The Notre Dame Fighting Irish enter the 2026 college football season with legitimate national championship expectations — and one of the deepest, most accomplished defenses in the country.

Notre Dame finished 10-2 in 2025, closing the regular season with 10 consecutive victories after narrow losses to Miami and Texas A&M.

Defense was a major reason the Irish recovered.

Notre Dame allowed only 17.6 points per game, ranked 11th nationally in rushing defense at 99.3 yards per game, ranked ninth nationally with 2.92 sacks per game and tied for the national lead with 21 interceptions. The Irish also finished fourth nationally in turnover margin.

The overall defense surrendered approximately 312 yards per game, placing Notre Dame among the nation’s top 20 defenses.

Now consider what returns.

Leonard Moore.

Brauntae Johnson.

Drayk Bowen.

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa.

Boubacar Traore.

Bryce Young.

That is an extraordinary collection of established defensive talent.

Moore earned unanimous All-America honors after leading Notre Dame with five interceptions in only 10 games.

Johnson intercepted four passes as a freshman.

Bowen led the defense with 67 tackles.

Viliamu-Asa produced 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks despite making only two starts.

Traore led Notre Dame with 6.5 sacks.

And Young contributed two sacks while appearing in all 12 games.

Then Marcus Freeman strengthened the defense even further through the transfer portal.

Notre Dame added former Alabama five-star pass rusher Keon Keeley, Pittsburgh defensive lineman Francis Brewu, Oregon defensive lineman Tionne Gray and former All-Big 12 cornerback DJ McKinney from Colorado.

This isn’t a defense trying to replace every star.

It is a defense returning multiple stars and adding more.

That makes the expectations enormous.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2026 Defensive Projections

Projected Record: 11-1

Projected Points Allowed Per Game: 15-17

Projected Total Defense: 285-305 yards per game

Projected Rushing Defense: 90-105 yards per game

Projected Passing Defense: 185-200 yards per game

Projected Team Sacks: 38-43

Projected Interceptions: 16-20

Projected Total Takeaways: 25-29

Projected Tackles for Loss: 80-90

Biggest Defensive Strength: Elite Secondary and Experienced Linebackers

Biggest Defensive Question: Can Notre Dame turn an already excellent pass rush into a truly dominant one?

Chris Ash’s Notre Dame Defense

Notre Dame enters the second season under defensive coordinator Chris Ash.

Ash arrived before the 2025 season with decades of experience in college and professional football, including previous defensive-coordinator stops at Wisconsin, Arkansas, Ohio State and Texas. His 2015 Ohio State defense finished second nationally in scoring defense and ninth nationally in both total defense and sacks.

His first Notre Dame defense quickly developed a clear identity.

Create turnovers.

Stop the run.

Pressure quarterbacks.

Make opponents execute long drives.

Notre Dame tied for the national lead with 21 interceptions, finished ninth nationally in sacks per game and held opponents below 100 rushing yards per contest.

The most encouraging aspect may be how the defense improved after the season began.

Notre Dame opened by allowing 27 points at Miami and 41 against Texas A&M.

Then the Irish became significantly more difficult to score against.

Arkansas scored 13.

Boise State scored seven.

NC State scored seven.

Boston College scored 10.

Navy scored 10.

Pittsburgh scored 15.

Syracuse scored seven.

That progression matters.

Ash wasn’t simply coordinating a veteran defense operating a familiar system.

It was his first season installing the defense.

Now the terminology is established.

The players understand the expectations.

And many of the most important defenders return.

Notre Dame also made changes around Ash.

Aaron Henry joined the staff as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach after previous coaching stops that included Illinois, Vanderbilt and NC State.

Charlie Partridge takes over the defensive line, while Al Washington moved to linebackers coach and remains defensive run-game coordinator.

Those staff changes create some adjustment.

The talent level should make the transition considerably easier.

Notre Dame Defensive Line Breakdown

Notre Dame’s defensive line may have one of the highest ceilings of any position group on the roster.

The centerpiece is Boubacar Traore.

Traore returned from injury in 2025 and immediately became Notre Dame’s best pass rusher.

He started 11 games and finished with 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Those numbers become even more impressive when considering his previous injury history.

Traore’s 2024 season ended early after only five games.

Before the injury, he was already one of the country’s most productive young pass rushers.

Then he returned and led Notre Dame in sacks.

Now he enters 2026 healthy, experienced and on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

The next step is obvious.

Can 6.5 sacks become eight or nine?

The players around him could make that possible.

Bryce Young returns after producing 20 tackles, two sacks and three pass breakups in 12 games last season.

Young possesses the length and athleticism to become much more disruptive with an expanded role.

Then come the transfers.

Francis Brewu arrives from Pittsburgh after appearing in 25 games over two seasons, including 13 starts in 2025. He accumulated 51 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks during his Pitt career and earned honorable mention All-ACC recognition last season.

That is valuable interior experience.

Brewu doesn’t need to learn how to play Power Four football.

He has already started an entire ACC season.

Tionne Gray brings another Power Four body after appearing in 13 games and making three starts for Oregon in 2025. He recorded 18 tackles and two tackles for loss.

And then there is Keon Keeley.

Keeley may have the highest upside of any newcomer.

He was one of the most highly regarded defensive prospects in his recruiting class and spent the previous three seasons at Alabama.

In 2025, Keeley appeared in 13 games and recorded 16 tackles and three sacks, including a sack in Alabama’s College Football Playoff victory over Oklahoma.

That gives Notre Dame multiple pass-rushing options.

Traore.

Young.

Keeley.

Brewu.

Gray.

The objective isn’t simply to replace defensive-line production.

It is to overwhelm offensive lines with depth.

Charlie Partridge should be able to rotate frequently without dramatically reducing the talent on the field.

That matters late in games.

Fresh defensive linemen against tired offensive tackles create sacks.

Projected Notre Dame Team Sacks: 38-43

Notre Dame Edge-Rusher Breakdown

This position group could determine whether Notre Dame’s defense goes from excellent to dominant.

The Irish finished ninth nationally in sacks per game last season at 2.92, which translates to approximately 35 sacks over the 12-game schedule.

That is already good.

Notre Dame can become better.

Traore provides the proven production.

His 6.5 sacks led the team last season.

Young brings developmental upside.

Keeley adds a former five-star prospect who already produced three sacks at Alabama.

And Ash can supplement the defensive-line pressure with aggressive linebackers.

That is important.

Notre Dame doesn’t have to ask Traore to beat two blockers every third down.

If Bowen threatens an interior blitz and Viliamu-Asa walks toward the line of scrimmage, protection becomes complicated.

Does the center slide toward the linebacker?

Does the back stay inside?

Does the tackle get help against Traore?

Where is Keeley?

Those decisions create favorable matchups.

The biggest question is whether someone besides Traore becomes a consistent finisher.

Young recorded two sacks last season.

Keeley had three at Alabama.

Neither has produced a six-or-seven-sack FBS season yet.

That leaves some projection risk.

But the physical talent is considerable.

Boubacar Traore Projection: 35-45 tackles, 11-14 tackles for loss and 7-9 sacks

Keon Keeley Projection: 25-35 tackles, 6-9 tackles for loss and 4-6 sacks

Boubacar Traore: Notre Dame’s Pass-Rushing Star

Boubacar Traore enters 2026 with an opportunity to become one of the nation’s premier defensive ends.

The breakthrough began last season.

Traore produced 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries despite coming off a significant injury.

He had a two-sack performance against NC State.

He produced a sack against Miami.

He consistently created disruption throughout the season.

The most encouraging aspect of his game is that the production has followed him whenever he has been healthy.

Before his 2024 injury, Traore led all FBS freshmen in sacks through four weeks.

Then he returned in 2025 and led Notre Dame.

That suggests the pass-rushing ability is legitimate.

The biggest question is availability.

Traore has already experienced a major injury.

Full-season defensive props always carry that risk.

But if he plays 12 games, the supporting cast may be the best he has had.

Keeley gives Notre Dame another edge athlete.

Brewu and Gray strengthen the interior.

Young continues developing.

And Bowen and Viliamu-Asa can pressure from linebacker.

Traore shouldn’t have to defeat double teams on every passing down.

Boubacar Traore Projection: 7-9 sacks

Notre Dame Linebacker Breakdown

Notre Dame may possess one of the best linebacker rooms in the country.

Start with Drayk Bowen.

Bowen served as team captain and started all 12 games last season.

He led Notre Dame with 67 tackles, including 33 solo stops, while adding 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four pass breakups.

His best performance came at Boston College.

Fourteen tackles.

All solo.

Two tackles for loss.

A sack.

A pass breakup.

That is complete linebacker production.

Bowen isn’t simply a tackling machine.

He can pressure.

Cover.

Attack downhill.

And communicate the defense.

He enters 2026 as a Sporting News Preseason Second-Team All-American and a candidate for national defensive recognition.

Then there is Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa.

His 2025 production may be even more interesting because of how few starts he made.

Viliamu-Asa played 11 games.

He started only two.

He still recorded 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.

That is enormous production for a rotational linebacker.

Now the role increases.

Viliamu-Asa enters 2026 on the Butkus, Lombardi, Nagurski and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists, and he was selected as a Walter Camp preseason second-team All-American.

There is legitimate star potential.

Consider his 2025 pace.

Seven-and-a-half tackles for loss in 11 games.

Three sacks.

Only two starts.

If those opportunities significantly increase, double-digit tackles for loss become realistic.

The combination with Bowen becomes particularly intriguing.

Bowen provides proven leadership and tackling.

Viliamu-Asa provides explosiveness and negative-play ability.

They don’t necessarily have to play identical roles.

Ash can move them.

Blitz one.

Drop the other.

Show both.

Send neither.

That versatility is difficult for quarterbacks and centers to diagnose.

Drayk Bowen Projection: 75-85 tackles, 6-8 tackles for loss and 3-5 sacks

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Projection: 65-78 tackles, 9-12 tackles for loss and 4-6 sacks

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa: Notre Dame’s Defensive Breakout Candidate

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa may be the player most likely to make a massive statistical jump in 2026.

The evidence is already there.

Forty-eight tackles.

Seven-and-a-half tackles for loss.

Three sacks.

An interception.

Five quarterback hurries.

And only two starts.

That is what makes his ceiling so interesting.

He doesn’t need to become a completely different player.

He needs more snaps.

Viliamu-Asa already demonstrated that he can create impact plays.

He intercepted NC State.

Recovered a fumble and recorded a sack against USC.

And against Boston College, he produced a career-high nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Those are the flashes of a potential All-American linebacker.

The issue is staying healthy.

Viliamu-Asa missed Notre Dame’s final game last season because of injury.

If he plays all 12 games, the statistical ceiling increases dramatically.

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Projection: 70-78 tackles, 10-12 tackles for loss, 4-6 sacks and multiple turnovers.

Notre Dame Secondary Breakdown

This may be the best secondary in college football.

That statement begins with Leonard Moore.

Moore’s 2025 season was extraordinary.

He played only 10 games.

He still recorded:

Five interceptions.

Seven pass breakups.

31 tackles.

One forced fumble.

Those five interceptions ranked among the national leaders.

His coverage numbers were even more impressive.

Moore earned a 91.8 PFF overall grade and 92.5 coverage grade, both best in the nation, and opposing quarterbacks produced only a 45.9 passer rating when targeting him.

That performance earned unanimous All-America honors.

He enters 2026 as a Walter Camp preseason first-team All-American and Lott IMPACT Trophy candidate.

There isn’t much left to prove individually.

The challenge is opportunity.

Quarterbacks may simply stop throwing toward him.

That is where the rest of Notre Dame’s secondary becomes so important.

Brauntae Johnson exploded onto the national stage as a freshman.

Johnson played 10 games with eight starts and recorded 48 tackles, four interceptions and three pass breakups.

He intercepted two passes at Boston College.

He returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown against Pittsburgh.

And he became the only Power Four freshman to reach four interceptions during the 2025 season.

Johnson earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors and enters 2026 as a Sporting News Preseason First-Team All-American.

That means Notre Dame potentially has two first-team All-America-level defensive backs in the same secondary.

Then the Irish added DJ McKinney.

McKinney started 22 games during two seasons at Colorado, producing 97 tackles, four interceptions and 14 pass breakups. His career totals include 137 tackles, four interceptions and 19 pass breakups.

That is an enormous addition.

McKinney isn’t arriving to learn how to play major-college cornerback.

He has already done it.

Notre Dame can potentially put Moore on one side and McKinney on the other, then allow Johnson to attack from safety.

That is exceptionally difficult to throw against.

The Irish also have additional returning and incoming depth throughout the defensive-back room, while Aaron Henry gives the group a new position coach with extensive experience coaching both corners and safeties.

Notre Dame intercepted 21 passes last season.

Repeating that number is difficult.

Remaining among the nation’s best takeaway defenses is realistic.

Projected Notre Dame Interceptions: 16-20

Leonard Moore: Notre Dame’s Defensive Superstar

Leonard Moore enters 2026 as one of the best defensive players in college football.

That isn’t projection.

He already proved it.

Five interceptions in 10 games.

Twelve total passes defended.

A forced fumble.

A pick-six.

National-leading coverage grades.

Unanimous All-America honors.

Moore’s Boise State performance perfectly demonstrated his impact.

He intercepted two passes and forced a fumble.

Three turnovers created by one cornerback.

That is game-changing production.

The biggest potential problem for any Moore statistical prop is respect.

Elite corners don’t always get opportunities.

Quarterbacks eventually stop testing them.

That may happen frequently in 2026.

But Notre Dame has an unusual advantage.

Opponents cannot simply throw away from Moore and attack an inexperienced corner every snap.

McKinney is a veteran.

Johnson is a ball hawk.

That could force quarterbacks to occasionally challenge Moore anyway.

Leonard Moore Projection: 30-38 tackles, 9-12 passes defended and 4-6 interceptions.

Four Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2026 Defensive Prop Bets

Note: Full-season college football defensive player and team statistical props are not consistently offered by every sportsbook. The statistical lines below should therefore be treated as projection-based betting benchmarks, not claims that every sportsbook currently offers these exact markets.

Prop Bet #1: Notre Dame Over 35.5 Team Sacks

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Notre Dame Over 35.5 Team Sacks

• Boubacar Traore Returns
• Keon Keeley Adds Another Edge Threat
• Elite Linebacker Pressure

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Why the Over Is a Good Bet

Notre Dame finished ninth nationally at 2.92 sacks per game in 2025, approximately 35 sacks over the regular season.

The 2026 front could be better.

Traore returns after leading the Irish with 6.5 sacks.

Viliamu-Asa produced three sacks despite making only two starts.

Bowen added 3.5.

Young had two.

Then Notre Dame added Keeley.

Three sacks at Alabama last season.

Brewu adds interior pressure.

Gray adds another experienced body.

The Irish don’t need one defender to produce 12 sacks.

They need six or seven players contributing consistently.

There are enough candidates.

Why the Under Is a Good Bet

Thirty-six sacks remains a substantial number.

Opposing coaches understand Notre Dame’s defensive strength.

Expect quicker passing.

Screens.

Max protection.

Moving pockets.

Anything designed to slow the rush.

There is also a new defensive-line coach in Partridge, which could create some early adjustment.

And Notre Dame’s secondary may be so good that quarterbacks become extremely conservative.

That can reduce sack opportunities if opponents simply throw short or get rid of the football immediately.

Projection: 38-43 Team Sacks

Bet: Over 35.5 Team Sacks

Confidence: 8/10

Prop Bet #2: Leonard Moore Over 3.5 Interceptions

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Leonard Moore Over 3.5 Interceptions

• Five INTs in Only 10 Games
• Elite Coverage Skills
• Experienced Secondary Prevents Avoidance

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Why the Over Is a Good Bet

Moore intercepted five passes in only 10 games last season.

Four cashes this benchmark.

That is not an unreasonable expectation for a player with proven elite ball skills.

His coverage ability creates interception opportunities because he remains in phase with receivers.

The secondary around him also helps.

McKinney is experienced.

Johnson intercepted four passes last season.

Quarterbacks cannot simply attack obvious weak spots everywhere else.

Eventually they may have to challenge Moore.

And when they do, he has already shown the ability to punish mistakes.

Why the Under Is a Good Bet

This is the obvious danger.

Why throw at him?

Moore was one of the best cover corners in college football last season and allowed only a 45.9 passer rating when targeted.

Offensive coordinators know that.

Quarterbacks know that.

Moore could become an even better player and intercept fewer passes because opponents simply stop challenging him.

Interceptions also contain randomness.

A tipped football can go somewhere else.

A quarterback can throw the ball away.

A potential interception can be dropped.

Four is achievable.

It isn’t automatic.

Projection: 4-6 Interceptions

Bet: Over 3.5 Interceptions

Confidence: 7.5/10

Prop Bet #3: Boubacar Traore Over 6.5 Sacks

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Boubacar Traore Over 6.5 Sacks

• 6.5 Sacks in 2025
• Healthy Entering 2026
• More Pass-Rush Help Around Him

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Why the Over Is a Good Bet

Traore already reached 6.5 sacks last season.

Seven gets the Over.

And the supporting cast has improved.

Keeley adds another edge threat.

Brewu strengthens the interior.

Young is more experienced.

Bowen and Viliamu-Asa can blitz.

That means offenses can’t simply dedicate every pass-protection adjustment to Traore.

He has also demonstrated production whenever healthy.

Traore was among the national freshman sack leaders before his 2024 injury and returned to lead Notre Dame’s defense in sacks during 2025.

Eight sacks is realistic.

Why the Under Is a Good Bet

Health is the biggest concern.

Traore already lost much of one season to injury.

Full-season sack totals become extremely difficult if a player misses two or three games.

Opponents will also identify him as Notre Dame’s most proven edge rusher.

Expect chips.

Double teams.

Quick throws.

Notre Dame’s depth could also reduce his individual snap total.

Partridge has enough defensive linemen to rotate aggressively.

That is good for the Irish.

It may not be ideal for an individual sack Over.

Projection: 7-9 Sacks

Bet: Over 6.5 Sacks

Confidence: 7.5/10

Prop Bet #4: Notre Dame Under 18.5 Points Allowed Per Game

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Notre Dame Under 18.5 Points Allowed Per Game

• 17.6 PPG Allowed in 2025
• Elite Secondary Returns
• Experienced Front Seven

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Why the Under Is a Good Bet

Notre Dame already allowed only 17.6 points per game last season.

And much of the defense returns.

Moore.

Johnson.

Bowen.

Viliamu-Asa.

Traore.

Young.

Then Notre Dame added McKinney, Keeley, Brewu and Gray.

The schedule also provides multiple games where the defense should have a significant talent advantage.

Rice.

Purdue.

North Carolina.

Stanford.

Boston College.

Syracuse.

Notre Dame has enough defensive talent to hold several opponents below 20 points.

Why the Over Is a Good Bet

The schedule still contains dangerous offenses.

BYU on the road.

Miami.

SMU.

Navy’s unique option attack.

Even Wisconsin at Lambeau Field creates an unusual opening-night environment.

Notre Dame also forced 21 interceptions last season.

Turnover production can regress.

If the Irish create fewer short fields and defensive touchdowns, scoring-defense numbers could move upward even without the defense actually playing significantly worse.

The first two games of 2025 provide another reminder.

Miami scored 27.

Texas A&M scored 41.

Even excellent defenses occasionally struggle.

Projection: 15-17 Points Allowed Per Game

Bet: Under 18.5 Points Allowed Per Game

Confidence: 8/10

Best Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2026 Defensive Prop Bet

Notre Dame Over 35.5 team sacks is my favorite defensive wager.

The combination of proven production and additional talent makes the number appealing.

Notre Dame already averaged 2.92 sacks per game last season.

Traore returns with 6.5.

Bowen returns with 3.5.

Viliamu-Asa returns with three.

Young returns with two.

Then Notre Dame added Keeley, who produced three sacks at Alabama.

That is a lot of proven pressure.

The secondary should help, too.

Coverage sacks are real.

If Moore, McKinney and Johnson prevent quarterbacks from immediately finding open receivers, Traore and the other rushers get additional time to finish.

My projection is 38-43 sacks.

That makes Over 35.5 my strongest Notre Dame defensive prop.

How Notre Dame’s Defense Could Determine the 2026 Season

Notre Dame’s current regular-season win total is an extraordinary 11.5 victories at BetMGM.

The Irish are the only team listed at 11.5 on BetMGM’s current board, with the sportsbook essentially asking whether Notre Dame can finish the regular season 12-0 for the Over to cash.

That tells you everything about preseason expectations.

Notre Dame isn’t being projected as simply a playoff contender.

The market expects the Irish to threaten perfection.

The schedule explains part of the optimism.

Notre Dame opens against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on September 6.

Rice follows at home.

Michigan State visits South Bend.

Then Notre Dame travels to Purdue and North Carolina before hosting Stanford.

The biggest midseason road challenge may come October 17 at BYU.

After the bye, Notre Dame plays Navy at Gillette Stadium.

Then comes the most important stretch:

Miami.

Boston College.

SMU.

All three are at Notre Dame Stadium.

The regular season concludes at Syracuse.

There isn’t an Ohio State or Georgia on the schedule.

There are still dangerous games.

Wisconsin at Lambeau.

BYU in Provo.

Miami.

SMU.

Navy’s option.

That is enough to make 12-0 difficult.

My projection is 11-1, making the Under 11.5 my lean on Notre Dame’s overall win total.

That shouldn’t be confused with expecting disappointment.

An 11-1 Notre Dame team would remain one of the strongest College Football Playoff candidates in the country.

And the defense may be the biggest reason.

The offense has significant expectations of its own.

But elite defense creates margin.

Notre Dame doesn’t need to score 40 every week if Ash’s unit is allowing 16.

That becomes especially important in November.

Miami and SMU could both force Notre Dame to defend NFL-caliber athletes in space.

Those are exactly the games where Moore, Johnson and McKinney become invaluable.

Conclusion

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish enter the 2026 season with one of the most complete defenses in college football.

The 2025 unit established an impressive standard.

Notre Dame allowed only 17.6 points per game.

The Irish held opponents to approximately 99 rushing yards per game.

They ranked ninth nationally in sacks per game.

And they tied for the national lead with 21 interceptions.

Those numbers helped Notre Dame overcome an 0-2 start and finish the regular season with 10 consecutive victories.

Now most of the defensive foundation returns.

Leonard Moore is already a unanimous All-American.

He intercepted five passes in 10 games and produced national-leading coverage grades.

Brauntae Johnson intercepted four passes as a freshman and enters 2026 as a preseason first-team All-American.

Drayk Bowen led Notre Dame with 67 tackles and added 3.5 sacks.

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa produced 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks despite making only two starts.

Boubacar Traore led the defense with 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

Bryce Young contributed two sacks and now has an opportunity to take another step.

And Marcus Freeman didn’t simply rely on development.

He added more talent.

Former Alabama five-star Keon Keeley arrives with three sacks from last season.

Francis Brewu brings 13 starts at Pittsburgh.

Tionne Gray brings Oregon experience.

DJ McKinney brings 22 starts, four interceptions and 14 pass breakups from Colorado over the previous two seasons.

That is why the ceiling is so high.

My projection has Notre Dame allowing approximately 15-17 points and 285-305 total yards per game, while producing 38-43 sacks, 16-20 interceptions and 25-29 total takeaways.

Those numbers would put the Fighting Irish squarely among the nation’s elite defenses.

From a betting perspective, my strongest defensive play is Notre Dame Over 35.5 team sacks.

Traore is proven.

Viliamu-Asa has major breakout potential.

Bowen can blitz.

Young is developing.

Keeley adds another legitimate edge threat.

And Brewu can create interior pressure.

The secondary makes the pass rush even more dangerous.

Moore is one of the best corners in college football.

McKinney gives Notre Dame another experienced cover defender.

Johnson has already demonstrated elite ball production.

Quarterbacks may discover that there simply aren’t many easy places to throw.

That creates hesitation.

Hesitation creates pressure.

Pressure creates sacks.

And pressure creates interceptions.

The player with the highest national profile is Moore.

The defender with the biggest breakout potential may be Viliamu-Asa.

The player who could determine whether Notre Dame’s pass rush becomes elite is Traore.

And the newcomer who could change the entire defensive front may be Keeley.

There is legitimate championship talent at every level.

The question is no longer whether Notre Dame can field a good defense.

That has already been answered.

The question is whether this group can become dominant enough to carry the Irish through the handful of games where the offense struggles.

At 11.5 victories, the betting market demands perfection for an Over wager.

My prediction falls slightly short at 11-1.

But that still leaves Notre Dame firmly in the College Football Playoff and national championship conversation.

If Traore and Keeley give the Irish a relentless edge rush, Bowen and Viliamu-Asa become one of the nation’s premier linebacker combinations, Johnson builds on his spectacular freshman season and Moore remains college football’s premier shutdown corner, the 2026 Notre Dame defense should be good enough to give Marcus Freeman one of his best opportunities yet to bring a national championship back to South Bend.