s not enough evidence to justify a heat rating.

Mild: There was interest at some point, but the recruitment has not been trending toward a commitment lately.

Medium: Interest has been expressed, but it’s not clear which way this recruitment is heading.

Hot: Notre Dame is a top contender, and the recruit is a top target.

Extremely Hot: We expect this recruit to eventually commit to Notre Dame — potentially sooner rather than later.

With that being said, here comes the heat …

LATEST UPDATE: Jan. 2.

Notre Dame's last day on the recruiting trail will be spent by Marcus Freeman and Mike Mickens together in their home state.

In @RivalsFriedman's East Coast Rumor Mill, he discusses Notre Dame LB target Anthony Sacca's recruitment. A few other recruits with Notre Dame offers are discussed, but the Irish aren't mentioned for them.


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Virginia made 13 3s and forced 18 turnovers to avenge its road loss to Notre Dame last month.

“It was a tough task for us coming in here,” Micah Shrewsberry said. “I’ve never been here. This is my first game. But that’s a tough environment for Notre Dame in general. We knew it would be a tough task. We already have a small margin for error. The way they shot the ball and the way we turned it over just wasn’t a recipe for success.”

Notre Dame men's basketball has lost in all eight of the games it has played on Virginia's home court. Seven of those losses have come since the Irish joined the ACC in 2013.

The Irish (7-13, 2-13 ACC) will attempt to break that streak tonight at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers (15-5, 6-3) own Division I's longest home winning streak with 21 straight wins and 11 coming this season.

Notre Dame managed to beat Virginia in South Bend on Dec. 30 with a 76-54 rout. The Cavs are 5-2 in the new year. The Irish have lost six of seven since then.

Virginia is led by three double-digits scorers: 6-foot-3 guard Reece Beekman (12.9 points per game), 6-4 guard Isaac McKneely (11.6) and 6-8 guard Ryan Dunn (10.2). They combined for 35 points in the previous loss to the Irish: 15 for Beekman, 13 for Dunn and 7 for McKneely.

Carey Booth and J.R. Konieczny both scored 17 against Virginia.

Tip: 7 p.m. EST
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: Notre Dame Radio Network

Notre Dame season stats: