Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman dropped a bombshell, making it crystal clear the Fighting Irish are not even *trying* to add players from the 2022 recruiting class who could suddenly become eligible for the 2026 season. This isn’t just a quiet decision, either. Freeman laid out exactly why they are taking such a firm stance, even as other programs might be scrambling to pick up newly available talent.
No Time for Admissions, No Time for Success
Freeman’s reasoning? Straight-up practicality, he said on Friday, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “For us at Notre Dame, it’s just too late [with] the graduate admissions process, and I don’t think it would put a person in a good situation this late, school starts on Monday, to have success in the classroom and on the field, so that’s been our stance on it,” Freeman explained. He wasn’t done there, adding that the university’s admissions office has already run its course and completed their cycles. That’s a strong statement about the program’s commitment to academics first, and it’s a line in the sand for anyone hoping to jump on board last minute. It’s August 21st, and with school kicking off Monday, it’s a tight window, no doubt.
Tuihalamaka’s Eligibility and ND’s Already Stacked Roster
This news comes right as some serious eligibility battles are playing out. Former Notre Dame defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka was reportedly one of sixteen football players recently granted a temporary restraining order by a Louisiana court. That ruling makes them eligible to return to college athletics, which is huge for those players. But for Tuihalamaka, who committed to LSU on Friday, it means a new home, not a return to South Bend. And honestly, maybe Notre Dame doesn’t *need* to scramble. This team is already looking stacked. Heading into their 2026 campaign, the Fighting Irish are ranked No. 4 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25. They’ve been on a roll under Freeman, hitting a double-digit win total in each of his past three years. Last season, in 2025, they finished a killer 10-2, only narrowly missing the College Football Playoff. It makes you wonder if they feel they’re already good enough.
What’s Next for the Irish?
So, while some programs might be looking to capitalize on this eligibility shake-up, Notre Dame is standing firm, trusting the roster they’ve built. They’re not waiting around, they’re not making last-minute calls. Their focus is clearly on the guys already in the locker room. The Fighting Irish kick off their regular season in just a few weeks, with their first game against Wisconsin slated for September 6. With a top-4 ranking and a history of winning under Freeman, all eyes will be on how this squad performs from day one. Will this “too late” philosophy prove to be a stroke of genius, or a missed opportunity? We’ll find out soon enough.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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