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Notre Dame football expectations are sky high entering the 2026 season as FanDuel sets the Irish win total at 11.5, lists Notre Dame among the national championship favorites, and places quarterback CJ Carr at the top of the Heisman Trophy odds. Tyler Wojciak is joined by VSiN radio host and diehard Notre Dame fan Tim Murray to react to the massive expectations for the Irish, discuss how bettors view Notre Dame’s historic win total, debate whether CJ Carr deserves to be the Heisman favorite, and preview the biggest storylines heading into spring practice.
(0:00) - Intro
(2:05) - Vegas Projections
(17:49) - CJ Carr Heisman Buzz
(25:09) - Spring Practice Preview
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We already knew the expectations were high for Notre Dame going into 2026.
But then Vegas released their projected win totals over the weekend.
And according to the experts in the desert, anything less than an undefeated season might
be considered a disappointment for the Irish.
Is that fair to Murray and I discuss coming up next?
You are locked on Irish.
Your daily podcast on the Notre Dame fighting Irish part of the locked on podcast network.
Your team every day.
Hello and welcome in to locked on Irish, your daily home for Notre Dame football.
My name is Tyler Wojak and I'm the host.
I graduated from Notre Dame and now I'm a producer of Fox Sports and I've been covering
the Irish for the last five years.
You know what day it is.
It is Tuesday, March 17th, so happy St. Patrick's Day to you and thanks for starting the best
holiday of the year by making this your first watch or listen of the day.
Now before you dive in, please take a second to make sure that you are subscribed on YouTube
or wherever you're listening to the podcast.
And if you are, that's great.
And if not, please hit that button.
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So on a day like today, we had to deliver with the great show.
And I'm excited about this one because we've got a great friend of the program Tim Murray
from Veecin Radio back on the show and as the everydayers know, Tim is also a diehard
Notre Dame fan, which makes this the perfect conversation because the experts in Vegas
just sent a massive message about the Notre Dame football program over the weekend.
Fandall set Notre Dame's win total at 11 and a half for the 2026 regular season.
The Irish are near the top of the national championship odds as well.
And CJ Carr is already the betting favorite to win the Heisman.
So today we're going to break down whether these odds are fair, however, we're feeling
about the team going into a year with title or bust expectations and what we're going
to be watching for when spring practice begins later this week.
Let's bring in Tim.
All right, I'm excited to welcome back Tim Murray from Veecin to the show.
For the first time this off season and we have got a lot to get to.
So Fandall released their college football win totals last week and Notre Dame's over
under is set at 11 and a half for the 2026 season.
Now I don't have all the historical data in front of me, but I would have to imagine
that's the highest number in program history because it literally can't go any higher.
If they don't finish the regular season undefeated, they go under.
So what was your reaction when you saw that number and does that feel fair to you?
Yeah, it's funny because I was curious what sportsbooks would put for Notre Dame's win total
and Fandall was the first to put one out.
And I was like, I think I'm going to make it 11 juiced over, you know, I'm talking gambling
lingo, juiced over means you have to pay more in order for it to come home.
And when it came out 11 and a half, it's kind of shocking that it is that high.
And also Texas tech is at 11 and a half as well, but I understand it.
I mean, Notre Dame is going to be a double digit favorite in every single game this year.
You know, the BYU game, it's on the road, but still Notre Dame is going to be
power rated very, very much higher than than BYU.
You know, the Miami game, maybe that won't be double digits, but obviously they'll be
more than a touchdown favorite in that game.
So it's just like, well, I mean, you could put it out at 11 and just put the juice
at like minus 300 and, you know, hope that no one really touches it or do this.
And, you know, it is worth noting people have bet the under.
It did move a little bit towards the under.
So now the juice is minus 200.
So if you did bet Notre Dame to go over 11 and a half wins, that's plus 160 right now.
So, you know, I'd be curious to see what other sportsbooks do, you know, post spring
when they post these, you know, win totals, but I mean, it's crazy to think,
but it's understandable why the number for them and Texas tech.
I will go down to on this hill every day.
Texas tech schedule is far worse than Notre Dame's.
Like Notre Dame schedule is not great by any stretch of the imagination,
but they do have two top 15 teams and Miami's the top 10 team on the schedule.
And SMU is like a fringe top 25 team.
I mean, Texas tech schedule is an absolute abomination.
Like they don't even have BYU on the schedule.
They don't have Utah on the schedule.
It's an absolute joke.
I mean, they play Arizona State, but yeah, it is Texas tech schedule is far easier than Notre Dame's.
Yeah, their schedule is not very competitive in 2026,
which is ironic, considering Maguire was very critical of who Notre Dame played.
So who do they got here?
Yeah, Abelene Christian, then they go on the road to face Oregon State.
They got Sam Houston and another noncon game.
And as you mentioned, they don't have Utah and they don't have BYU in the big 12.
I am a little bit surprised to hear you say that you expect Notre Dame to be favored
by at least a touchdown against Miami.
Their projected win total is 10 and a half.
I expect them to be really competitive again next season.
Do you think that Vegas right now just believes Notre Dame is that much better
than the Hurricanes going into the season?
Well, I think Notre Dame is better than Miami on paper and it will be at home.
So you're going to give Notre Dame about three, three and a half points.
So, you know, maybe a round to touchdown.
You know, we'll start to get some of those game of the year lines at some point.
I know we already have the Wisconsin line out, but yeah, I think it'll be...
If you look, I mean, it was the first game of the season,
but Notre Dame was favored against Miami in Miami by a field goal.
I think maybe a close two and a half.
So, I know different circumstances, but, you know, I think when you look at this Miami team,
I haven't fully jumped into what they're going to look like.
Obviously, they changed quarterbacks with Mensa coming in from Duke.
You know, you lose, you know, Mesador, you lose Bain.
You know, the defense is not going to be as good as it was last year.
So you would think maybe a slight down tick for Miami.
So, yeah, I think it's probably going to be in that seven, seven and a half range versus Miami.
So Notre Dame is currently tied for second in the national championship odds at plus 700.
They're now behind Ohio State, who is plus 550 to win it all.
This basically sets the expectation that it's a national title or bust in 2026.
As a fan before we get into the odds and all that,
how does it feel to see the program back in that conversation with that level of expectation?
Yeah, I mean, it's great.
I mean, you know, you think back to what we all enjoyed two years ago
and the run to the national championship and the wins that they stockpiled there.
It was like, okay, you beat Indiana.
All right, beat the SEC champ.
Okay, you beat the SEC champ.
Now go beat Penn State and they did all of that.
Obviously came up short against Ohio State and then to, you know,
lump in the fact that, you know, last year,
I think a lot of us think that that team could have won the national title
and it's going to be hard to swallow until they do ultimately get to the mountaintop.
And, you know, Marcus Freeman said it.
I've said it.
I mean, not trying to lump myself in the same stratosphere as the head coach,
but, you know, they left out, right?
Don't lose those two games and then you're in the playoff
and we're having a different conversation.
But regardless, you know, the talent that's on this roster, you know, on my podcast,
I had Pete Samson on.
I asked him, is this the best the roster has been since the holds era?
And what I meant by that was I wasn't trying to compare those teams to the 2016
to add that extra element of pressure, but Tyler, you follow recruiting.
I mean, just the way that this program is recruiting,
the depth that is in this program right now, the financial backing that is on this program right now,
it feels like I imagine what it felt like in the early 90s.
Now, they got to get a title and the early 90s were a little bit different
because you had the 1988 title in your back pocket, but it does feel like,
and to be honest, Tyler, I was kind of at the point five years ago
that I didn't think Notre Dame was ever going to win a national title.
I just, I didn't see it happening.
And I think with Marcus Freeman coming in, the administration buying in a little bit more NIL being massive,
I think Notre Dame is now set to win a national championship at some point in the near future.
And honestly, five, six years ago, I didn't think they were going to win a title.
I thought getting to the playoff, maybe winning a playoff game or two in expanded field was the ceiling.
And now I think Notre Dame 100% can win a national title within the near future.
Yeah, I mean, you certainly were not alone in that sense of it.
And I had my doubts too.
It usually would happen at the end of the season, like, you know, in 2020 after Notre Dame got dominated by Alabama
and Clemson to end the year.
It's just like, man, they had this great season.
Then, of course, it ends in familiar fashion and it makes you wonder,
well, are they ever going to turn things around it?
Then they go on that magical run in 2024.
And that team sort of opened up all these new possibilities and you start to realize, okay, wait,
this program is on the right track.
And I have noticed in just talking to some friends who love Notre Dame either went there,
just fans of the program, like a lot of people are really nervous.
With all these expectations, there is a general uneasiness about having such lofty expectations.
But the way that I sort of combat that is I'm about to turn 30.
There've only been, okay, in my life, I could say maybe three times,
maybe four going into a season where I really thought, okay,
this team is capable of winning a national championship.
The first time was 2006.
Boy, was I wrong there.
And then really after that 2015, I was definitely pretty high on them,
but then done it yet.
2018, I think they exceed to my expectations, 2020 didn't even expect there to be a
college football season, let alone one in which Notre Dame would win a national championship.
And then 2024, I absolutely believe they were capable of winning it all.
They almost did.
Last year I felt that way.
But this year, with everything they have going for them, like you mentioned,
it really does feel like this might be their best chance with the roster,
with the schedule, with the quarterback, and the head coach.
So it's really exciting, but I also understand that, man,
title or bust is a different way to go into a season.
Oh, there's no doubt.
Yeah, you think back to06, and I think we definitely were wearing some green-shaded glasses,
not realing, realizing the deficiencies that that team had.
And they became pretty glaring when Mario Manningham scored, I think, 47 touchdowns again.
That's secondary, and I punched a hole in the wall in my dorm room.
And my roommate put the score over the hole that I punched in the wall.
That's just cruel.
Yeah.
So, yeah, so I mean, you know, 2015, I'm with you, super excited, it's funny.
I actually showed my son, the Dishon Kaiser, to Will Fuller touchdown pass the other day,
because one of these commercials that they're playing on loop during
championship week is that Virginia kid laying over top the siding there.
And I was actually at that game, me and my wife were there in Charlottesville.
And yeah, you think back to that Stanford game.
That is, yeah, I don't know where that one ranks from just sheer deflation,
losing that game after taking the lead late.
You know, I'd still think Florida State and 14 was higher for me with the penalty,
the offensive pass interference.
And I'm sure there were others, obviously, bush push and plenty of others.
But, yeah, I mean, the pressure's there.
You know, I was super high on the team in 24, the Northern Illinois game.
I remember when they lost the Northern Illinois and you were thinking,
we were all thinking like, is this team even going to go to a bowl game?
Like, how is this going to unravel?
This is a nightmare.
Yeah, I was planning to go to the USC game at the end of the year.
I'm like, I don't even want to go anymore.
And ultimately they were on the table.
And, you know, we were there and it was great.
You're in front of the field.
Yeah, it's an insane game.
So, yeah, I mean, the pressure's there and Marcus Freeman knows it.
Like, he's not hiding from it, right?
They all know it.
And, you know, it's a unique situation.
You're going to start off bright lights.
I don't know if that's officially been announced.
I assume that's going to be a prime time game.
Lambo field, you know, I know Wisconsin's down, but still that's a
primo spot to start the year.
So, they're going to have to try to avoid the letdowns.
You know, they're going to have to avoid the Northern Illinois game
that will still get brought up forever, even though they went
to the national title that year.
But there's a reason that's brought up because there have been let down spots
for this program under Marcus Freeman.
And we'll see if they can, you know, keep it rolling every single week.
But I think everything, you know, and I don't, I don't mean to put
the loss of of Lou Holt's life anywhere in it.
But it's just another narrative to add to this upcoming year, right?
The coach who led them to their last national title,
a guy that meant so much to this university, you know, he passes away.
You've got the motivation from last year being snubbed.
I mean, everything's just kind of coming together for this team to make it that season.
And hopefully injuries aren't an issue.
And, you know, things kind of come together and we'll get into it.
But I mean, this is, this is the most pressure.
I would say that's been on this program.
And I don't know how long, you know, you could argue the 2017 season had
pressure, but for a different reason, right?
It was to keep Ryan Kelly's job and they, and they delivered, right?
I mean, you know, the pressure ultimately got to them when they went down to Miami.
But this is, this is the most pressure they've had in, I don't know, how long to, to deliver
the ultimate price.
We're going to be right back with Tim in a moment to break down how big of a jump C.J.
Car make going into year two as the starting quarterback.
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Welcome back to locked on Irish today.
We have got Tim Murray on the show to look at Notre Dame's win totals
and championship odds going in the next season.
But I also wanted to remind you that now is the perfect time to join the every day or club.
If you use code March, you'll get your first month free.
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Now back to Tim.
And so much of the season rides on the quarterback C.J. Carr.
This is a guy who we have been talking about since 2023.
When he committed to the Irish around the same time that Notre Dame was very actively pursuing
Dante Moore and the class ahead of him, I thought he was really good.
And his first season as a starter, certainly some things that he needs to clean up.
And now he is currently the betting favorite to win the highest minute plus 800 on Fandall.
He's just barely ahead of archmaning.
And that's just crazy to me when you consider all the hype surrounding archmaning.
I mean, obviously it started last season, but with the way that he finished last year with Texas,
you know, some of that hype, some of that momentum is really being carried over to this year.
So, you know, what are your expectations for C.J. Carr going into year two as the starting quarterback?
Well, it's, you know, there, there's so many differing opinions on C.J. Carr.
You look at someone like Bill Conley.
He ranks him number one in returning quarterback.
Ari Wasserman, who I had on the podcast, he wasn't even saying in a negative way,
but he had him 10th, but I think to Ari's point, and we actually talked it out on my podcast,
which is it's the year of the quarterback, man.
Like college football is insanely loaded at the quarterback position.
When you have C.J. Carr, archmaning, Trinidad Chambliss is coming back to Ole Miss.
Julian Sain is back at Ohio State. Dante Moore, man, you just mentioned, could have been the
second overall picked this year. He's back in college. Josh Hoover goes from TCU to Indiana.
Mensa goes from Duke to Miami, Gunner Stockton. I mean, think back to last year, right?
You had a preseason top five team in Georgia turning things over to Gunner Stockton.
You had a preseason top five team in Ohio State turning things over to Julian Sain.
You had a preseason top five team in Texas turning things over to archmaning,
and now all those guys have played a lot of football. So you go up and down.
I mean, even someone that I was critical of heading into last year,
John Matier was kind of the darling a year ago.
And now he's like 28 to 1, like the 10th or 11th best quarterback returning this year.
So there's a lot of expectations for C.J. Carr. There's going to be more on his plate.
But I think from everything that we've heard, he's been up to the challenge.
Now, it is worth noting if we're going to be honest and it was raining and the weather was
crap, but you know, USC kind of dared, well, they put two safeties out there, right?
And it was a mistake because Jeremiah Love went for 200 plus yards.
Another brilliant job by Chad Bowden. He really gave him a great, you know,
scouting report on number four.
Inside and excess pretty, pretty good, pretty good guy might want to slow him down.
But let's put two high safeties.
But all kidding aside, C.J. was not good in that game, right?
Had that critical air and interception.
So look, he's got some, you know, learning to do.
But I think another full year, no quarterback competition.
I think that's also something that's forgotten, right?
There's a legitimate quarterback competition.
He was a name the starter until what?
A week before and all the reports, whether they were true or not,
where that Kenny Mint, she might be winning this quarterback competition.
Now it's his job.
He's the man and they're going to probably air it out more.
So, you know, there, there is a little bit of maybe to be a little skeptical, like too much
confidence in C.J. Carb, but that all being said, Tyler, look at the stats, man.
I think he like blew out efficiency numbers.
I think he set the record for the school.
Like the dude was really, really good.
And there's no reason to believe that he won't continue to get better.
Also knowing the fact that his offensive coordinator has had some pretty good success
with quarterbacks in the second year of systems, like Jaden Daniels.
Right. Some of it is going to be projection, right?
Because the way he finished last season, that is one of, you know, the many things that we were
robbed of when Notre Dame was snubbed from the college football playoff.
Just imagine how different the conversation would be around C.J. Carb.
If we got to see him go out there and play in the college football playoff against some of
the best defenses, now maybe, you know, there's a world where we're not nearly as confident in C.J.
Carb, but I don't think that would have been the case.
The way he was playing at the end of the year, I think that he was ready to really take off.
And now we're just sort of banking on what we saw from him last season,
but still going into this year with all this hype.
It's pretty crazy to me that he's the Heisman favorite, again, plus 800.
So it's not like an overwhelming favorite, but how do you feel about his chances to actually win
the award and become Notre Dame's first Heisman trophy winner since 1987?
Yeah. I mean, I understand why he is the Heisman favorite because of the schedule, right?
Texas has a really hard schedule. I think they're win totals nine and a half.
So, you know, remember, this is not given out after the playoff.
This is given out after the regular season.
So you've got a team with a win total of 11 and a half, a high profile team,
and a quarterback who is the grandson of maybe not college football royalty,
but a college football Hall of Famer, right?
So like, you got everything going.
I understand why he's the Heisman favorite.
I absolutely would not bet that right now.
I don't think there's any reason on March 16th to bet C.J.
Carb to win the Heisman trophy.
Right now, you're looking further down the board.
If there's 100 to one out there, you know, look, C.J.
Carb when he won the job, I bet him to win the Heisman last year.
I think at 50 to one because I knew those odds would shrink because he was going to be the
starting quarterback for a team with a win total of 10 and a half or whatever it was a year ago.
Now at eight to one, like, if you want to bet it, I'm not saying don't bet it,
but wait until August.
Like, there's no reason to lock up your money for five months when there's nothing,
you know, going to happen.
As for how do I think you'll fare?
I mean, it's going to have every opportunity and like,
are the receivers going to emerge?
I think that's the big question.
I know I'm jumping the gun a little bit,
but like, I think the receiver room and I'm going to see if this makes sense to you.
It's different, a lot different in this regard.
Like, I have questions about who's going to pop,
whether it be Jaden Greathouse back to playoff form from two years ago,
or one of these Ohio State receivers,
or, you know, one of the guys that was, you know, a highly touted freshman,
or Jaden, our Jordan phase on continues to emerge.
But like, this isn't Sam Hartman's receiving room, right?
Like, these dudes have talent.
It's just which one is going to emerge,
and can one maybe take off to a level of,
I'm not going to say will fuller because he ended up being a first round pick,
but like, ending up being a guy that is a near thousand yard receiver.
I think someone will.
I think the question is,
who's it going to be and can they go above and beyond?
Yeah, it's definitely going to be one of the main story lines for
Notre Dame spring practice, which actually officially kicks off on Friday of this week.
So, you know, outside of the wide receivers,
what is the number one thing you are most excited to learn about this team?
Well, I think, you know, I think the wide receivers,
once again, is probably the obvious.
And then, I'm not like super worried about the running backs,
but I want to know,
are any other running backs going to kind of do a Kyron Williams 2020?
Like, is someone going to come out of that,
excuse me, that running back room and be like,
whoa, I didn't see, you know,
Jonas Walton becoming the dude at this early point of the, you know, of the spring or something
like that. And then, I guess the second part would be
the defensive line, right?
Like, I want to know about Gray.
Like, this dude, if you look at 247,
I think he's the highest transfer they got.
And when you think about him and then Brue,
are they going to be a formidable force up front?
And I know we're not going to really know that in spring, right?
Maybe reports will be out there and be like,
whoa, these guys are different.
But I think Notre Dame,
we know how good the back seven is going to be.
You could argue it might be the best back seven in college football.
If their defensive line can be
good to better than good,
then man, we might be looking at elite defense.
Because, you know, I'm trying to remember what year it was,
but like, you're looking at some freshmen in the back
that aren't going to play that are just like,
they sound like they're already going to be dudes.
Whether it be like, Aiden Pouncy walking in at six foot three,
or, you know, Joey O'Brien,
I'm looking at his on the roster right now,
65188, like good lord, man.
Like, you just got a ranger dude back there and they're not going to play.
Maybe a little bit, maybe on special teams,
but I think if the defensive line can be really good,
then this defense maybe has a chance to be all time good.
They certainly have a chance.
I actually did just look it up.
Gray is the, he's tied as the highest rated transfer
committed to Notre Dame with Quincy Porter.
Although I have to say, I've sort of banned
the transfer portal rankings because a couple of years ago,
Holden Stays was a top 10 transfer in the entire class.
And I know they've probably gotten a little bit better
at the time since that's so true.
But I saw that in that 20 committed to Tennessee.
I was like, in what world is Holden Stays?
And look, that's going to sound like some shade to him.
But I just think that sometimes
with these transfer portal rankings,
they get a little bit too caught up
in what the high school rankings were.
And they're not always an accurate reflection.
I don't even think Riley Leonard was ranked that high.
But either way, this is a good transfer class.
They filled the holes that they needed to.
And I think the defensive line is going to be
a very interesting position group to watch.
It's not just defensive tackle.
Keon Keely is a big question mark on the edges
because Notre Dame really needs him to be a head
because right now, they only really have Boobakar Treyori
and Bryce Young that they know they can count on.
Everyone's expecting a big jump from Keon Keely.
That would be great.
There's a lot of questions about Logan Thomas
and what he can do as well.
But we've kind of alluded to it already.
Is there one thing that really stands out to you
as the biggest question mark you have about this team
that could potentially hold them back
from achieving some of these expectations
we talked about earlier?
Well, I think it is, look, at the end of the day,
Notre Dame lost Jeremiah Love and Jaden and Jadarium Price,
like arguably the top two running backs in the draft.
There's no argument about Jeremiah Love,
but like could Price be the second running back
taking off the board and did that mask anything for CJ Carr?
I don't know, like I don't believe it did,
but it's a fair question to ask.
Malachi Fields is not going to be a first round pick,
but it's probably going to be a day to pick.
It's a really good wide receiver
that is walking out the door.
It's a veteran wide receiver.
So I think the questions are there about like,
hey, as much as you and I and I think most people
probably listening have confidence
that there's going to be a couple people
that pop in the wide receiver room,
there's more numbers than there were,
as I refer back to the Hartman years
when they went down to what Duke
and had like three healthy wide receivers.
Like this is different.
They have scholarship high level receivers,
but it's a lot of can they hit, right?
And then I think second is Notre Dame did a very,
it was very different in the portal this year
and they went with talent over production.
And that could end up being a brilliant decision
and some of these guys blossom at Notre Dame,
but you look at a team like Indiana
who went with more production at a lower level
over maybe recruiting talent
and ended up winning them a national championship.
So I'm curious if that decision to go
with multiple years, more upside in the portal
as opposed to what they had done in the past,
which was maybe not a high ceiling,
but a blow high floor and production at previous stops.
So I'm just, that's me being hyper critical
and you ask, you know, how, what would go wrong?
I think those are just some concerns.
And then lastly, are we confident in this offensive line?
Like, is it going, it doesn't feel like it's going to be
a vintage offensive line?
You know, is Jagassal ever going to play again
when he's dealt with so many injuries?
So I think the offensive line has maybe been under discussed
just a little bit.
Like, are we sure this is going to be a really good offensive line
the moment they step on the field
because they still have some injury concerns
on that offensive line too.
So that that would be like the third one
is like the offensive line.
Is it going to be vintage Notre Dame offensive line?
Tim is going to be right back with more
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Yeah, I think that's probably my biggest question mark
to be honest with you and to be clear,
I don't expect the offensive line to be bad this season.
That would legitimately shock me.
There would have to be a string of injuries
and they lose two or three more starters
which unfortunately has been somewhat of a trend
for that position group at Notre-Dame in recent years.
They went like, I don't know,
pretty much the entire Harry Heast stand era
where it seemed like the offensive line
never had a single injury in the past few years.
Every week it's a new guy going down.
I don't think that they're, I think they're gonna be good.
Like they have a pretty high floor.
No matter who ends up starting,
it looks like Anthony Napp could potentially move inside
or at least they're gonna try it,
which opens the door for well black,
potentially left tackle.
Gerby Lambert might move back to right tackle
and then you could have Sullivan Appshire
fill in a right guard until, you know,
who knows when Charles Jagassau will come back.
But to your point about how much
to Jeremiah Love and Jedi and Price mask for car,
I think it's actually how much did they mask
from the offensive line?
Because there were some plays where price and love
were bottled up in the backfield
but yet they were just so good
that they were able to just shed tacklers
and turn what should have been a two yard loss
into a nine yard game.
That's gonna be a lot harder to do for NES Williams
or Nolan James Jr.
So if the offensive line is really good
to even great,
then this team should win a national championship.
Because then I have no questions about the running back,
I have no questions about car because if he has all day
to throw and he has a running game
to follow a really strong offensive line,
this team is gonna be able to move the ball in offense
and I don't really have that many concerns
about the defense.
So in a way, I really do think it all boils down
to the offensive line.
They have a high floor,
but do they have a high enough ceiling
to become a Joe Moore award finalist
or just an offensive line who could dominate
the best defenses in the most critical games of the season,
that part I'm unsure of and we probably won't know
until maybe November in Notre Dame Stadium
when Notre Dame takes out Miami.
Yeah, I mean, and I think that's also a fair question.
It's like how good will, you know, Notre Dame,
how good do we know they are as a year goes on, right?
With this schedule, going to BYU will be a big challenge.
I think Wisconsin could be a little bit frisky.
I don't know if they will week one.
I think Notre Dame probably is catching Wisconsin
at a good time.
I think they'll be better.
Yeah, 16 and a half is a lot though.
It is a big number.
You know, I think Notre Dame's gonna be,
if you look historically outside of, you know, last year,
I feel like they've been ready for the challenge
in week one more often than not.
But yeah, I mean, I think that's a fair question, you know,
what does this team look like
when November 7th rolls around and Miami
who's gonna be a top 10 team comes to South Bend?
And hopefully, maybe we can get some frigid temperatures too.
That would be, that would be enjoyable for,
for those boys from Miami.
It's gonna be the only time in my life
where I'm going to be in attendance for a Notre Dame game
and I'm going to be praying for snow.
I'm going to be begging for it.
And I never, ever say that.
All right, last one I have for you.
By the time spring practice wraps up,
what headline or rapport or rumor,
just give me one would make you feel the most confident
about Notre Dame living up to those huge expectations
in 2026.
That one of the wide receivers from Ohio State
is going to be a superstar.
Or maybe like, you know, is, all right,
let me rephrase that.
Maybe the superstar's a little strong.
That Quincy Porter, I guess Quincy Porter,
is he's not gonna be part of it?
I don't think he's gonna be a full participant.
But my, we find out that Mylon Graham
is the best wide receiver that Notre Dame has.
I'm gonna feel pretty good.
Like, okay, they got, they hit on that.
I think that would make me like CJ Carr
and Mylon Graham have been working out extra.
And they've got, they're in sync.
And, you know, we get a couple of those like 15 second
Twitter videos and they've got him making a catch
like over Leonard Moore and something like that.
I think if we hear about,
I'll be honest, I don't think there's anything,
if we're talking about optimistic wise,
I don't think there's anything I can hear from the defense.
That's gonna make me feel great.
Like, I already feel amazing about the second theory.
Leonard Moore is healthy.
All right, nice.
So we need to hear.
Health and obviously health, like that's the number one.
But if Mylon Graham is emerging or anyone else,
but I think Mylon Graham to me,
if it's like this guy, what did Ohio State do?
He was gonna be their next great wide receiver.
I think that would maybe like, whoa, okay, this could be,
this could be something special.
All right, Tim, this has been great as always.
Before we get out of here, tell the people
where they can check out all the stuff you're doing
because we always have you on to talk college football,
but this is also a very busy march for you as well
in the college basketball time of year.
It is, yeah.
So college basketball, NCAA tournament,
visa and prime time.
That's my show on visa and serious XM channel 158's
on YouTube TV.
If you live in DC or in the New England area,
my Saturday show is on Masson and Nesson Plus.
So my Saturday show is from nine to noon,
Eastern time, my weekday show is from seven to 11 PM,
Eastern time.
And then we are getting the college football thing
back up and running.
So the visa in college football bedding podcast.
No episode this week because of March madness,
but we'll be back and talking about some of these wind totals
very soon.
Should be a very fun March.
And hopefully the countdown to football goes by quickly.
Thanks again, man.
Talk to you again soon.
All right, Tyler.
See you, man.
All right, that's going to do it for this episode.
Thanks again for making a lockdown.
I wish you first watch or listen to the day.
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And I'm going to be right back here tomorrow with Greg Flemong from
Irish Sports Daily for our annual spring practice preview.
So you won't want to miss that.
Until then, I hope you have a great St Patrick's Day.
And we'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.
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Locked On Irish - Daily Podcast On Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football & Basketball

Locked On Irish - Daily Podcast On Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football & Basketball

Locked On Irish - Daily Podcast On Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football & Basketball
