Where Notre Dame football ranks in On3 post-transfer portal top 25
Notre Dame was not a big player in the spring transfer portal market. The Fighting Irish did their heavy lifting in the winter window, and what head coach Marcus Freeman and company pulled off then — welcoming a program record eight incoming transfers — was enough to keep the team inside On3’s post-transfer portal top 25.
Andy Staples has Notre Dame slotted at No. 8.
“The Fighting Irish bring back almost everyone from a stingy 2023 defense, and given a schedule that feels softer than the usual Notre Dame slate, that fact alone has produced a lot of 11-1 predictions,” Staples wrote. “While the schedule may actual be a little tougher than assumed — the opener at Texas A&M is certainly no gimme — Notre Dame should be more effective on offense in 2024. Mike Denbrock, the coordinator who helped Jayden Daniels win a Heisman Trophy last year at LSU, is back for a third stint in South Bend.
“Meanwhile, the receiver group should be considerably deeper. Duke transfer QB Riley Leonard isn’t as polished a passer as Sam Hartman, but he’s a better athlete and should be able to take advantage of Notre Dame’s usually excellent offensive line.”
The X-factor that’ll determine whether or not Notre Dame’s offense emulates what Denbrock did with Daniels at LSU is the last thing Staples mentioned — the offensive line. It lost both starting tackles, Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, to the NFL. Longtime starting center Zeke Correll transferred to NC State. Position coach Joe Rudolph has some gelling to do in finding his five best guys and getting them to play as one.
Here’s a look at Staples’ entire top 25.
College Football post-transfer portal Top 25: Ohio State leads the way
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Oregon
- Texas
- Michigan
- Florida State
- Notre Dame
- Ole Miss
- Kansas State
- Tennessee
- Penn State
- Miami
- Missouri
- Utah
- NC State
- LSU
- Clemson
- Arizona
- Auburn
- Iowa
- USC
- Oklahoma State
- Oklahoma
- Nebraska
Just missed: West Virginia, Texas A&M, Liberty, Kansas, Texas Tech, Louisville, Wisconsin
The only team in the rankings Notre Dame has on the schedule is No. 7 Florida State in addition to Texas A&M and Louisville appearing in the “just missed” category. The Seminoles went undefeated through the ACC Championship last season but lost a lot of the key players who made that happen. The Cardinals beat the Irish in Louisville last year. Notre Dame has a chance to avenge that loss in South Bend this year.
