LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
INSIDER
2 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
FOOTBALL
Why aren’t we talking about Bryce Young? By Nikki Stachurski Associate Sports Editor
Notre Dame football is officially back, and the Irish are off to a 2-0 season after Weeks 1 and 2. The offense has been consistently analyzed and deconstructed by professionals, casual fans and everyone in between, yet the stellar defense is consistently overlooked. Understandably, the second year of the CJ Carr era, the loss of running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price and the improvement of special teams have been at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Yet little is discussed concerning the Irish defense, arguably the stronger determinant of Notre Dame’s play last season, and how they have improved. It’s time to give the defense credit where credit is due. The NCAA ranks Notre Dame’s defense No. 13 nationally, behind powerhouses like LSU and Miami. Allowing 107 plays and an average 206 yards
by their opponents per game so far, the Irish are certainly in the conversation for toughest defenses to play against. Key players like senior safety Adon Shuler and senior linebacker Drayk Bowen have been under the spotlight, but junior defensive lineman Bryce Young has been largely overlooked. Young is a four-star recruit from Charlotte, N.C., and was ranked by ESPN as the No. 219 player in the nation, the No. 24 edge player and the No. 7 recruit in the state for the class of 2024. During his time at Charlotte Christian School, he was a varsity athlete for both football and wrestling. His senior football season, he was named a first-team all-state and all-conference player and even earned Adidas all-American honors. Young is also a Notre Dame legacy, the son of defensive tackle Bryant Young, ‘94. Bryant Young was a threeyear starter and was named an All-American his senior year
playing for the Irish. He went on to be selected No. 7 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1994 NFL Draft, remaining with the team until he retired in 2007. “[Bryce] is humble, and continues to work hard,” The Hall of Famer said of his son at the 2024 All-American Bowl. “Good things come to those who wait.” In his three seasons at Notre Dame, Young has played 30 games, recording 50 total tackles and 29 solo tackles. His freshman year, he played in every game, earned a teamhigh three blocked kicks, and was tied for second overall and led all freshmen in the FBS for blocked kicks. Instead of simply peaking his first season under head coach Marcus Freeman, Young has been able to improve the technical fundamentals of his play. He first started against Miami his sophomore year, playing in 12 games and recording 20 tackles overall, 10 solo and 10
assisted. Now entering his junior year of collegiate play, Young has started in both games against Wisconsin and Rice. He tallied four tackles, including three solos, against the hearty Wisconsin offense and earned a sack against Rice. His chemistry with the rest of the Notre Dame defensive line is evident. While Shuler is flashy and swift, Young is the steady and reliable player who does not shrink away from doing what must be done. After practice on Tuesday, Young spoke on the most important aspects of his play this season. “I’m a team glory guy, so anything I can do to help the team win, that’s how I do my job, and how I show up for my teammates is important [for] me.” “And I just think [by] having that at the forefront of my mind, everything else is taking care of itself,” he added. In an interview with The Observer, Young addressed his
biggest priorities for this weekend’s big rivalry game against unranked Michigan State. “I would just say taking advantage of the opportunities I have,” he said. “Um, whenever I see a play, I know I see it on film, making the most of it, making the plays that I, uh, know I can make.” He also spoke on the importance of such a rivalry. “I mean, there’s [been] so many people that came before me who play in the game…it’s an honor to go out there and continue that on…it’s another opportunity to get on the track of what we’re chasing this year,” he stated. The Irish host the Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Notre Dame leads the series all time 49-29-1 and, thanks to the stellar defense stabilized by Young, is in position to add another victory to the win column. Contact Nikki Stachurski at mstachur@nd.edu
LINA LIU | The Observer
Junior defensive lineman Bryce Young celebrates Notre Dame’s 52-0 shut out against Rice on Sept. 12 at Notre Dame Stadium. Young recorded 3 tackles (2.5 for loss) and 1 sack during the victory, contributing to the stalwart unit that allowed only 128 yards and practically stripped the game from the Owls’ hands before junior quarterback CJ Carr stepped on the field. FOOTBALL
Cooper Flanagan is finding his way to the top By Claire Watson Senior Sports Reporter
“They played with fundamentals, better than they did Week 1, and it ended up turning into a better execution.” That is what Marcus Freeman said in his weekly press conference on Monday regarding the intensity the Irish showed in their game against Rice, compared with their first game against Wisconsin. When judging the Irish’s performances, many people look at Aneyas Williams or Jordan Faison. One player who flies under the radar is senior tight end Cooper Flanagan.
In the most recent game against Rice, Flanagan found his time to shine in the end zone, scoring his season-first touchdown with the Irish. Hauling in a 2-yard pass into the end zone, Flanagan took in the roaring stadium in the heat of the glaring September sun. “I definitely expected to be open, but just as a credit to the team, to the O-line, how well we block and just running the ball,” Flanagan said in regard to his touchdown. Behind the brief breakthrough moment is a story of pain and recovery. During the 2025 Sugar Bowl game against Georgia,
Flanagan suffered an Achilles injury, taking him out for the rest of his sophomore season. As a junior, he only appeared against USC, a shadow of his former self. Many believed that his chance had passed him by. Flanagan had other ideas. Now finding himself squarely in the lineup, he has a chance to prove he belongs up there with the best names in the business. “I am definitely just grateful to share that with my teammates. Just last year, I was wishing I was out there playing and being able to do that in front of all of the fans, you know, with my team, my
parents being there, it was definitely a great experience,” Flanagan said. “I think when we start, I’ve been telling the guys a lot that I love them [and] appreciate them. Just try to rally the guys up whenever they are feeling low, maybe low-energy, and you know, I’m not perfect, sometimes I need it as well.” Flanagan has embraced the family mentality of Notre Dame football and has become a uniting figure for a squad with National Championship potential. His leadership and presence in the red zone will be crucial for this weekend’s game against
Michigan State, as well as the rest of the season. With the departure of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, as well as general uncertainty in the running back room, the Irish will be relying heavily on CJ Carr and the passing game. Flanagan will need to do his part to keep the Notre Dame football machine rolling. Don’t be surprised to see number 87 padding the stat sheet in 2026. Game time this weekend is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. under the lights of Notre Dame Stadium. Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
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HCC announces new veteran transfer program By Matthew Morin & Nick Kowal Associate News Editors
On Sept. 3, Holy Cross College and Notre Dame’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs announced the Veteran Transfer Program — a guaranteed pathway from Holy Cross to Notre Dame for veterans, based on a model similar to the Gateway Program. Following the completion of their first year, students in the program are guaranteed transfer to Notre Dame if they earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, do not receive a letter grade lower than a “B” and are in good standing with both Holy Cross and Notre Dame. This is a program that has been “about 18 months in the works,” President of Holy Cross College Marco Clark said. When the OMVA presented this idea to Holy Cross leadership, “we immediately thought ‘what an honor.’ What an honor for us to be involved in this,”
Clark said. Kenneth Heckel, the Sergeant John F. Crowley director of the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at Notre Dame, shared that the program was initially born of conversations with the University provost and undergraduate enrollment team. Heckel noted that previously the University has worked with veteran service organizations including Service to School and the Warrior Scholar Project; however, the OMVA wanted to create greater opportunities for veterans leaving the military, typically between three and seven years removed from school. “We were just looking for other opportunities where we can provide a different pathway for students to, as veterans, make that transition from military service, kind of get their feet on the ground, whether it’s family transitions or transitioning from military life to academic life or from military, just
Keenan just over 50% occupied By Observer News Staff With an approximate capacity of 250 residents cited from the Residential Life website, Keenan Hall is underoccupied by around 45.6%, having only 136 undergraduates with a room registered in the hall for fall 2026. This does not appear to be a widespread issue across the University, as The Observer was able to confirm that Knott, O’Neil and Coyle Halls are near full occupancy. Statistics for Stanford Hall were unavailable. The occupancy has been declining since at least 2023, with 228 undergraduate residents in fall 2023, 226 in fall 2024, 195 in fall 2025 and 136 in fall 2026. Keenan Hall is adjoined to Stanford Hall via a shared lobby and chapel. The joint halls were established in 1957. When The Observer spoke with University Architect Dan Cook in May, he explained that renovation plans existed for the other nonrenovated North Quad residence halls, Farley Hall, Cavanaugh Hall and Zahm Hall, but plans for Keenan-Stanford Hall were still undetermined.
This week, Cook declined to comment, directing questions to Residential Life. Kate Morgan, director of communications in the Division of Student Affairs and Residential Life, declined to comment on The Observer‘s questions about the plans for Keenan-Stanford Halls, the occupancy over time and when the respective communities might be notified of any plans. Zahm Hall has been used as a swing dorm since the dissolution of the Zahm Hall community at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Lyons is currently residing in Zahm Hall for the 2026-2027 school year while their building undergoes renovations, expecting to be back in Lyons for the 2027-2028 school year. The University has not announced plans for who will reside in Zahm Hall for the 2027-2028 school year and beyond. Howard Hall is an additional vacant residence, with the community relocated to the newly opened Grojean Hall at the end of the 20252026 school year. The only update The Observer has received about see “Keenan” on page 5
to being a civilian again, like not being in a military service,” Heckel said. The veteran students admitted to the program will bring experiences, maturity and a unique set of life lessons to the classroom and tri-campus community alike. “The beauty of any educational setting is that people come together from various backgrounds and bring different context to it. I think [student veterans] just add for us a very exciting context based on their life experiences and their own maturity, as a result of those life experiences, to our classrooms,” Clark said. In addition, Clark believes the program will strengthen the tricampus community’s frequently preached mission of being a “Force for good in the world.” “There’s an old saying that a rising tide raises all ships, and I think that these women and men have a chance to be that rising tide, for all of us,” Clark said.
Heckel noted that the program began with the existing Gateway Program as its blueprint. Under the final plan, the Notre Dame admissions department will choose the five veterans. He said that although these
students will begin at Holy Cross, the OMVA will support them via programming such as guest lectures, social engagement events, service opportunities and see “Veterans” on page 5
This summer, Notre Dame released the annual 2025 consumer confidence report on their water quality. University spokesperson Erin Blasko wrote, “The report confirms the University’s water, drawn from deep aquifers filtered by substantial clay deposits, is safe for drinking. In all instances, regulated and unregulated contaminants were either not detected or below allowable levels.” A new addition to Notre Dame’s CCR this year was its monitoring of 29 PFAS compounds and lithium. This comes as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are classified as forever chemicals. There are many types of these compounds, with a couple of them being PFBS and PFOA. According to the CCR, the monitoring provides occurrence data to the Environmental Protection Agency on these compounds alongside additional ones that may need further oversight in drinking water.
Blasko added, “This monitoring provides reliable data for potential future actions to protect public health. Testing revealed trace amounts of four compounds, all unregulated at this time.” The tracking includes three different samples, with the highest reported in the CCR. It also indicated the presence of PFBS in wells 1, 2 and 5 and PFOA in well 1. The EPA instituted limits for six kinds of PFAS, including PFOA, in April 2024. Entities have until 2027 to complete initial monitoring and until 2029 to enact solutions if they exceed agency limits. According to the EPA website, the limit “is determined by running annual averages at the sampling point.” PFBS is not currently regulated. Notre Dame emeritus physics and astronomy professor Graham Peaslee, who has conducted research on PFAS, wrote, “The one with the most known toxicity is PFOA, and that is actually regulated by the EPA to be under 4 parts per trillion (0.0040 ug/L) in the report units. I do believe it is regulated, but perhaps there are some lawsuits holding up the EPA enforcement.” The highest PFOA value, the
one reported in the CCR for Notre Dame’s well one, was 0.0041 micrograms per liter. “The uncertainty on this measurement is large enough that a single hit right at the limit isn’t actionable anyway, it came back below detection limits the other two sampling days,” Peaslee wrote. “The ground water parameters vary with season and rainfall and daily campus usage ... so this is not particularly alarming.” University spokesperson Carrie Gates wrote, “Our proactive testing for PFAS compounds showed only trace levels across hundreds of samples, consistently below established safety limits.” Publicly available documents indicate there were some lead readings higher than the action limit in August 2023 — the last time these samples were reported, as samples are collected every three years. The University has attributed this to samples being taken prior to flushing the water main. In a statement to The Observer Oct. 27, 2023, Michael Cira, senior environmental and safety specialist,
SPORTS | PAGE 11
SPORTS | PAGE 12
By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
OPINION | PAGE 8
SCENE | PAGE 10
Student organizations at Saint Mary’s celebrated Hispanic Heritage month this week.
Compared to other coaches, Marcus Freeman represents the best of being a head coach.
This summer marked a turnaround on going to movies led by Spiderman and Odyssey.
College coaches
The Office of Military and Veterans Affairs worked with the University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College to develop the transfer program.
A look at annual ND drinking water quality report
NEWS | PAGE 5
Hispanic Heritage
MATTHEW MORIN | The Observer
Movies are back
Keys to victory Payton Dymek details what the Irish need to do on Saturday to leave 3-0 mark.
see “Report” on page 6
ND to play Nebraska Irish agree to home-and-home with the Cornhuskers in 2032 and 2033.
DAILY
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QUESTION OF THE DAY:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
What is your guilty pleasure TV show?
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
Jeusha Ravishankar
Ama Perrera
Andres Valesco
Gabriella Torreau
Jasmine Lopez
“Bluey.”
“Friends.”
“Master Chef.”
“Tapas e Beijas.”
“Henry Danger.”
graduate student graduate housing
graduate student off campus
graduate student graduate housing
sophomore McGlinn Hall
freshman Walsh Hall
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
PHOTO OF THE DAY | MARIELLA TADDONIO
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How do you feel about the new Flock cameras on campus? Against them Support them No Opinion
20.0%
13.3% 66.7%
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ
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Friday Film: “Hadestown: The Musical” (2026) A live theater recording of the musical “Hadestown.” 6:30 p.m. Browning Cinema
Saturday Notre Dame football vs. Michigan State The Irish take on the Spartans in their second home game. 7:30 p.m. Notre Dame Stadium
Sunday Wind Quintet Concert: ZaRiah A performance by an award-winning wind ensemble. 4 - 5:30 p.m. LaBar Recital Hall
Monday Panel: “Behold This Heart” Panel on the theology of the consecration to the Sacred Heart. 5 - 6:30 p.m. McKenna Auditorium
Tuesday Indian Classical Music Concert: Carnatic Style A classical music concert featuring in Carey Auditorium. 7 - 8:30 p.m. Hesburgh Library
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NEWS
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THE OBSERVER | 5
SMC celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month By Sophie Lewandowski & Gabriela Aguilera-Perez Senior Staff Reporter and Reporter
Student organizations at Saint Mary’s College are marking the start of Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a variety of events from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The Student Diversity Board and La Fuerza club kicked off the festivities Tuesday with two special events that allowed students the opportunity to celebrate culture, share traditions and learn about the diverse Latino community on campus. SDB’s Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff and La Fuerza’s Flag Photoshoot: Hispanic Heritage
Month Kickoff provided students with two different activities to celebrate the start of the month. Aiming to showcase Hispanic traditions, students joined in games of Lotería, a game similar to bingo, and a flag photo shoot, displaying the flags from Spanish-speaking countries outside of Le Mans Hall. For SDB’s vice president, junior Monica Marquez, Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the many cultures within the Hispanic community while educating the campus as a whole. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about Hispanic culture
and even a lack of education and what that broad term necessarily means and what kind of people it represents,” she said. “It’s a welcoming tradition. I think it’s something everyone can participate in.” Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to engage in and celebrate Hispanic culture and traditions, but according to freshman Ava Kennard, who attended Lotería Night, it is also a chance for students to engage with what diversity means on campus and honor the different backgrounds of Saint Mary’s students. “Diversity is such an important part of making everyone feel like they have a place here
and they feel included and they feel represented,” Kennard said. “Having communities and places where you feel included, you feel safe, is just so important.” Freshman Hannah Leanos, who was born and raised in Mexico, also attended Lotería Night on Tuesday. Leanos explained that sharing her culture at school is especially meaningful to her. “I personally love sharing my culture, especially because I was born and raised in Mexico,” Leanos shared. “I love when people ask me about my culture.” La Fuerza president senior Viridiana Gutierrez-Mata
highlighted the event as a time to meet others and share in their respective communities. “People just kind of get to socialize and meet other people and also just get to see all the various flags that are represented within the Hispanic/Latino community,” Gutierrez-Mata stated. Both organizations have many more events planned for the coming month as they take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate Hispanic heritage. Contact Sophie Lewandowski at slewandowski01@saintmarys.edu and Gabriela Aguilera-Perez at gvari01@saintmarys.edu
New Blinkie driver joins Saint Mary’s College By Anja Schafer Reporter
Coming back for the fall semester, students may have noticed a change to campus transportation: a new Blinkie driver. Saint Mary‘s College Campus Safety has hired Chris Scalise as a new Blinkie driver following the recent departure of longtime driver Melanie Deschamphelaere. Blinkie is the primary transportation service Saint Mary‘s students use for travel between the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary‘s College during evening and nighttime hours. The shuttle operates Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Scalise, who previously worked in an administrative role as a principal with Elkhart Community Schools, explained how he found the job. “The hiring process was pretty simple. I applied about a year ago,” Scalise said. “I wanted to see
Veterans
Continued from page 1 professional development. “We offer some of that programming and services and support to all of our military veteran students and the students at Holy Cross have the ability to be a part of that. So any needs that they have as being kind of unique military veteran students at Holy Cross for that year, our Office of Military and Veterans Affairs is here to support them,” Heckel said. While the program is currently limited to five students, Heckel stated that he would love to see it grow. He shared that the program
Keenan
Continued from page 1 The Observer has received about Howard Hall is that the University
if [Saint Mary’s College] needed someone to supervise student teachers, and then I saw this job was listed, and I had just retired, so I decided to check it out.” Although his new position differs from his previous career, Scalise said he enjoys the Saint Mary’s community. “It’s a little bit different. Still young people though,” Scalise said. “I really do enjoy it. The girls are really polite. Everybody is very nice, cordial.” Scalise received several days of training from fellow driver and decade-plus veteran of Blinkie, Chuck McLane. After finishing his training, Scalise completed his first solo drive last week. Phil Bambenek, director of Campus Safety, explained how the department looks for drivers who interact with students and make them feel safe and comfortable. “We advertise for a Blinkie driver and, in general, what we’re looking for in a Blinkie driver is somebody that is personable, can interact with the students and
make them feel safe and comfortable driving Blinkie,” Bambenek said. Before Scalise was selected, the Blinkie position had received multiple candidates. “We had a number of candidates that we looked at for it, but we [found] Chris was the best fit,” Bambenek said. The addition of Scalise is not the only modification to Blinkie. A longer and slower route may be expected due to the construction of two new parking lots along Madeleva Drive. Students can also anticipate pickup and drop-off at Lourdes Hall being implemented in the BusWhere app. “All those things have to be incorporated into the flow, and we haven‘t been able to do that because the parking lots aren‘t done, so we really don‘t know what‘s going to make the route flow,” McLane said. McLane continued to explain that changes will potentially affect the frequency of trips to the Grotto. “In the past, [we] have always
run to The Grotto three times an hour. Now that the route is longer, we‘re only [going] two times to The Grotto,” McLane said. Citing increasing enrollment as the reason for campus construction, McLane reasoned the need for reconfiguring of operations. “Every time you expand something, something at the end of it has to change,” McLane said. “So, we‘re still figuring that out, or trying to figure it out.” Despite the changes and adjustments involved with training a new driver, McLane said he believes Scalise will become a good fit for the position. “He‘s nervous. Never done it before. New surroundings. Not quite familiar with the campus. All those things that are a learning curve. He‘ll get there. He‘s got a master‘s degree in education and administration. I think he‘s got the ability to figure it out,” McLane said. McLane explained that in training Scalise, he emphasized the significance of The Grotto stop, as
protection from weather is limited to waiting students. “If you‘re calling from a dorm or you‘re coming from your car, you have protection from the elements. [At] the Grotto, you are not provided with that, so that is the most important stop to make and to be on time with,” McLane said. Hoping to provide students with comfort as they adjust to college life, McLane noted the importance of keeping students in safe hands. “I hope it brings an aspect of comfort in a time when kids are transitioning from being in their parents‘ home to the first time possibly that they‘ve ever been away from home,” McLane said. “Also, I think that the parents sleep better at night, knowing that there‘s somebody [that‘s] kind of got an eye out.” Scalise is expected to continue as the Blinkie driver for Monday and Tuesday evenings for the 2026 fall semester.
hoped to start small to ensure its success in having the correct programs, resources and services in place for these students. “What we don’t want, and this is the case with all of our military-connected students that we have here at the university, we don’t want them to be isolated and kind of their own enclave community. We want them out and part of the broader student body and participating in clubs and activities and service and in the classroom and in the community, just like all their other peers are as well,” Heckel said. Students involved in the program have the opportunity to live on campus at both the
College and Notre Dame; however, according to residential life, U.S. military veterans are eligible for an exemption from the six-semester on-campus residency requirement at Notre Dame. Heckel also noted that most students will likely have the option to use their GI Bill benefits, which both Notre Dame and Holy Cross accept. These veterans will also be considered for financial aid from both schools just as all other applicants. Heckel stated that in order to promote the program, the OMVA and office of undergraduate admissions will be traveling to key military installations and communities
across the country. Heckel noted that they have been coordinating with Notre Dame clubs and military leadership. Heckel hopes to visit Washington, San Diego, San Antonio and Seattle this fall. “We’re super excited about it. We’re really hopeful that this opportunity will be attractive to student veterans,” Heckel shared. “We’d love to have them apply and be a part of these cohorts that we’re going to start welcoming in, so we’re going to the Washington, D.C., area, actually next week.” “Notre Dame has a rich history of supporting the men and women who serve in the armed forces, and we deeply
value the service, sacrifice and diverse experiences that our veterans bring to the campus community,” a University spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Observer. “This latest strategic partnership ref lects our shared commitment to honoring those who have served by boosting the access and affordability of a Notre Dame education, ensuring they have a clear, fully supported path to a world-class degree.” The first cohort of veterans in this program is expected to enroll in fall 2027.
completed floor repairs and other minor work this summer. University spokesperson Carrie Gates did not respond to request for comment.
Current Stanford rector Christopher Brennan wrote to The Observer that he asked his supervisor for permission to comment but expected the answer to be that
he was not allowed to comment. The Observer did not hear from him further. Anna Kenny, former Howard rector from 2019-2026 and
current Grojean rector, did not respond to a request for comment. Cory Hodson, Keenan rector from 2023-2026, did not respond to a request for comment.
Contact Anja Schafer at aschafer01@saintmarys.edu
Contact Matthew Morin at mmorin2@nd.edu and Nick Kowal at nkowal@hcc-nd.edu
NEWS
6 | THE OBSERVER
Report
Continued from page 1 wrote, “There were instances of samples collected in the first round having lead levels above the action limit of 15 ppb. It was quickly evident that the samples had been collected prior to the annual water main f lushing project, resulting in water that may have been sitting in some of the mains for months due to the building not being in use over the summer break. This is not an ‘error,’ but not consistent with our standard operating procedure of testing after the f lushing. All mains were f lushed prior to students returning to campus and this f lushing had been completed prior to ND receiving the notification that there were elevated levels in some samples. IDEM reviewed the follow up sampling and determined that no further action was required.” Cira did not respond to recent requests for comment on this subject. Gates wrote, “When pointof-use sampling in late summer 2023 identified localized lead readings in unoccupied buildings, we acted immediately to f lush the system and conduct follow-up testing; subsequent results across all sampled buildings confirmed that lead levels remain well below the regulatory action threshold.” The document shows the three highest readings, those above the action level, coming
from Zahm, Cavanaugh and Farley Halls. A follow-up sample from Sept. 8, 2023, shows Zahm Hall back under the action level at 0.97 ppb of lead and 0.14 ppm of copper, compared with 130 ppb of lead and 2.4 ppm of copper a month prior. Follow-up samples from Cavanaugh and Farley are not included in the document. Correspondence from Anthony Tobias, section chief of the Drinking Water Branch in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, to Cira on Sept. 15, 2023, noted that with the additional samples submitted for the June 1 through Sept. 30, 2023 sampling period, the 90th percentile of the 43 submitted samples was 7.54 ppb and, therefore, under the action level. Tobias did not respond to requests for comment. In compliance with the 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions from the EPA, the CCR outlines that Notre Dame “completed a lead service line inventory prior to the October 2024 deadline” by reviewing historical plumbing construction records. The Observer requested these records under the Access to Public Records Act from IDEM, but it has not yet been provided. “ND has never used cast lead pipe in the potable water distribution systems, relying on cast iron or ductile iron for all the water mains and either copper, plastic or steel for the building water lines,” the CCR stated.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
A gauge measures the water level in a well located outside of Dunne Hall. The seven wells on campus comprised part of the total locations utilized for water quality testing conducted by the University in 2023.
The report also maintained the source of contamination as “corrosion of plumbing systems, failure of sampling protocol.” Blasko wrote, “With respect to lead, while the University has no lead piping in its system, lead can be present in certain plumbing fixtures such as indoor fixtures, brass components and older solder used with copper piping. The University closely monitors for contamination from such sources.” The Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for lead within the CCR is 0, and the report reads, “There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women, infants and young children.” After a sample detected coliform, the University was
required to complete followup sampling, which came back clear. The bacteria are tested monthly. “Coliform detection is not a violation, but requires a Level 1 Assessment and follow-up sampling. Repeat sampling conducted following the initial Total Coliform positive result confirmed the absence of any Coliform bacteria, documenting that there was no systemic Coliform bacterial contamination. Level 1 Site Assessment was completed and report submitted to IDEM on 09/05/2025,” the report read. The Observer requested this assessment under the Access to Public Records Act from IDEM but has not yet seen the documents. Blasko did not respond to questions about the Wellhead Protection Program. However, according to the Facility
Design and Operations website, “The WHPP consists of management strategies to prevent groundwater contamination, as well as a delineation of the University’s Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA).” The University is required to issue the CCR annually due to being a public water system owner and operator. Blasko explained, “As the owner and operator of a public water system in Indiana, the University of Notre Dame is required by law to issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report detailing the source and quality of its water supply. The latest report, for 2025, was published online prior to the July 1, 2026, deadline, in full compliance with both the law and University policy. ” Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
Unique fall courses offered at Notre Dame By Allison Riley Reporter
Throughout this fall, the University of Notre Dame’s course catalog provides students the opportunity to explore their interests in a multitude of fields. Professor Katherine Walden is leading a course this semester titled, “Baseball and America,” which she described as a way to integrate academic inquiry to mainstream culture. “We can use the tools of academic research to ask questions about the things that are part of our daily life ... I think that’s what a liberal arts education can do,” she said. According to Walden, studying baseball helps students understand America’s culture, especially as it relates to questions of citizenship, inclusion and belonging. “We can use lots of different elements of culture to study that, but sports is one of the most powerful ways to do it because even if it’s not your thing, you know that people care about it a lot at Notre Dame,” Walden said.
Students also have the option of taking classes discussing larger social issues through the framework of popular culture. One of these classes, “Drunk on Film,” which had gained popularity in previous years, asks students to analyze how alcohol use is presented in media and its effect on consumption rate in personal lives. Professor of film production Ted Mandell highlighted that by the end of the semester, students have the tools to examine how the portrayal of alcohol in entertainment has affected them and others. “I think what happens is when students take the class, at the beginning, they’re kind of shocked,“ he said. ”And by the end of the class, they’re like, ‘What am I?’ They’re really questioning the culture that they live in, which I think is great.” Through the exploration of films such as, “The Kissing Booth,” the course provides chances for students to have a conversation about alcohol’s pervasiveness in college culture. Mandell believes discussions about alcohol use are
crucial. “Statistics really don’t affect us, but stories do,” he explained. The University also offers another alcohol-focused class. Students majoring in science-related fields or engineering can take, “The Chemistry of Fermentation and Distillation.” The three credit science elective, taught by chemistry and biochemistry professor Julie Kessler, allows students to brew wines, beers and cider. Senior Meghan Gruber described the class as an opportunity to enjoy the knowledge garnered from previous chemistry courses. The class, open only to students over the age of 21, allows students to also complete requirements for chemistry majors and minors. “It’s kind of fun that we got through orgo, general chemistry, physics and now we get to do something that’s fun with chemistry and not have intense pressure on all of us,” she stated. Notre Dame is also offering a new practicum course this semester called “Designing Virtuous AI.” Offered by
history and philosophy professor Thomas Stapleford and computer science and engineering professor Megan Scheirer, the class aims to apply virtue ethics to the design of artificial intelligence. Students are given the opportunity to assess the ethical ways of coding these systems through exploring their various potential uses, with different research teams focused on building a theological research aide, developing an AI
copy editor and creating an artwork that explores humanagentic companionship. “AI is pervasive now, showing up in all places and there’s lots of questions about how one should engage with AI or not engage with AI as a user, but we’re particularly interested in how one might design AI systems with this virtue ethics in mind,” Stapleford said. Contact Allison Riley at ariley4@nd.edu
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OPINION
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 7
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
What does football have to do with theology? Another way of posing the question: Who won the football game on Saturday? Notre Dame, obviously. 520. But who is actually responsible for winning the game? Boubacar Traore recovered the fumble and scored in the first seconds. If the game had ended then, we could say he won it for us. He put the first points on the board. Jordan Faison scored the most points. Even if Rice had come back, he took us well beyond what that first score could have done. CJ Carr did not cause that fumble recovery, but as quarterback, he helped get us most of the other points we scored. At linebacker, Kyngstonn
Viliamu-Asa was one of the MVPs on defense. He didn’t put any points on the board, but by helping to keep Rice out of our end zone, he was an important part of the win. Marcus Freeman never set foot on the field; If he did, he would be f lagged. In a real sense, he won the game for us. He recruits the players, challenges them and gives the team its unity. Like a wise architect, he lays the foundations by organizing an army of coaches, support staff and student workers to prepare the team to win the game. Each of these men was responsible for winning the game last Saturday in various ways. The head coach is the
cause of the win, but he needs his players. The quarterback is the cause of a touchdown, but he throws to a receiver. Causality operates through different agents in different ways at the same time. The coach, quarterback and wide receiver are all causes of the win. They all cooperate to win the game. This analogy can help us to understand the way God creates the world and everything in it. God is the “primary cause” of all that exists, and he transcends everything he causes. We exist only insofar as he has created us and sustains us in being. “In him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). The
Book of Genesis, along with many other passages in the Bible, teaches this clearly: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). But how God creates is a different question. From a Catholic perspective, God creates everything that is, but he makes use of a variety of “secondary causes” in forming and governing the world. In theological terms, secondary causes truly bring things about, but their action can only occur because they have been ultimately caused by the “primary cause.” In this case, that is the transcendent God who creates all that is not himself.
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Genesis is not a science textbook, but this doesn’t mean that it is “merely symbolic.” It tells us true things, but different things from what we might study in a science class. A science textbook offers models that explain the mechanics by which something happened. Astrophysics and evolutionary biology give us a set of mechanisms to explain the world as we see it. Genesis is doing something different, in a deeper sense: telling us not precisely how God created, but that God created, and most importantly that what God has created is good. Indeed, God saw that it was very good. Genesis also tells us something fundamental about our own place in the story of creation. As the Catechism puts it, “God grants his creatures not only their existence, but also the dignity of acting on their own, of being causes and principles for each other, and thus of co-operating in the accomplishment of his plan” (§306). God doesn’t control creation like a watchmaker or puppet master, but as a loving father. Creatures don’t just appear to act; they really are genuine causes of what they bring about. Created things participate in causality in different ways. Some secondary causes are not intentionally involved in what they bring about. Tectonic plates grinding against each other over the course of thousands of years aren’t personally responsible for their actions, but they produce majestic mountains and exultant valleys. Living things can be part of a process in a more complete way. Climbing vines have a tenacious “desire” to extend their realm, but don’t “decide” which way to go. Animals pursue their own ends with more self-determination, but by instinct rather than deliberation. They can still help us understand how we should act, as Proverbs 6:6 reminds us: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” Human beings stand higher still on the “chain of causality.” We have the privilege of being involved in causality in a fuller sense than rocks, plants and other animals, because we can pursue our participation in God’s works with knowledge and love. As St. Paul puts it, we are “fellow-workers” in God’s service (1 Corinthians 3:9). Turning back to football, we can say that the coach, the staff, the players and even the fans are all “causes” of winning a football game. When a receiver catches the football, he’s really catching what the quarterback
OPINION
8 | THE OBSERVER
Theology
Continued from page 7 threw. The coach, the quarterback and the receiver are not competing with one another; they’re cooperating in defeating the opposing team. Marcus Freeman causes the win through his coaching, but the players are the ones who have to carry out the plays. CJ Carr causes many of the touchdowns, but if the receiver does not catch the football, in vain does the quarterback throw. Ultimately, the coach and the players are fully responsible for winning the game, but this is because each has played their proper
role. In the order of creation, God’s primary causality and nature’s secondary causality are not in conf lict, but are harmoniously ordered. Marcus Freeman is, in a real sense, the cause of Notre Dame being 2-0. He is a great coach, partly because he was himself a good player, and partly because he was coached by great coaches. He has also thought hard about the game and honed his coaching skills through disciplined study and effort. Freeman has a thorough knowledge of both the theory and practice of football, which lets him coach with real authority and order the team well. But in the analogy of football and creation,
Coach Freeman doesn’t take the place of God. He is fundamentally part of the team, on the same scale of being. When we consider creation, God is not the biggest creature. God is entirely outside creation. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, as Genesis 1:1 teaches, but the Gospel of John gives us a crucial corollary: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). God is He Who Is. God is the primary cause of everything that exists in a far more fundamental and transcendent way than we can be causes of things. God simply is.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
But in a plan of sheer goodness, God has created us in his image and likeness, and wants to give us a share in his ability to know and love and cause. A few years ago, Marcus Freeman restored the venerable practice of the team chanting the University alma mater after every game, not just as a celebration for a win. Notre Dame, Our Mother, reminds us that we play not just for prestige, attention or money, real as these factors may be. Notre Dame, in the original sense of the name, is not only Our Mother, but is indeed the Mother of God. By bearing Jesus Christ, true God and
true man, she has brought forth into the world the Word through whom all things exist. Mary is the pinnacle of what it means to be a secondary cause, fully uniting her will with the will of God: “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). Mary points us back to Christ, her son, who invites us to go and do likewise. Go Irish! Fr. Innocent Smith, O.P. Sept. 15, 2026 The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Why are college football coaches evil? By Grayson Beckham Columnist, “Citizen Gray”
Every Notre Dame football game is a Manichean struggle between good and evil. Every college football team besides the Irish — and their coaches — are ontologically villainous. Every team that Notre Dame plays? The definition of pure evil. Of course, we Notre Dame fans would like to believe these propositions. The anonymous group of alumni sponsoring full-page color ads in the print editions of The Observer would certainly have you believe them. It is incumbent upon Notre Dame students to hate the University of Miami with every fiber of their hearts! I tend to agree. There’s a beauty in the good old-fashioned hate and prejudice that comes from college football fandom. But with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, is there some value in the idea that we simply may be better than everyone else? Late last year, I reflected on the latest obscenely lucrative contracts of major college football coaches. The column was prompted by the sudden firing of LSU’s Brian Kelly (more on him later) and the $54 million that he was paid by LSU not to coach. Kelly’s successor would soon be announced as Lane Kiffin, who arrived in Louisiana in dramatic fashion, as Kiffin can only do. Soon after, Kiffin would face allegations of tampering against his former team. He spent the summer attempting to add NFL players to his LSU roster, leading LSU to face an expulsion vote from the presidents of the SEC universities. And how did he address these controversies? While blowing out Clemson in Week 1, Kiffin quipped: “Imagine if we had pro players.” Better yet, a forthcoming book about Kiffin claims that Nick Saban allegedly once instructed his assistant coaches to “keep [Lane] away from the sorority girls” while Kiffin was coaching for the Crimson Tide. Wow! Kiffin is not alone in his status as a whirlwind of controversy.
Although he has uniquely embraced his role as college football’s heel, there are other big personalities in college football who have dominated the conversation about the sport more than any player could. Whether it’s as silly as Bill Belichick’s young girlfriend or as grave as Penn State’s sex abuse scandal, there always seems to be a college football coach at the center of the American cultural discourse. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the frontrunner to be the next governor of Alabama, cut his teeth not as a local politician or a policy expert but instead as the head football coach of Auburn. Lest I point out the speck in my neighbor’s eye before I acknowledge the beam in my own, Notre Dame has, in fact, had problematic coaches. Brian Kelly’s 2021 departure caused hard feelings for all parties involved, especially for the recruit whose homemade barbecue he devoured while finalizing the deal to leave Notre Dame for LSU.
Kelly’s Irish were forced to vacate 21 wins between 2012 and 2013 due to academic violations (to Notre Dame’s credit, the actual severity of these allegations was dubious). Beyond Kelly, George O’Leary was forced out at Notre Dame after he admitted to egregious lies on his resume. With so much evidence of college coaches either exhibiting immoral or egotistical behavior, it’s easy to wonder why American culture holds these men in positions of such social significance. I posit that the history of college spor ts shows the path by which the giants of coaching were allowed to hold such cultural prominence. The social clout held by coaches in 2026 is a vestige of the past, holding salience today for different reasons. It’s like a bad car wreck. We can’t look away. It may be hard to fathom now, but college sports were once an amateur affair. At the end of the day, all but a handful of players lacked the capability to
build national celebrity. With the natural turnover of players (this was, of course, before the “COVID year” existed), a limited information economy provided the oxygen for a select few personalities to gain national recognition. The longtime coaches of the most recognizable programs thus became the foundational national figures that represented the sport: John Heisman, Knute Rockne and Bear Bryant. The poster for “Knute Rockne, All American,” the film which popularized Rockne’s “win one for the Gipper”, provides excellent context of the historical reverence for football coaches. Rockne, who died tragically nine years earlier, is promoted to be a “great coach, great American … great guy!” A great guy! Can you imagine? I suppose that’s not too different from the aggrandizement we see of the coaches of today. I’m struck every time I see a Notre Dame fan wearing a shirt that says “My coach is hotter than yours” or the official souvenir
cups in the stadium featuring Freeman’s likeness — and nothing else. I suppose sex sells. If we at Notre Dame are to be consoled by anything, at least our coach stands above the rest in his character. He’s an upstanding, moral family man. He understands the gravity of his role. To be the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, one must understand he stands on the shoulders of giants. He does understand. As evidenced by his reinstatement of pregame Mass or his marketing of the unparalleled tradition of our program, Freeman overcomes the cultural decadence exhibited by many of his peers. Please don’t let me down, Marcus. America is counting on you. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Contact Grayson Beckham at gbeckham@nd.edu
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
PHOTO
THE OBSERVER | 9
Notre Dame men’s soccer Men’s soccer faced Detroit Mercy on Sept. 15, 2026 at Alumni Stadium. The Irish won 4-0. Photography by photo editor Mariella Taddonio, Leo Teti and Natalia Onate
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
Movies are back: A record-breaking summer By Jack Schreiber Scene Writer
This summer was the biggest summer in box office history, with a record-breaking $4.76 billion at the domestic box office. As a note to those who cry from the hilltops about inflation adjustments, attendance was very healthy with 323 million tickets sold, harkening back to pre-COVID turnouts. It’s easy to give credit to this summer’s tentpoles, which did more than just hold up this year. “SpiderMan: Brand New Day” saw fans flock to theaters, bringing in $2.45 billion globally and cementing its place as the third-highest-grossing film of all time. Disney kept it rolling with “Toy Story 5,” which scored $1.14 billion globally, landing as the third-highest-grossing Pixar film. Ever. “The Odyssey” went gangbusters at the global box office, with a triumphant $1.69 billion, making it the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. However, there were some big surprises this summer. The most glaring example is, of course, “Obsession,” which did something unheard of. “Obsession” earned $514 million at the global box office, helmed by a first-time feature director, headlined by a relatively unknown cast and anchored by a budget of a measly $750,000. The film is now one of the most
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
profitable of all time and is eyeing a potential best picture push at the 2027 Oscars. Another surprise came in the form of “Backrooms.” “Backrooms” had a more substantial budget of $10 million, but still came home with an incredible $394 million. “Backrooms” was the feature debut of Kane Parsons, who, at the time of the film’s release, couldn’t even legally drink. Following such a landmark success, “Backrooms” and A24 have redefined franchise cinema, and movie studios are trying to follow suit as they scour Reddit to try to find the next big hit. This couldn’t have come at a stranger but better time for film.
Needless to say, the industry has been taking its licks in the past few years. In the 2020s, TV has largely replaced film as the epicenter of pop culture thanks to the unrestrained growth of streaming services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These days, someone is more likely to ask you if you’ve seen the latest episode of “Stranger Things” than if you caught anything good in theaters. 2023 saw extended writers’ and actors’ guild strikes, the tremors of which can still be felt in the movie business. Meanwhile, streaming CEOs like Ted Sarandos continue to affirm direct-to-streaming releases, an act that could kill movie theaters forever. And of course, all of
the movie industry waits with bated breath for news about the dreaded Warner Bros.-Paramount merger. Should the deal go through, more faces in the industry could go the way of Stephen Colbert, and more movies the way of “Batgirl.” But people want an escape. Every day, a new sycophantic LLM replaces a hard-working artist as tech bros and CEOs alike coax AI into ubiquity. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so maybe we just want to be a part of something. Movie theaters provide a communal experience and appreciation of art like no other. We laugh together, we cry together and as Nicole Kidman reminds us, “We need that,
all of us.” What those CEOs counting beans and pushing pennies don’t understand is that movies and community work hand in hand, and this summer, with its booming box office and proliferated attendance, reaffirmed this simple fact: People love movie theaters. A little movie called “Coyote vs. Acme” also came out this year. The movie wrapped filming in May of 2022 and was shelved by Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav, who did so to claim a $30 million tax write-off. This abhorrent desecration of cinema was met with public outrage, and a petition was signed by over 20,000 film fans. Ketchup Entertainment came to the rescue, acquiring the rights to the film for $50 million in 2025, with the movie roadrunning its way into theaters toward the end of summer. It has made a substantial $66.7 million at the box office. This demonstrates a continued devotion to movie theaters on the part of the fans. Let’s hope that movies continue to connect with audiences. Let’s hope that fans keep fighting for the movies and for the theaters. Maybe that’s all we can do to help the industry: to love and appreciate the work of talented artists in the place where they were meant to be seen. Contact Jack Schreiber at jschrei3@nd.edu
Notre Dame on the small screen Dame!” in Season 4, Episode 10. It provides a hopeful conclusion to his arc and gives a reason for his departure from the show.
By Harry Penne Scene Copyeditor
The University of Notre Dame is one of the most recognizable schools in the nation, so it’s no surprise that it has been referenced many times throughout television. From its status as one of the top academic institutions in the country to its renowned football program, here are some of Notre Dame’s television appearances.
“The West Wing”
This is perhaps one of the most positive portrayals of Our Lady’s University on television. In the show, President Bartlet is a devout Catholic and Notre Dame alumnus. He frequently wears Notre Dame gear and references his alma mater often. It’s also worth mentioning that Martin Sheen, who portrays Bartlet, was awarded the Laetare Medal from the University in 2008.
“Parks and Recreation”
Set in fictional Pawnee, Indiana, it’s no surprise that Notre Dame is referenced a few times during the sitcom’s seven seasons. The most memorable concerns iconic miniature horse Li’l Sebastian, who, according to Ron Swanson, received an honorary degree from Notre Dame in Season 3, Episode 7. Unfortunately, Sebastian passed away, so Notre Dame has held several tributes to its famous honorary alumnus. There is a popcorn maker named in his honor at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, and in 2022, a tribute video was shown on the big screen during a football game.
“The Simpsons”
In its over 30-year run, “The Simpsons” has named Notre Dame several times. A fun moment is in the depiction of “Catholic Heaven” in Season 16, Episode 21. A figure wearing a blue sweater with a gold “ND” is seen standing next to Homer doing an Irish jig. In Season 13, Episode 22,
“The Middle”
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
some Springfieldians break into a music store and leave playing “The Notre Dame Victory March.” In S eason 17, Episode 17, Homer lands in India and, mistaking it for Indiana, asks, “Where is the University of Notre Dame?!” Lastly, in Season 8, Episode 18, Bart encounters an Irish fan wearing a Notre Dame jacket on St. Patrick’s Day.
“How I Met Your Mother”
This is a sitcom in which the characters have good taste in college football. In Season 2, Episode 10, Marshall Eriksen wears a Fighting Irish T-shirt with the ND monogram. Barney Stinson in Season 3, Episode 12 references the
Fighting Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.
“Frasier”
“Cheers” spinoff “Frasier” makes a humorous pass at Notre Dame football in Season 1, Episode 10, when Frasier’s dad, Martin Crane, complains that ever since regular sports host Bulldog has been out and replaced by Fr. Mike, “All it was, was ‘Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Notre Dame.’” Clearly, Father knows what’s good!
“Stranger Things”
Given the series’ setting of Hawkins, Indiana, it’s no surprise that the showrunners decided to shout out Notre Dame. In Season 4, Episode 4, Nancy Wheeler and
Robin Buckley sneak into a psychiatric hospital to visit Victor Creel, an old man whom they believe to have ties to the season’s supernatural happenings. How do they get in? They claim to be students from the psychology department at Notre Dame.
“Riverdale”
Say what you like about “Riverdale” as a series, but it namedrops Notre Dame and makes the university a huge part of the life of one of its characters. Throughout Season 4, Munroe “Mad Dog” Moore is recruited to play football for Notre Dame. Echoing “Rudy,” he announces to Archie and his teammates: “I’m going to Notre
Indiana seems to be the place for television! Set in fictional Orson, Indiana, “The Middle” makes more-than-casual Fighting Irish references; one of its major characters, Sean Donahue, the boy next door, is a student at the university. For several seasons, he is often seen wearing the ND monogram. Interestingly, the show does make a few statements about the school that are factually inaccurate. Sean notes in Season 5, Episode 17 that he is missing his fraternity photo and several times throughout the show mentions being in Notre Dame’s medical school, both of which, in reality, are notably absent from campus. Nevertheless, Sean is a perfect fit for Notre Dame, and it’s a great series Easter egg. Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu
SPORTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 11
FOOTBALL
Keys to victory: ND vs. Michigan State By Payton Dymek Sports Reporter
Knowing the Irish need to survive another week without a loss, head coach Marcus Freeman is entering this rivalry with a high head and confidence in his team. This weekend, charged with the emotions of fans not having witnessed this rivalry since 2017, is set to be one team‘s first loss of the season, and it is back to its usual national championship implications. Here are the keys to an Irish victory. Control Tempo Early Notre Dame’s offense has struggled to build momentum in the early minutes of games this season. While the defense was picking apart Rice and took the lead early in the match, the Irish struggled in their first matchup against Wisconsin, demonstrating that they cannot rely on opportunities arising from an opponent’s weak offense or on offensive mistakes. Not only is it unsustainable, but it also calls into question a bigger issue: How can Notre Dame create and
execute its own plays? To take control early, junior quarterback CJ Carr will need to lock down quick passes to the offense and execute high-speed runs, which will force Michigan State to play hard defense and prevent the Spartans from taking full control of any quarter. Create rushing power The Irish football identity has recently been defined by storied running backs; however, this year, the ground game leaves much to be desired. There has been little explosion down the field, with junior running back Aneyas Williams leading the team with only 119 yards and averaging 3.2 yards per carry against the Owls last Saturday. This drop could be due to earlyseason adjustments or to Notre Dame slipping away from last season’s run-centered plays; the offense is both failing to maximize its potential and losing a dimension most teams are built around. The offensive line needs to start pushing harder earlier, clearing a path for Williams to gain yards and helping the
Irish convert more on close-out routes. Stopping MSU’s Running and Passing Game Since last season, the Notre Dame defense has been both much improved and extremely scrappy. This weekend, if the Irish want to stop Michigan State, it’s going to be the defense’s job to stifle running back Cam Edwards and wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. First, the middle and outside linebackers will need to close
any gaps to stop Edwards before he breaks away and gains any yardage — the senior is currently averaging 5.2 yards per carry. On the edges, the cornerbacks will need to be on their toes and speedy to try to disrupt Bullard Jr.’s routes and break up the pass before a clench happens and Bullard Jr., who is averaging 11.6 yards per reception, is off to the races. If explosive plays can be limited, the Spartans will find themselves in uncomfortable third-down situations, which is where the Irish defense
will dictate the game’s rhythm. If Notre Dame wants to leave the rivalry with a victory — while silencing any pablum about the one-dimensional play that has become its norm — the Irish will need to establish tempo early and become the more explosive team on the field, whether that’s by activating Williams or by pushing back hard against Michigan State stars. Contact Payton Dymek at pdymek@nd.edu
KEVIN SANCHEZ | The Observer
Sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. marches down the field during Notre Dame’s 52-0 triumph against Rice on Sept. 2 at Notre Dame Stadium. James Jr. contributed a pair of rushing touchdown to the victory.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
FOOTBALL
Stock up, stock down: Notre Dame vs. Rice carries, falling well below Rice’s 4.65 yards per carry allowed mark from a season ago. Moving forward, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Irish experiment with their rotation at the running back position. Sophomore back Nolan James Jr. has shown flashes reminiscent of last year’s backfield, especially on his 15-yard run in the second quarter, which tied the longest run for Notre Dame all game. The sophomore was also responsible for both of the Irish’s rushing touchdowns, each from 1 yard out. His usage at the goal line may be something to watch moving forward.
By Jack Gerwe and Kathryn Murano Sports Reporters
Stock Up: The passing attack Despite struggling to find consistency in the run game through the first two weeks of the season, Notre Dame’s aerial attack has been dominant. The Irish have racked up 599 passing yards and 6 touchdown passes, 360 of said yards coming from the 52-0 shutout against Rice. Junior quarterback CJ Carr found easy completion windows against Wisconsin, and the offense easily moved the chains play after play using short passes and intermediate routes. Most recently, the Rice game saw both deeper and more contested passes for the Irish, highlighted by a 56-yard reception by Jerome Bettis Jr. The offense also did better spreading the ball out; against the Owls, 12 players caught a pass. The Irish improved by nearly every measurable metric: they averaged 10.9 yards per attempt against Rice compared with 8.2 against Wisconsin. The three quarterbacks that played threw 33 total attempts against Rice compared with 29 against the Badgers, and Carr scored two more passing touchdowns than the previous week. Against Rice, Carr completed 16 of 20 passes before making his exit in the third quarter. From there, freshman quarterbacks Noah Grubbs and Teddy Jarrard also got playing time, completing 7 and 2 passes respectively. Stock Up: Jordan Faison After deciding not to participate in the spring 2026 lacrosse
KEVIN SANCHEZ | The Observer
Junior wide receiver Micah Gilbert dashes with the ball during Notre Dame’s 52-0 victory over Rice on Sept. 12. Gilbert posted 2 receptions for 47 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter.
season, senior wide receiver Jordan Faison is focusing exclusively on football this year. He has expanded responsibilities, including being a team captain, a primary punt returner and a top offensive target. In the season opener against Wisconsin, Faison led the Irish receivers with 4 receptions for 81 yards — including a 30-yard catchand-run in the second quarter to move the Irish deep into Wisconsin territory — yet recorded no scores of his own. Faison scored his first career multi-touchdown game in the first quarter alone during Notre Dame’s shutout win against Rice. His 4 catches totaling 54 yards placed second among Irish receivers for the day, with a couple of early touchdown catches
helping to bring Notre Dame to a fast 21-0 lead and make him the first Notre Dame player to score twice in the opening quarter since 2019. Faison also continues to have an impact as a special teams player, including a 37-yard punt return, improving field position control compared with the previous week. Stock Up: Consistency at kicker Junior kicker and Purdue transfer Spencer Porath continued his perfect kicking season Saturday, going 7 for 7 on extra points and adding a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter. It appears that the Irish finally have consistency at the kicking position after a rough 2025 season that saw three different kickers
take the field. The lack of coherence in the unit was especially noticeable during November’s matchup against Boston College, where all three kickers missed at least one kick, two of which were extra points. Stock Down: Aneyas Williams Finding much to critique during a 50-point shutout win is difficult, but the run game was certainly not a bright spot for the Irish. Despite facing a Rice defense that ranked in the bottom half of the American Athletic Conference last year in yards per carry allowed, junior running back Aneyas Williams struggled to find any sort of rhythm on Saturday. The lead back rushed for 29 yards on 9
Stock Down: The schedule Last year, Notre Dame opened the season with their two toughest opponents of the season: Miami in week one immediately followed by Texas A&M in week two. This year, it’s practically flipped, with two out of three ranked opponents on the schedule falling in the month of November. As the rankings currently stand, No. 5 Miami comes to town on Nov. 7, followed by No. 16 SMU on Nov. 21. In the past, head coach Marcus Freeman has built off early-season struggles to create teams that get red-hot down the stretch. It’s difficult to say whether the Irish need a gut punch early in the season to play well in the following months, but their strength of schedule means that, similar to last year, they do not have much room for error. Contact Jack Gerwe at jgerwe@nd.edu.edu and Kathryn Murano at kmurano@nd.edund.edu
FOOTBALL
ND agrees to home-and-home with Nebraska By Ethan Laslo Sports Reporter
Notre Dame football announced Wednesday that it has agreed to a home-and-home series with Nebraska. The Irish will travel to Lincoln, Neb., on Oct. 30, 2032, while the Cornhuskers will visit South Bend on Oct. 29, 2033. The matchups also fall in the middle of Nebraska’s Big Ten schedule, an unusual scheduling choice for a marquee nonconference matchup. The two programs have met 16 times, the first 11 of them coming from 1915 to 1925. From 1922 to 1924, Notre Dame and its famed Four Horsemen backfield notched a record of 27-2-1, crowned by a national championship in 1924. The Irish’s only two losses during that span? Two defeats to the Huskers in
Lincoln. Nebraska leads the all-time series 8-7-1 and is victorious in the last three matchups. The previous series between the programs took place in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Before that, the Huskers dominated the Irish 40-6 in the 1973 Orange Bowl. In 2000, the No. 23 Irish hosted the top-ranked Cornhuskers just three years removed from the latter’s fifth national championship in 1997. In what Nebraska fans dubbed the “South Bend Invasion,” thousands of Huskers fans flooded Notre Dame Stadium for a matchup that went down to the wire. With the score knotted 21-21 at the end of regulation, the game went to extra time. Notre Dame kicked a field goal on its first overtime drive,
but quarterback Eric Crouch punched in a 7-yard touchdown run to seal the game for Nebraska. The following season, No. 17 Notre Dame opened the season on the road in Lincoln to take on No. 5 Nebraska. The game was a far cry from the previous year’s brawl, with the Huskers cruising to a 27-10 victory over an Irish squad that finished the season unranked at 5-6. The home-and-home brings together two of college football’s most storied programs for what Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen said “is the type of matchup that college football fans circle on their calendars years in advance.” Notre Dame and Nebraska are also considered some of college football’s “blue bloods,” or greatest programs. They
combine for 16 national championships: 11 for the Irish and 5 for the Huskers. They also combine for 1,907 wins — Notre Dame is tied with Texas for
fourth all-time with 974, while Nebraska is eighth with 933. Contact Ethan Laslo at elaslo@nd.edu
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SPORTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 13
ND MEN’S SOCCER
Men’s soccer dominates Detroit Mercy at home By Jacek Kawczynski Associate Sports Editor
Under the lights of Alumni Stadium Tuesday night, the Notre Dame men’s soccer team paid homage to football’s beatdown of Rice with its own 4-0 win over Detroit Mercy. The Irish dominated the whole game, taking a 2-0 lead into the locker room before icing the game with two more goals in the second half. Thunderstorms halted the match in the 71st minute, allowing optimistic Titans fans to dream of a miraculous comeback. Notre Dame rode a threegame win streak coming into the match, having conquered Harvard, Michigan
and Clemson. After 88 deadlocked minutes against the then-No. 17 Tigers last Friday, freshman forward Tristan Tropeano received a gorgeous ball from midfielder Vlad Walent and buried it in the net with a composed lefty finish. The win moved Notre Dame’s record to 3-1-2, and, more importantly, 1-0-0 in conference play. Naturally, spirits were high for Tuesday’s game. The same could not be said of Detroit Mercy, which entered the game on a threematch losing streak, including its most recent 2-0 defeat to Cleveland State Saturday. Facing a No. 20-ranked Irish team was its chance to play without pressure and get back
on track. Things could not have gotten off to a better start for Notre Dame. After his heroic performance against Clemson, Tristan Tropeano wasted no time getting on the scoresheet, burying a shot bottom left in the 41st second. Freshman forward Michael Capretto continued the Irish barrage with a skidding strike in the 7th minute, but Titans goalkeeper Quinn Tews made the save. Detroit Mercy struck back with a trio of chances in the 15th minute, but Notre Dame goalkeeper Blake Kelly made a solid save to keep the scoresheet clean. Both teams were rather quiet until the 38th minute, when
midfielder Nico Bartlett again scored bottom left off a Nate Zimmermann assist. Bartlett’s goal was the last shot taken in the first half, with both teams coasting into the locker room. Notre Dame was apparently unsatisfied with its 2-0 lead, and freshman midfielder Evan Lim practically iced the game with yet another bottom-left banger. Walent put the cherry on top for the Irish, guiding Stevie Dunphy’s cross low left for a 4-0 lead. After a few more scuff les and meager attempts, ominous lightning clouds drew over the campus, forcing officials to call the game early. The rain was a merciful intercession for Detroit, which was
outshot 10-6 and 6-1 for shots on target. Blake Kelly had a rather uneventful night for the Irish, only having to make one save. It was a nice reprieve from the past few games, including a 4-save performance against Clemson. The 4-0 win makes it four wins in a row for Notre Dame. The Irish will now head to sunny Palo Alto, California, where they will take on No. 1 Stanford. The Cardinal are currently unbeaten, sitting at 6-0-1 and will be a stern test for an Irish team on the rise. Kickoff is Sunday, Sept. 20, at 10 p.m. EDT. Contact Jacek Kawczynski at jkawczyn@nd.edu
ND MEN’S TENNIS
Irish legend victorious at Maribor M25 By Emma Colitz and Nikki Stachurski
Sports Reporter and Associate Sports Editor
Maribor Performance At the ITF M25 tournament in Maribor, Slovenia, in late August, Notre Dame men’s tennis alumnus Sebastian Dominko took home both the singles and doubles titles. Unseeded in the singles tournament, Dominko won five matches to claim the title, including notable wins over seeded opponents. Dominko defeated second-seeded Dimitar Kuzmanov 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 in the quarterfinal. He advanced to face collegiate legend Jeff Planinsek in the semifinal, winning 6-3, 6-4. In the final on Aug. 30, he fought back from behind to beat firstseeded Samuele Pieri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the doubles draw, Dominko partnered with his fellow Slovenian Planinsek yet again, winning four matches to take home the title. The pair was unseeded but defeated the first-seeded American duo Aadarsh Tripathi and Theodore Dean 7-5, 6-2 in the finals on Aug. 29. Despite defeating Planinsek in the semi-finals of the singles draw earlier that day, the pair’s chemistry was enough to bring home the win. College Career Dominko, who hails from the host city of Maribor, finished his collegiate career in the top 5 in Notre Dame program history in career wins at both the No. 1 singles and doubles positions. He was the first seven-time NCA A Individual Championship qualifier, in both singles and doubles, in Irish history. His career win percentage
was .746 in singles and .683 in doubles. His 59-20 (.747) record at No. 1 singles ranks fourth in program history, and his doubles record ranks 20th. The awards kept piling up in his four years playing for the Irish. He was the first player from Notre Dame to be named an ACC Player of the Year in
2025 and won the Byron V. Kanaley Award for his exemplary performance in both academics and athletics. Dominko was also the recipient of the 2026 ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award; this award, given to a Division 1 men’s tennis player to recognize sportsmanship,
character and academic and athletic achievement, is the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s most prestigious character award. Dominko is currently at a career-high ATP rank of No. 702 and has every opportunity to take the tennis world by storm. His character on and
off the court is one of his greatest strengths, and paired with his aggressive baseline play and ability to stay calm under pressure, he will only grow to be a more decisive opponent. Contact Emma Colitz at ecolitz@nd.edu and Nikki Stachurksi at mstachur@nd.edu
DECLAN LEE | The Observer
Then-senior Sebastian Dominko preps before Notre Dame’s 4-2 win over Stanford on March 20 at the Eck Tennis Center. The alum, who led Irish men’s tennis to one of its best seasons in program history last year, earned singles and doubles titles at the Maribor M25 tournament in August.
SPORTS
14 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
ND BASEBALL
The complicated legacy of Cap Anson By Zachary Jones Sports Reporter
Adrian “Cap” Anson is the first name listed on Notre Dame baseball’s official “Major Leaguers” alumni roster. While that top placement comes incidentally by the alphabetical primacy of Anson’s last name, in many other ways, the word “first” characterizes a large part of Anson’s professional baseball life. Anson is widely regarded as baseball’s first “superstar.” He was the first player to accumulate 3,000 hits, the first manager to take his team south for spring training, and, to this day, ranks first all-time in Chicago Cubs history in runs, hits, singles, doubles and RBIs. He even played first base. But if Anson wasn’t the first, he was certainly an opponent of integrating Black players into the major leagues during his era. While employing Black players was somewhat of a gray area at the start of
Anson’s career in 1871, by the 1890s, they had been explicitly banned from the top minor leagues and implicitly barred from the majors, largely due to Anson’s inf luence and status as baseball’s figurehead celebrity. Anson was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on April 17, 1852. In those days, Notre Dame still primarily served as a grade school and high school. Anson was sent to South Bend in his mid-teens, probably from 1866 to 1868, though sources differ on how long he stayed. Not much is known about Anson’s time as a Domer, other than that he was a prominent player in the new game of “base-ball” that was rapidly gaining popularity in the post-Civil War years. Back then, multiple studentrun “base-ball” clubs competed against each other, akin to intramurals today. Anson’s team, the “Juanitas,” was reportedly a powerhouse and was lauded in a poem called “The Gay
Juanita Boys” in the June 1868 issue of Scholastic magazine. Anson himself got a shoutout: “When short stop Anson caught that foul/Buncum! the captain cried;/And well he might, for nary fowl/Can safely near him glide.” Anson signed on with a professional ball club shortly after leaving Notre Dame. He earned his first contract with the Rockford (Illinois) Forest Citys of the National Association in 1871. After the club folded a year later, he signed with the National Association-leading Philadelphia Athletics, for whom he played for four years before being poached by the Chicago White Stockings of the newly formed National League in 1876. Anson became a mainstay at first base for the White Stockings over his 22-year career in Chicago, serving as player-manager from 1879 to 1897. His best year was 1881, when he led the league in batting average, on-base
percentage, on-base plus slugging, hits and RBIs. He was the second manager to win 1,000 games and is second all-time in Cubs history with 2,276 games played for the franchise, 252 behind Ernie Banks — the famed Mr. Cub. For his accomplishments, Anson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. Besides his on-field exploits, however, Anson is widely credited with solidifying segregation in baseball. Throughout the 1880s, he openly refused to play in exhibitions against teams with Black players on their roster. While racist attitudes in professional baseball were certainly widespread during his time, Anson’s unabashed refusal to take the field against Black players, coupled with his celebrity and clout as a superstar player/ manager, crystallized those views into concrete action. On July 14, 1887, at the height of Anson’s powers, the owners of the International
League — the top minor league at the time — elected to ban the signing of new contracts with Black players. Segregation in the major leagues continued by the owners’ tacit agreement until 1947. There’s no easy side to take when considering Cap Anson’s life. His achievements as a player and a manager were unrivaled during his time. His success and renown showed that professional baseball could succeed on a national level, setting the stage for the major leagues as we know them today. Anson also set the Majors back nearly 60 years through his insistence against Black integration in the league. The color line is surely the darkest stain on professional baseball’s storied legacy, and any conversation about Anson must include his contributions to that injustice. Contact Zachary Jones at zjones3@nd.edu
EDITOR’S COLUMN
Hicks: Unmasking the Protect College Sports Act By Ben Hicks Sports Editor
In light of substantive legislative progress made this week on Capitol Hill, a rarity in contemporary American politics, this week’s column will focus exclusively on the Protect College Sports Act. Introduced by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell earlier this year following months of negotiating and lobbying in the nation’s Capitol — in which Notre Dame was highly involved — the bill is the closest college sports have come to a stable, comprehensive set of regulations in the wake of the House settlement. Of course, if the NCAA held any legal power to actually enforce its own bylaws, we wouldn’t be cemented in this interminable impasse to begin with, but I digress. While I will advocate for the bill to pass throughout the majority of this column, I will also recognize some of the most glaring issues with this piece of legislation as well as the validity of choosing the path of legislation as a long-term solution. To be transparent, if I were magically named the omnipotent commissioner of college athletics, I would endorse a professional collective bargaining agreement (CBA) model, acknowledging studentathletes for what they truly are — employees earning money for their schools, for which
they should be properly compensated. This system would allow the NCAA, or whatever governing body inevitably takes its place, to enforce financial regulations such as salary caps. Players would enjoy minimum salaries and benefits and possess freedom of movement protections. Most importantly, any CBA would have to be agreed upon by both the players and the universities, not politicians in Washington. Finally, a CBA would hold much stronger long-term promise, as any piece of legislation can be amended, especially in a heavily contested midterm year. I will likely dedicate a future column to further discussing the prospects of a CBA, but this abridged diatribe will have to do for now. My first issue to highlight is not with the bill itself but with how the media, specifically ESPN, has presented the bill. Yet another column could be focused on the commodification and “circusification” of the former “Worldwide Leader in Sports.” From placing Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee on every show known to man to its inability to run any segment without the presence of a betting sponsor, ESPN has proved it has strayed far from its initial commitment to journalistic integrity. That disconnect was present on last weekend’s episode of College GameDay in Austin, Texas, where Cruz was given 10 unopposed minutes in his
home state to back his legislation. The support for the bill didn’t end when Cruz was booed away by Texas students, as legendary Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, now an analyst on the program, continued to be one of the bill’s most vocal advocates for the remaining 2 hours and 50 minutes of air time. To grant some time to the bill’s opposition ESPN interviewed NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson, albeit in a much less lucrative TV spot on Tuesday evening. While I don’t agree with Johnson’s opinion that “there is no instability” in college athletics, I do understand many of his conclusions. Opponents of the bill claim it is just another attempt by greedy, money-hungry universities and conferences to avoid paying their players, the most successful of which are often young Black men, their fair share. While Johnson is correct in assessing that the compensation of many of the top-earning Black studentathletes may be capped by the Protect College Sports Act, he fails to acknowledge that the bill would protect the scholarships of student-athletes in less profitable Olympic sports at smaller institutions, among which are Division I’s 21 historically Black colleges and universities. Somewhat ironically, the bill passed its first procedural motion just minutes after Johnson’s interview
concluded. On Thursday, it received 77 votes, well past the majority needed to end debate. Despite some opposition from both sides of the aisle, the act will likely pass both chambers of Congress and reach President Trump’s desk late next week. Despite all the demerits and setbacks I just mentioned, I do believe that the bill provides what college sports need most in the current moment — stability and standards. The proposed law would enforce the NCAA’s one-time transfer rule, legally establish the five-year eligibility standard and unilaterally ban former professional athletes, all of which should end the constant roster turmoil that has frustrated fans and coaches alike. More importantly, the federal legislation preempts conf licting state rules by setting standard regulations for finances and eligibility. As I discussed in the first week of this column, hand-picked judges all too willing to toss aside their independence were levying conf licting rulings across jurisdictions, making the current set of laws impossible to enforce. At least for a time, the endless politicking should come to a close with the passage of this bill. As I highlighted earlier, the bill also provides strong protections for women’s sports and non-revenue sports. While the soccer, lacrosse, swimming and track and field student-athletes
never earn the coverage they warrant, their role in our nation’s athletic ecosystem cannot be overstated. If you tune into the Olympics every four years on NBC and expect the United States to capture gold in every event, you can thank college athletics. These programs, which many have deemed unimportant, serve as the strongest Olympic development pipeline for the nation and deserve recognition. With the rising costs of fielding competitive football and men’s basketball rosters, many schools have already made cuts to programs, which often disproportionately affect female student-athletes. The $5 million going to a starting quarterback in the SEC is likely double the entire operating budget for the cross-country program at the same school. So enjoy that 7-5 record where “It just means more,” because on the world stage, where it actually means more, the United States will f lounder if Olympic sports aren’t protected. Thank you to everyone who reached out to express their opinions and experiences relating to last week’s column. The best part of this job is interacting with readers, so, as always, feel free to email me at sports@ndsmcobserver.com with any feedback. Stay tuned for next week’s unavoidable grumblings. Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
INSIDER
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 15
FOOTBALL
Looking back at the 1966 game of the century By Jack Muething Sports Reporter
The Battle for the Megaphone Trophy has had many historic games, with Notre Dame leading the overall series 49-29-1. The lone tie in the series ended with a final score of 10-10. The nailbiter was so famous it has sometimes been dubbed the “game of the century.” During Saturday’s game against Rice, the 1966 Notre Dame football team, that year’s national champion, was honored during pregame festivities, with several members of the team returning to South Bend to be recognized. The most famous game of that season 60 years ago was on Nov. 19, 1966, in East Lansing, Mich. Even
before knowing the end result, this game between the Irish and the Spartans always had the potential to go down in history. The hosting Spartans came into the matchup No. 2 in the country, while the Irish were No. 1. With the matchup being played so late in the season, national title implications were higher than ever before. Additionally, each side had multiple All-Americans and future Pro Football Hall of Famers, amplifying the historic significance. Ironically, this game wasn’t even supposed to be televised originally. Fifty thousand fans wrote letters to ABC pleading for the network to air the game. ABC eventually changed its mind and did so. This ended up
being a pretty intelligent decision, as the matchup got higher ratings than the first edition of the Super Bowl the following year. The contest was also the first college football broadcast to U.S. troops overseas in Vietnam, giving weary soldiers something to cheer for. The game began as a defensive battle favoring Michigan State. The Spartans got out to a 10-0 lead, scoring their first touchdown in the second quarter. Michigan State quickly followed up with a 46-yard field goal, kicked barefoot by Spartan Dick Kenney. To make things worse, Notre Dame lost its starting quarterback, Terry Hanratty, in the first quarter after a brutal hit. His backup Coley O’Brien found
an offensive rhythm right before the end of the first half, leading his team to the end zone to cut the Spartan lead to three points. It was all defense in the third quarter until an Irish drive culminated in a game-tying field goal from Irish kicker Joe Azzaro. Notre Dame defensive back Tom Schoen then intercepted Spartan quarterback Jimmy Raye on two straight possessions, eventually putting the Irish within field goal range. Unfortunately for them, Azzaro missed from 41 yards, leaving the score dead even. The Irish got the ball back on their own 30-yard line with 1:24 left on the clock and the game still tied. If it avoided a loss, Notre Dame would hold the top
spot in the AP Poll. However, the offense had struggled to get anything going in the second half. In response, head coach Parseghian called a conservative final drive, settling for a tie. Parseghian’s strategy certainly worked out for Notre Dame in the end. Michigan State’s season ended after that game, thanks to a Big Ten rule under which a team couldn’t appear in consecutive Rose Bowls. The Irish thus faced the USC Trojans, comfortably winning their eighth title in program history and Parseghian’s first. The win vindicated Parseghian’s strategy, cementing his status as a hero of Notre Dame’s football legacy. Contact Jack Muething at jmuethin@nd.edu
FOOTBALL
Lytle: Notre Dame needs a balanced offense By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
It’s no surprise that Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price left a large hole at the tailback position when they departed to the NFL. This season, the Irish have struggled to find a consistent ground attack, with junior running back Aneyas Williams leaving much to be desired on the field. There’s no need to be alarmed yet, but Notre Dame fans should expect the running back room to mix up the carries
against Michigan State. Against Rice, Notre Dame rushed for 118 yards on 32 carries. However, Aneyas Williams only carried the ball 9 times for 29 yards against a porous defense. More noticeably, Williams looked sluggish following the gaps in the offensive line and did not showcase a burst of speed that other starters across the country have been able to display. While some might argue Notre Dame was coming off a short week in which Williams carried a heavy burden,
Wisconsin is not a benchmark for the most challenging defenses the Irish will face this season. Michigan State flaunts a defense that allows only 90 yards rushing per game on fewer than 4 yards per attempt. These stats may have come against Toledo and Eastern Michigan, but Michigan State’s defense looks formidable so far and will pose a much greater challenge than Rice. The question then becomes: Who do the Irish turn to if not Williams? Two names stick out
KEVIN SANCHEZ | The Observer
Head coach Marcus Freeman greets sophomore Nolan James Jr. and senior Jordan Faison on the sidelines during Notre Dame’s 52-0 win over Rice on Sept. 12. The Fighting Irish racked up 478 yards of total offense.
as potential game changers at tailback. The first is sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. James rushed for 19 yards against Wisconsin and, more impressively, caught 4 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. His highlight play of the game was a 28-yard touchdown reception in which he ran a beautiful route out of the backfield and made defenders miss on his way to the end zone. James Jr. followed up this performance with a 6-rush, 29-yard outing against Rice. He punched in two touchdowns on the ground against the Owls, one following a 15-yard play that tied the longest run of the game. The other 15yard rushing attempt came from freshman running back Jonaz Walton, who also saw significant touches in the second half once Notre Dame established the lead. He finished the game with 8 carries for 48 yards in his first appearance in blue and gold. The 4-star from Carrollton, Georgia, appeared explosive out of the backfield and has sparked some optimism for Mike Denbrock’s running back room. Notre Dame needs to utilize James Jr. and Walton in multiple ways if this backfield is going to pose a significant threat this year. Watching then No. 4 Texas and No. 1 Ohio State battle in Austin demonstrated the value of a consistent ground game — one backed by a deeper personnel group than Notre Dame currently possesses. Texas won the game rushing for 141 yards on 41 carries, good for 3.4 yards per attempt. More noticeably, though, its two lead backs averaged 4.1 yards per carry against one of the stoutest fronts in the sport. And even trailing big, Texas stuck with the run game on short yardage and had positive runs on first down. Texas played far from a perfect game
on the offensive side of the football but managed to win with critical defensive stops and timely second-half execution on offense. If Notre Dame wants to compete down the line with teams such as Miami, SMU and potentially Texas or Ohio State in the playoff, the running game needs to pose more of a threat. CJ Carr is a fantastic quarterback who has showcased his efficiency and precision early, throwing no interceptions and operating the offense comfortably. Nonetheless, Carr is not a running quarterback who will draw an extra defender in the box on a pass play. His strengths do not include scrambling or taking off on designed runs in the style of Riley Leonard. That means that tougher competition will start to key in on Notre Dame’s offense if it looks one-dimensional and relies too heavily on the passing game. Michigan State might not possess the talent to push Notre Dame’s offense to the limit, but that doesn’t mean the latter won’t be tested. It’s Mike Denbrock and Co.’s job to find new ways to run for big plays. The Irish will have a great opportunity to mix in running backs against Michigan State as a heavy favorite. The Spartans are not a team to overlook, but they present an opportunity for new players to step up and take Notre Dame’s offense to the next level. The season is a marathon for the Irish, and Marcus Freeman is focused on steady improvement each week. I’m not expecting the run game to take off in September. If Notre Dame makes it to January football, though, I hope the tailback position looks different than it has the first two weeks. Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
INSIDER
16 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
FOOTBALL
Football beat picks: ND vs. Michigan State By Observer Sports Staff Football Beat
Noah Cahill Last time the Spartans visited Notre Dame Stadium, they left with a 36-28 win behind a dominant rushing performance. That was a decade ago. While the 2026 iteration of Michigan State may take a similar offensive approach, it should expect much different results. A lot has changed since that night in South Bend. Michigan State isn’t the same program it once was under Mark Dantonio. But more importantly, the Irish are not the same defense that allowed 260 yards on the ground in 2016. I don’t think the Spartans will reach that number of total yards this time around. Notre Dame still has problems to address offensively, from a lackluster rushing attack to an undecided wide receiver rotation. But that is the beauty of this year’s schedule compared with years past. The Irish will build up to their toughest tests — Miami, BYU and SMU — with games like these, games where they should be able to control both lines and experiment on offense. You won’t see a finished product this Saturday. But it will be enough to win comfortably against an overmatched Spartan squad. Prediction: Notre Dame 42, Michigan State 10 Ellie Collins It has been nine years since Notre Dame and Michigan State last rekindled their storied rivalry, and after this weekend, I have a feeling the Spartans will wish it were a decade. But unlike last week’s tilt with Rice, this matchup poses questions — the talent of first-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s squad remains unknown heading into Week 3. Like Wisconsin, the group is in rebuild mode with 32 transfers comprising the roster. The only certainty will be the competency of quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and the speed of UConn transfer running back Cam Edwards. The Irish’s first task on defense will be to bottle up Sparty’s run game. If they can force MSU to the air, Milivojevic tends to hesitate in the pocket and take a lot of sacks. I predict Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore will harass the signal-caller all night. Offensively, Aneyas Williams and the ground game will bounce back after a tough go against the Owls, and Jonaz Walton will break a long touchdown run in the second half. Given State’s physicality, it will be a close game at the half, but Notre Dame’s depth will ultimately wear the Spartans down after the break. Kind of a Wisconsin-lite. Prediction: Notre Dame 45, Michigan State 13 Chris Dailey Michigan State may not be the perennial top-25 team it once was when this rivalry was at its peak. But nonetheless, the rivalry is back, and the Spartans seem to be a
KEVIN SANCHEZ | The Observer
Head coach Marcus Freeman’s squad readies to exit the tunnel ahead of Notre Dame’s 52-0 victory over Rice on Sept. 12 at Notre Dame Stadium. The home-opening win marked the second for the Irish under Freeman.
rejuvenated program. After the Mel Tucker scandal and an uninspiring two seasons under Jonathan Smith, longtime Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald has them playing with a newfound edge. Running back Cam Edwards will be one of the most talented players in this game. The former UConn standout is a proper workhorse back and is fourth all-time in rushing yards among current FBS players. Although quarterback Alessio Milivojevic isn’t a superstar, he’s still more than serviceable, and wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr.’s speed has impressed. Defensively, Michigan State features a host of transfers with extensive college football experience. In fact, on both sides of the ball, the Spartans entered 2026 fourth among Power 4 teams in career starts (570) and seventh in career snaps (44,903). All of this is to say Michigan State can play football. The issue? So can Notre Dame. And the Irish can do so at a national championship level. It will take a perfect day for the Spartans to win this battle in South Bend. Prediction: Notre Dame 41, Michigan State 20 Payton Dymek Growing up on the West Coast, I’ve heard the usual stories about Stanford vs. Cal and Arizona vs. ASU rivalries. But the one from the Midwest that was always talked about on my side of the country was Notre Dame vs. Michigan State. While the Megaphone Trophy still doesn’t make sense to me, the rivalry between these two does. Both teams are coming into the matchup undefeated, but Notre Dame is ready to leave everything on the field. With the Irish defense looking a lot cleaner than it did this time last year — already sitting at 114 tackles — and the offense passing for almost 600 yards, they are in pole position to take this game. The Spartans have relied on transfer running back Cam Edwards to lead the offense, and he has performed well. But the Notre Dame D-line is well-equipped to handle this MSU rushing attack, and the secondary should smother these Spartan receivers. The Irish win in resounding fashion.
Prediction: Notre Michigan State 10
Dame
38,
Ben Hicks Thankfully, it is impossible to replicate the 10-10 scoreline these two sides battled to 60 years ago in the so-called “Game of the Century.” How a tie merits that label, or how Notre Dame played in four such “games of the century” in a single 100-year period, is mindboggling to me, but I digress. Saturday’s showdown between the Spartans and Irish should be nowhere near as tight as the precursor 60 years prior. If there is any continuity from ‘66, it will be that Notre Dame’s defense leads them past Michigan State, and potentially all the way to a national championship. While I do think that Sparty is headed in the right direction under first-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald, the Green and White just don’t have the talent to compete with Marcus Freeman’s juggernaut. MSU was suspect in its opener against Toledo and has failed to find the explosive plays needed to pull off a top-5 upset. To complicate matters, redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic is making only his third career start away from Spartan Stadium. The first two came at Minnesota and Iowa — not quite as daunting as Notre Dame Stadium at night. Michigan State’s beef on the defensive interior will test Notre Dame’s less-than-stellar rushing attack, but in the end, the Irish comfortably move to 3-0. Prediction: Notre Dame 38, Michigan State 10 Ethan Laslo I’ve been struggling all week to comprehend how two teams with a rivalry as historic as the Notre Dame-Michigan State don’t play for something cooler than a megaphone, but I suppose that the odd trophy is a part of the charm. Two weeks into the season, the Irish rushing attack has not looked even close to being as dominant as last season’s. Filling the shoes of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price was always going to be an impossible task, but it’s shocking that the Irish have struggled on the ground as much as they have. This week is a “prove it” game. It’s good to show
the offense’s prowess through the air, but Notre Dame must establish its ground game if it wants to be among the nation’s elite this season. Nevertheless, I think Sparty’s style of play lends itself well to Notre Dame’s skillset. They prefer to spread the ball out with quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, who has looked good through two weeks. Unfortunately, Notre Dame’s secondary has looked even better. That doesn’t bode well for any team in the country, particularly for a Michigan State squad whose two wins this season have come against MAC opponents. Irish roll, but Spartans cover. Prediction: Notre Dame 34, Michigan State 14 Henry Lytle Notre Dame is coming off a weekend in which it shut out Rice and virtually won the game in the first 16 seconds. I hope Michigan State can provide a bigger challenge, especially with a defense that is holding opponents below 14 points and 250 yards per game. These numbers did come against Toledo and Eastern Michigan, but the Spartans are still a Big Ten team and will pose some challenges. I don’t expect this game to ever be in doubt for the Irish. However, I hope the offensive staff will mix up the running back rotation to see how Nolan James Jr. and Jonaz Walton can look with more touches. Michigan State offers Notre Dame’s run game an opportunity to drastically improve following a poor performance from Aneyas Williams against Rice. Despite the rivalry and history between these two programs, I’m not sure I see a way for Michigan State to keep it close. Prediction: Notre Dame 48, Michigan State 6 Jack Muething Michigan State travels to Notre Dame Stadium looking for that elusive victory over a ranked opponent, having lost its last 11 games against teams inside the top 25. The Spartans are an offense that leans heavily on running the ball, mainly getting offensive production from Cam Edwards, who transferred from UConn this past offseason. They also boast a defensive line that Pro Football Network has graded as a top-10 unit nationally through
the first two weeks of the season. However, both their passing offense and team defense present concerns, which won’t bode well against such a well-rounded Notre Dame team. The Irish will need to gameplan for the pass against Michigan State’s talented defensive line. I expect this to be the one where CJ Carr is unleashed and plays like one of the top quarterbacks in college football. Additionally, while the Spartans’ running game is good, it hasn’t faced a defensive line like Notre Dame’s, which, albeit against weaker teams, has effectively taken run out of the equation for its past two opponents. I expect the Irish to cover, and for the passing offense to be the reason why. Prediction: Notre Dame 41, Michigan State 10 Nikki Stachurski The historic rivalry is back in action after almost a decade, and the Irish have every opportunity to dominate. Of course, both teams are 2-0 so far, but Notre Dame’s quality of play has been far more technical and intense than that of the Spartans. Despite facing less competitive teams, Michigan State did not earn a massive margin either time. Rivalry games are notorious for straying from statistical odds and pregame expectations, so I am going to give the Spartans the benefit of the doubt. They will come out fast and strong, eager to get on the scoreboard early, but one of Notre Dame’s trademark second-half performances will be the nail in Michigan State’s coffin. The potential for rain may diminish the home-field advantage for the Irish, and I am anxious to see their kicking performance if the forecast continues. The path to victory for Notre Dame is simple: don’t rely too heavily on flashy plays, keep an eye on Michigan State’s special teams and, whatever they do, don’t underestimate the Spartans. If the Irish maintain consistent, fundamental play, there is little doubt they will take home the megaphone. Prediction: Notre Dame 49, Michigan State 13 Claire Watson After two wins, Notre Dame has made its comeback and shown everyone in the country why it’s among the nation’s best. That being said, this week, the Irish face Michigan State, a team they haven’t seen in nearly a decade. The Irish will need to keep their composure throughout the game, making sure that they don’t underestimate this Michigan State team. If they properly utilize their running backs and keep the Spartan ground game at bay, they should win this game with ease. Having seen the physicality and grit that the Irish defense has brought the past two weeks, I believe they will do just that. Prediction: Notre Dame 45, Michigan State 21