We're one day out from 2025 DE Christopher Burgess Jr., a four-star recruit out of Chicago, announcing his commitment decision during Saturday's All-American Bowl. His four finalists are Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Alabama.

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As I continue to dig into this, the only thing that seems clear is that no one really knows what he's planning to do. The least likely choice seems to be Alabama, because I haven't heard any buzz on that front. I've heard some believe Burgess really likes Michigan, but it doesn't seem like the Wolverines have been pushing hard for him as of late.

So this may end up being a Notre Dame/Ohio State battle. The Buckeyes have the pull of defensive line coach Larry Johnson and the defensive ends he's put into the NFL. The Irish have the pull of football, proximity and life after football, which is believed to make ND the favorite of Burgess' parents.

But none of the sources I talk to around any of those programs have any convinction about what Burgess will do.

I'm likely not going to put in a FutureCast prediction for Burgess before his decision. But if you made me guess, I'd lean toward Ohio State right now, because this kind of uncertainty usually doesn't end in Notre Dame's favor. But I'm certainly not ruling out the Irish or even Michigan, otherwise I'd put in an Ohio State pick.

I just heard back from 2025 offensive tackle Jack Lange, a four-star recruit from Eureka, Mo. He plans to visit Notre Dame for its junior day on Jan. 20.

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Lange visited Notre Dame for its victory over Pittsburgh in October. Offensive line coach Joe Rudolph followed up with an offer to Lange a couple weeks later.

His next Notre Dame visit will come alongside 2025 ND OT commit Will Black and 2025 OT target Owen Strebig. That would make for quite the trio for Rudolph to land. (Running visitors list here)

Rivals ranks Lange as the No. 19 offensive tackle and No. 163 overall in the 2025 class.

Lange has been active on the visit scene with multiple trips already to see Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa and Nebraska. He's also made visits to Michigan, Missouri and Ole Miss.

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Former Arizona State nickel cornerback Jordan Clark committed to Notre Dame on Monday evening, he confirmed in a post on X/Twitter. The graduate transfer visited campus over the weekend and is the son of former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark.

Jordan has one season of college eligibility remaining and had 50 tackles and nine passes defended for Arizona State in 2023.

Link to full story:

Ahead of today's All-American Bowl, @RivalsFriedman shares his thoughts on how Notre Dame's four signees looked at practices this week.

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Notre Dame men's basketball offered 2025 small forward Brady Koehler out of Indianapolis Cathedral on Friday. Head coach Micah Shrewsberry attended Cathedral and played for the Irish boys' basketball team.

The 6-foot-8, 180-pound Koheler is currently listed as a power forward by Rivals, but projects as more of a small forward at the next level. Per MaxPreps, Koheler is averaging 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game for the undefeated Irish.

Koehler has 11 total offers including Butler, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and Wake Forest. He's taken an unofficial to Wake Forest. Koehler is currently unrated and unranked by Rivals. He plays for the Indy Heat Gym Rats program on the grassroots circuit, the program that assistant coach Ryan Owens was associated with before coming to ND on Shrewsberry's staff.

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Watch more of Koehler's highlights here.

He fired Kerry Cooks, who coached here for 5 years and Robert Steeples, who many here wanted back in the day. Foremost he fired defensive coordinator., Matt House. It's a bad look but necessary. Hope he does not target any of our guys as retribution for Denbrock.

Right now on NHL Network, team USA is playing Sweden for the World Championship and gold medal in the IIHF World Junior (U-20) Championships.

ND freshman forward Danny Nelson is on the team and has one goal and one assist through 6 games.

At the end of the first period, USA leads SWE 1-0.

Notre Dame defensive end signee Bryce Young, a four-star recruit, discusses his upcoming move to South Bend, his connection with his fellow incoming freshmen, what he’s looking to accomplish with early enrollment at Notre Dame, his relationships with defensive coordinator Al Golden and defensive line coach Al Washington, his fit in the Irish defense, the talent in ND’s 2024 class and what he’s learned about himself in All-American Bowl practices in San Antonio, Texas.

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Notre Dame running back signee Kedren Young discusses his experience at All-American Bowl practices in San Antonio, Texas, what he hopes to add to ND’s running back tradition, his relationship with running backs coach Deland McCullough, the opportunity ahead for ND’s 2024 class and what he hopes to accomplish by enrolling early at Notre Dame.

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Notre Dame linebacker signee Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa discusses his experience at All-American Bowl practices in San Antonio, Texas, adjusting to playing against the top talent in attendance, the biggest reasons he signed with Notre Dame, what he’s looking forward to about arriving at Notre Dame and his goals for the Irish 2024 class.

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The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced Friday its five finalists for the 2023 Polynesian High School Player of the Year:

Nebraska QB signee Dylan Raiola
Notre Dame LB signee Kyngston Viliamu-Asa
Utah QB signee Isaac Wilson
Georgia OT signee Michael Uini
USC CB signee Marcelles Williams

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

23:19 • @ldlgoirish: On paper next year's team shows promise. This year ready to play depth became an issue, WR's first (lack of experience then injuries to boot) , then TE's and finally with O-line. For next year what positions need quick and major player development to have players ready when the season starts and to fill in for any potential injuries should they occur?

25:47 • @CharlesWWolfe: What is Coach Freeman going to do in the off-season to tighten up in-game operations (10 men on the field, questionable clock management before halftime, etc)?

28:03 • Marie Biafore - @biafore_marie: What’s left for Notre Dame in the portal? Do you see them going after any of the transfers that entered the portal from Bama on Wednesday? There were a couple wide receivers and defensive backs in that group.

30:32 • Mr Nev - @mririshred: How can the transfer portal and the education calendar ever line up ?

33:19 • @Pangborn1989: For all of the talk about a Steve Angeli transfer for a better chance at playing time (and maybe NIL $$), does proximity to obtaining an ND degree play much of a role in the decision making process for him or other players at a similar point in their academic careers?

37:46 • Marie Biafore - @biafore_marie: If Angeli does not win the starter how much do you think he factors in that he has missed spring at another program. I know we all believed Buchner would not start at Bama, but Saban implied that missing the spring hurt him some. How much does missing the spring hurt?

40:49 • @jordannikki: Jeff from Honolulu here. In response to the demise of the Pac 12, and this year's prolonged bowl selection process courtesy of the ACC, have either of you heard of Notre Dame administrators exploring new bowl tie-ins for the future?

44:04 • @sjb75: Is there a 2026 QB that you believe Notre Dame has a good chance to sign? Or, is it too early to tell?

44:58 • Brian Borohomie - @BBorohomie: Is BK going to go hard after Al Golden?

46:57 • @sjb75: Michigan or Washington? Who wins Monday night?

48:23 • @scubavt: Were you two surprised Michigan beat Alabama? Many said Michigan played a very weak schedule and that they wouldn't be able beat them. I know in your last YouTube program Football Never Sleeps and Neither Do I you predicted Washington to beat Michigan in the national championship game. Do you think it will be a close game or a blow out?

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The following former Notre Dame football players have been selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl games:

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams

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Indianapolis Colts offensive guard Quenton Nelson

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Dallas Cowboys Zack Martin

Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love

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Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (video below of Hamilton finding out)

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Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who played soccer at ND but not football, was also selected.

For full rosters, click here.

Notre Dame men's basketball will play its first game of 2024 on Wednesday night as it continues its home slate of games in ACC play.

The Irish (6-7, 1-1 ACC) will host NC State (9-3, 1-0) inside Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame upset Virginia at home last Saturday and have won two consecutive games. The Wolfpack have won five of their last six with that loss coming at the hands of No. 12 Tennessee, 79-70.

Freshman guard Markus Burton received Rookie of the Week honors in the ACC on Tuesday and leads head coach Micah Shrewsberry's squad at 15.9 points per game. Forward J.R. Konieczny is also averaging double figures with 10.3 points per game.

The Irish are shooting 40% from the field and 28% from the 3-point line. ND has Burton, Konieczny, guards Julian Roper II and Braeden Shrewsberry and forward Carey Booth with at least 40 attempts from the 3-point line so far this season. Roper is shooting the best out of the five from beyond the arc at 36%.

ND is allowing 65.6 points per game, which is nearly 15 points fewer than NC State's team average of 79.8 points per contest. DJ Horne paces the Wolfpack offense with 15 points per game while DJ Burns Jr., Jayden Taylor and Casey Morsell — who have started every game alongside Honre — all average at least 12 points.

Tip: 9 p.m. EST
Watch: ACC Network
Listen: Notre Dame Radio Network
Follow live stats here.

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Just looking at what appears to be on paper the 5 toughest games on notable teams schedules just to show how weak ND’s schedule appears to be next year

ND
@ A&M
@ Purdue
Louisville
FSU
@USC

Michigan
Texas
USC
@ Washington
Oregon
OSU

OSU
@ MSU
Iowa
@ Oregon
@ PSU
Michigan


LSU
USC neutral
UCLA or @ A&M or maybe UF
ole miss
Bama
Oklahoma

USC

LSU Neutral or Wisconsin
@ mich
PSU
@ Washington
ND

Oklahoma
Tennessee or @ Missouri
TX neutral
@ Ole Miss
Alabama
@LSU

Bama
@ Wisconsin or Missouri
Georgia
@ Tenn
@ LSU
@ Oklahoma

FSU
@ ND
Florida
Clemson
UNC
@ Miami

So with these super conferences. Is our schedule really more exciting than what they offer? We play a semi ACC schedule. Our schedule as well as FSU is a shell of what the SEC and BIG schedules look like.

We absolutely have to make the playoffs next year. Our path is very easy compared to the super conferences.

The premier NFL Draft showcase takes place Feb. 3 in Mobile, Ala. (1 p.m. ET, NFL Network). Irish teammates CB Cam Hart, LB JD Bertrand and LB Marist Liufau are also slated to participate.


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1. Any word on when the ND football 2024 schedule will be announced? ☘️ 🏈
2. Any word on when Sonia Citron will return to action? ☘️🏀
3. Do Jordan Faison and/or Tyler Buchner have a decent chance at starting for ND lacrosse this season? ☘️🥍
4. How did Coach Stiffler do in recruiting for the upcoming baseball season? ☘️⚾

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Link to full story on Inside ND Sports portal round-up:

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman (2003-06) and current ND radio analyst Ryan Harris discusses ND's Sun Bowl performance, the future at offensive tackle with Charles Jagusah and Tosh Baker, what he expects from ND's interior line moving forward, his experience working with new ND director of football performance Loren Landow, how Landow will fit leading a college strength and conditioning program and motivating players, the excitement of Mike Denbrock returning as offensive coordinator, the addition of quarterback Riley Leonard to the program, Blake Fisher's NFL decision, his role calling ND football games on radio and more.

Then @Eric Hansen and I answer questions from Twitter and The Insider Lounge (22:36).

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Notre Dame needs to emphasize and really promote this to future recruits, along with the already used recruiting pitches. Not just talking about having a chance to play in the NFL but actually having 6 Ex Domers doing it and also making the Pro Bowl. It shows them they can get educated and still get payed. Go Irish

NFC- Kyren Williams, Zach Martin, Julian Love and Brandon Aubrey - Martin and Aubrey starters.

AFC - Quenton Nelson, Kyle Hamilton - Both starters

With the reclassification of four-star CB Kevyn Humes from the 2025 class to the 2024 class and Notre Dame's continued pursuit of him, I've updated The Heat Index today to reflect the following ...

Humes being added with a heat rating of "Hot" ahead of his official visit in late January.

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All other previous 2024 targets who signed with their respective schools have been removed.

Ahead of 2025 four-star defensive end target Christopher Burgess Jr.'s commitment on Saturday, Inside ND Sportsdives deeper into what the Irish have already built along the defensive front in the 2025 class.