At this point, Notre Dame isn’t wishing for progress. The Irish are wishing for the final pieces.
Notre Dame’s program is close enough to a national title that every missing detail matters, from NIL support to depth at quarterback and the trenches.
If Christmas wishes came true in college football, here’s what each Notre Dame assistant and Marcus Freeman would be hoping to unwrap.
Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame’s head man might be the most coveted coach in college football, so what does he want for Christmas? One obvious answer: support. Specifically, donations to Rally over the Rockne Fund so Notre Dame football can fully flex its NIL muscle.
Is that a little selfish? Probably. But that’s the price of chasing national championships, and every great Notre Dame head coach is ultimately judged by titles. Freeman is no different.
Gino Guidugli
What more could Guidugli want as he has CJ Carr returning and two incoming freshman quarterbacks? Well, how about a backup quarterback with experience? It’s not easy to find a quarterback with experience who wants to play behind Carr, but programs do it every year. It’s vital for Notre Dame’s success as Carr didn’t miss a game in 2024 and that’s a rarity in college football.
Ja’Juan Seider
Seider’s gift may have come last winter when he decided to take the Notre Dame job. He missed the wild ending of the James Franklin era at Penn State and a disaster of a season in Happy Valley. Seider would love to make another splash on the recruiting trail, and that would be 2027 McKeesport (Pa.) five-star running back Kemon Spell.
Mike Brown
Notre Dame is close to having a championship-level receiver room. Several key pieces return, but Brown could still use an experienced boundary receiver. Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh is one intriguing option. Marsh shares an agent with CJ Carr, but the real Christmas miracle would be getting him into Notre Dame as a true sophomore.
If it’s not Marsh, the conversation starts with freshman Kaydon Finley showing he’s ready after spring ball. The Texas native will battle Micah Gilbert and Cam Williams, but Brown would feel far more comfortable if two proven options emerge at that spot.
Mike Denbrock
There are a few gifts Denbrock could desire, but the most important is a short-yardage fix. Notre Dame struggled at times in goal-to-go situations and in 2026, Denbrock won’t have Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price. Now, Denbrock should have plenty of talent at the running back position, but he’ll need to find a way for Notre Dame to be a little more successful in those situations in 2026 if the Irish want to achieve the big goal.
Joe Rudolph
This one is easy, especially with Aamil Wagner’s departure to the NFL. The ultimate gift for Rudolph is health and specifically for Charles Jagusah to remain healthy. A freak ATV accident cost Jagusah his season and the Irish need him more than ever with Rudolph looking to fill out his offensive line.
Chris Ash
The secondary has a chance to be the best in the country. If Notre Dame can generate more edge pressure in 2026, this defense could be overwhelming.
Boubacar Traore is one answer, but Ash needs a couple more players to step up over the next eight months to unlock this Ash defense.
Al Washington
Along the same lines, Washington would love to see a few defensive tackles under the tree. The interior line is losing key contributors, and Jason Onye’s petition for another year remains uncertain.
Defensive tackle recruiting is never easy, but a couple of big bodies who can eat space would make life much easier for Washington.
Mike Mickens
The man has everything. Mickens will have the nation’s top cornerback returning in Leonard Moore and one of the most experienced corners in the country on the opposite side in Christian Gray. Mickens also has young depth behind them. At safety, Tae Johnson and Adon Shuler make up one of the best safety groups in the country. Luke Talich is a jack of all trades and then there is incoming freshman Joey O’Brien.
Mickens needs the gift of a raise. He’s proven he can coach, develop and recruit at a high level. Notre Dame needs to make sure he knows he’s the defensive back coach in the country and that’s filling his pockets with love.
Marty Biagi
There are two gifts Biagi has asked for this Christmas. One would be a graduate transfer kicker with no injury history. The other would be another Aussie punter, as James Rendell worked out to perfection. Erik Schmidt's development would be icing on the cake as he can kick and punt.
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