The 2026 Notre Dame football program will begin fall camp next week and expectations are through the roof.
Over the years, I’ve posed questions upon entering camp that I believe the program needs to answer, and this list is slightly shorter given the tremendous amount of experience coming back.
We’ll get answers to some of these questions in the next few weeks, while others will be answered in January.
And as usual, we’ll revisit these on the bye week and after the season.
1. Can Notre Dame win it all?
2. How does Notre Dame use the “Leave No Doubt” mantra and will they feel pressure from it?
3. Will CJ Carr be able to handle the National Title and Heisman hype?
4. How often does Mike Denbrock run CJ Carr given the backup QB situation?
5. Who will be the backup quarterback in week one and on November 7th?
6. Can Mike Denbrock turn this into an explosive pass offense similar to the one at LSU in 2023? (Jayden Daniels: 3,812 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, 4 INTs. Malik Nabers: 89 receptions, 1,569 yards, 14 touchdowns. Brian Thomas: 68 receptions, 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns)
7. How does running back Aneyas Williams use the chip on his shoulder?
8. What is Kedren Young’s impact in the running back room?
9. Ja’Juan Seider chose to rotate two running backs last year. Can he find a way to get Williams, Young and Nolan James Jr. carries?
10. Who steps up at receiver behind Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse?
11. Can Notre Dame finally find a way to make the slot receiver productive and a true threat in the offense?
12. Notre Dame has an edge with tight end Cooper Flanagan on the field, what can he give the pass game?
13. Can tight ends James Flanigan and Ty Washington hold off Ian Premer?
14. Right guard: Matty Augustine or Sullivan Absher?
15. How long does it take Will Black to get comfortable at left tackle?
16. How long does it take for Anthonie Knapp to get comfortable at left guard?
17. Who starts at center? Ashton Craig or Joe Otting?
18. Will Charles Jagusah play in 2026 (or January 2027)?
19. Do we hear about Styles Prescod and Owen Strebig taking the next step in fall camp?
20. It probably doesn’t matter barring injury, but who are the starters on the defensive line?
21. How ready is defensive end Rodney Dunham to contribute?
22. Can Charlie Partridge flip the switch for Keon Keeley?
23. Defensive tackle Armel Mukam had momentum this spring, can he carry that into the fall?
24. How does defensive tackle Francis Brewu adapt to Notre Dame?
25. What can a bigger interior defensive line do for Notre Dame’s linebackers?
26. How many sacks does Boubacar Traore have in 2026?
27. Will Chris Ash allow his linebackers to play downhill this fall?
28. How soon does linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa return to play and what is the snap count plan for him?
29. Will linebacker Jaylen Sneed put it all together?
30. How many heads does Drayk Bowen take off in 2026?
31. How does Brian Jean-Mary develop the younger backers despite having five returning players?
32. Who the heck plays nickel?
33. Where does cornerback DJ McKinney play?
34. Where does cornerback Christian Gray play?
35. Will cornerbacks Mark Zackery IV and Dallas Golden find a role after playing a ton in 2025?
36. Where does cornerback Jaylen Sanders fit?
37. Can one of the talented freshmen cornerbacks break through?
38. What will Leonard Moore’s legacy be?
39. How many interceptions does Brauntae Johnson record?
40. How many heads does Adon Shuler take off in 2026?
41. What will Luke Talich’s role be?
42. Who will be the fourth safety between Ethan Long and Joey O’Brien?
43. Will safety Brandon Logan be able to contribute?
44. Will safety Brandon Logan eventually choose baseball?
45. How big of an upgrade is Spencer Porath at kicker?
46. Can Jasper Scaife step in immediately at punter?
47. What is the impact of Aaron Henry on the defense?
48. Assuming Notre Dame starts the way they are expected to start, how does Marcus Freeman manage playing inferior competition?
49. How does Notre Dame handle the environment at BYU?
50. Will it snow or be under 35 degrees on November 7th?
51. How does the program handle Navy the week before Miami?
52. Does Notre Dame put up 70 on Rice, Purdue, UNC, Boston College or Syracuse (again)?
53. Who will be the player people are gushing about the third week of August?
54. How soon does ESPN turn against Notre Dame and the schedule?
55. Can Notre Dame make the experience at both coordinator positions a positive?
56. How many Top 100 recruits will be in South Bend on November 7th?
57. When is Mike Frank’s next vacation?
58. Will that nation get the matchup it deserves in Leonard Moore vs. Jeremiah Smith?
59. Can Notre Dame rush for more than 5.7 yards per carry?
60. Will Notre Dame be 11-0 going to Syracuse to face Steve Angeli?
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