2025–2026 Season Summary

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are an FBS football program in the FBS Independents. The program was founded in 1842 and is identified by their mascot, Notre Dame Leprechaun. Notre Dame has played 11 games in 2025, finishing 9-2. Leading the Fighting Irish in 2025 is CJ Carr, who has produced 2,741 passing yards and 24 touchdowns across 12 games. The full roster carries 138 athletes. The Fighting Irish play home games on the Notre Dame campus. Notre Dame most recently played their opponent on November 22, 2025, with the result a win 70-7. When fans fuel a Fighting Irish athlete on RallyFuel, 90% lands directly with the athlete — funding training, recovery, and the realities of college sports.

University Of Notre Dame Football: Program & Competitive Level

The Football Program at the University of Notre Dame competes at the highest level of NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). As an independent program, it operates outside traditional conference affiliations, allowing a nationally diverse and highly competitive schedule. This positioning challenges athletes with consistently elite opponents, ensuring a rigorous competitive environment that fosters high performance and adaptability. Within the university’s athletics department, football stands as a flagship sport, integral to the institution’s identity and resource allocation. The program’s scale is substantial, featuring a comprehensive support system designed to sustain excellence on and off the field, while maintaining a commitment to academic and athletic balance.

Training Facilities & Athletic Excellence

The infrastructure supporting the Football Program is among the most advanced in collegiate athletics, designed to maximize athlete development and competitive readiness. The home venue, Notre Dame Stadium, boasts a seating capacity of approximately 77,000, featuring a meticulously maintained natural grass surface that enhances play quality and athlete safety. The stadium’s atmosphere during games provides a unique blend of tradition and intensity, creating an environment that prepares athletes for high-pressure competition.

• Notre Dame Stadium: Iconic home field with modern amenities and a capacity suited for large-scale collegiate events.
• Comprehensive Training Complex: Includes state-of-the-art weight rooms, rehabilitation centers, and indoor practice facilities that support year-round athlete conditioning and injury prevention.
• Academic Support Services: Dedicated tutoring and performance analytics tailored for football athletes, ensuring academic progress alongside athletic commitment.
• Coaching Philosophy: Emphasizes a balanced, adaptable style of play focused on disciplined execution, strategic versatility, and player development across all phases of the game.

Market & NIL Value in Football

Notre Dame Football commands significant commercial and media exposure, making it a prime platform for athlete brand development. The program benefits from extensive television broadcast agreements, including high-profile national networks and streaming services, which deliver widespread visibility to players and the program alike. The passionate and widespread fanbase amplifies this reach, driving strong engagement both locally and nationally.

This visibility translates into robust opportunities for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships. Sponsors and regional businesses actively seek association with Notre Dame Football due to its consistent media presence and community impact. For recruits, choosing this program means aligning with a brand that supports personal growth beyond the field, offering pathways to build a lasting public profile and commercial appeal while competing at an elite level.