Notre Dame 2026: BYU Loss, Injuries and Miami Test

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Outspoken With Dan Sileo

Notre Dame Faces Defensive Injuries After BYU Loss Shakes the Team

Notre Dame entered the 2026 season with two games circled on the schedule: BYU and Miami. Those were viewed as the team’s true tests. Wisconsin has been better than expected but remains in a transition phase, while Michigan State is rebuilding and could improve over the next year or two.

The early portion of Notre Dame’s schedule lacked the same level of difficulty, although North Carolina provided a scare by taking a one-point lead early in the second half.

The loss at BYU shook Notre Dame. The team had a full bye week afterward to review the film and determine what went wrong. CJ Carr, who is ordinarily accurate, missed receivers by yards rather than inches, including an overthrow of Jordan Faison in the end zone.

The final drive also fell short of championship-level execution. Carr essentially had one option on the final play, and questions remained about whether one second should have been left on the clock. Even the Big 12 officiating acknowledged that possibility, but the result is now in the past.

Notre Dame may have been looking ahead during the first half against Navy, but injuries on defense are also becoming a concern. Two defensive tackles, Francis Brew and sixth-year player Jason Onier, are questionable this week. Notre Dame has depth at every position, but the growing number of defensive injuries is beginning to cut into it.