The 2022 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their first season under head coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish compiled a 9–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 413 to 299, and were ranked No. 18 in both the final AP and Coaches Polls. After losing the first two games, they won nine of their next eleven games, including a 35–14 win over No. 4 Clemson. They concluded the season with a victory over No. 20 South Carolina in the Gator Bowl.

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Drew Pyne (2,021 passing yards), running back Audric Estimé (920 rushing yards), tight end Michael Mayer (67 receptions for 809 yards), kicker Blake Grupe (91 points scored), and linebacker JD Bertrand (82 total tackles). Mayer and defensive end Isaiah Foskey were consensus first-team picks on the 2022 All-America college football team. Offensive tackle Joe Alt also received first-team All-America honors from multiple selectors.

The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Offseason

Coaching changes On December 2, 2021, following the departure of Brian Kelly to LSU, defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman was promoted to head coach.

The following coaches left the football program: WR coach Del Alexander left for a position at Georgia Tech OL coach Jeff Quinn was not retained. ST coach Brian Polian left for a position at LSU. DL coach & recruiting coordinator Mike Elston left for a position at Michigan. RB coach & run game coordinator Lance Taylor left for the offensive coordinator position at Louisville. TE coach John McNulty left for the offensive coordinator position at Boston College.

New coaches announced in a press conference on February 17, 2022 Harry Hiestand, rehired to coach offensive line Gerad Parker, hired to coach tight ends Al Washington, hired to coach defensive line Al Golden, hired to coach linebackers and as defensive coordinator Chansi Stuckey, hired to coach wide receivers Brian Mason, hired to coach special teams Deland McCullough, hired to coach running backs

Transfers in DL Chris Smith transferred in from Harvard. S Brandon Joseph transferred in from Northwestern. K Blake Grupe transferred in from Arkansas State. P Jon Sot transferred in from Harvard.

Departures NFL S Kyle Hamilton (drafted by the Baltimore Ravens) RB Kyren Williams (drafted by the Los Angeles Rams) WR Kevin Austin Jr. (signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars) QB Jack Coan (signed with the Indianapolis Colts) DL Kurt Hinish (signed with the Houston Texans) LB Isaiah Pryor (signed with the New Orleans Saints) DL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (signed with the Las Vegas Raiders) LB Drew White (signed with the Washington Commanders) K Jonathan Doerer (invited to New York Giants minicamp) OL Cain Madden (invited to New York Giants minicamp) Transfers out QB Brendon Clark transferred to Old Dominion RB C'Bo Flemister transferred to Pittsburgh WR Lawrence Keys III transferred to Tulane TE George Takacs transferred to Boston College OL Quinn Carroll transferred to Minnesota LB Shayne Simon transferred to Pittsburgh LB Paul Moala transferred to Idaho CB JoJo Johnson transferred to Iowa Western Community College CB Caleb Offord transferred to Buffalo S K. J. Wallace transferred to Georgia Tech S Litchfield Ajavon transferred to Rice S Khari Gee transferred to Georgia Tech K Harrison Leonard transferred to Rhode Island P Jay Bramblett transferred to LSU Other DL Kahanu Kia (Mormon missionary) OL John Dirksen (retired from football)

Schedule Notre Dame announced and finalized the 2022 football schedule on December 7, 2021.

Personnel Roster

Depth chart Depth chart is a projection and is subject to change.

Game summaries

at No. 2 Ohio State

Statistics ND OSU First downs 12 22 Total yards 253 395 Rushes/yards 30–76 35–172 Passing yards 177 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–18–0 24–34–0 Time of possession 27:01 32:59 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Tyler Buchner 10/18, 177 yards Rushing Chris Tyree 6 carries, 28 yards Receiving Lorenzo Styles Jr. 1 reception, 54 yardsOhio State Passing C. J. Stroud 24/34, 223 yards, 2 TD Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 15 carries, 91 yards Receiving Emeka Egbuka 9 receptions, 90 yards, TD

vs Marshall

Statistics MRSH ND First downs 21 22 Total yards 364 351 Rushes/yards 50–219 37–130 Passing yards 145 221 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–21–0 21–38–3 Time of possession 30:47 29:13 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Henry Colombi 16/21, 150 yards, TD Rushing Khalan Laborn 31 carries, 161 yards, TD Receiving Jayden Harrison 3 receptions, 38 yardsNotre Dame Passing Tyler Buchner 18/32, 201 yards, 2 INT Rushing Tyler Buchner 13 carries, 44 yards, 2 TD Receiving Michael Mayer 8 receptions, 103 yards, TD

vs California

Statistics CAL ND First downs 18 17 Total yards 296 297 Rushes/yards 31–112 41–147 Passing yards 184 150 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–37–0 17–23–0 Time of possession 26:58 33:02 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Jack Plummer 16/37, 184 yards, TD Rushing DeCarlos Brooks 5 carries, 43 yards Receiving Jeremiah Hunter 5 receptions, 66 yardsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 17/23, 150 yards, 2 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 8 carries, 76 yards, TD Receiving Chris Tyree 5 receptions, 44 yards, TD

at North Carolina

Statistics ND UNC First downs 35 18 Total yards 576 367 Rushes/yards 51–287 28–66 Passing yards 289 301 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–34–0 17–32–0 Time of possession 38:13 21:47 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 24/34, 289 yards, 3 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 17 carries, 134 yards, 2 TD Receiving Michael Mayer 7 receptions, 88 yards, TDNorth Carolina Passing Drake Maye 17/32, 301 yards, 5 TD Rushing Drake Maye 13 carries, 36 yards Receiving Antoine Green 3 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD

vs No. 16 BYU

Statistics BYU ND First downs 13 24 Total yards 280 496 Rushes/yards 29–160 45–234 Passing yards 120 262 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–17–1 22–28–1 Time of possession 19:05 40:55 Team Category Player StatisticsBYU Passing Jaren Hall 9/17, 120 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Christopher Brooks 14 carries, 90 yards, TD Receiving Kody Epps 4 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 22/28, 262 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Audric Estimé 14 carries, 97 yards Receiving Michael Mayer 11 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD

vs Stanford

Statistics STAN ND First downs 21 16 Total yards 385 301 Rushes/yards 42–97 34–150 Passing yards 288 151 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–39–0 13–27–0 Time of possession 36:07 23:53 Team Category Player StatisticsStanford Passing Tanner McKee 26/38, 288 yards Rushing Casey Filkins 32 carries, 91 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Higgins 5 receptions, 81 yardsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 13/27, 151 yards, TD Rushing Audric Estimé 8 carries, 57 yards, TD Receiving Michael Mayer 5 receptions, 60 yards

vs UNLV

Statistics UNLV ND First downs 11 23 Total yards 299 428 Rushes/yards 28–146 47–223 Passing yards 153 205 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–33–0 14–28–1 Time of possession 26:02 33:58 Team Category Player StatisticsUNLV Passing Cameron Friel 8/15, 80 yards Rushing Courtney Reese 11 carries, 142 yards Receiving Nick Williams 4 receptions, 47 yardsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 14/28, 205 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Logan Diggs 28 carries, 130 yards Receiving Michael Mayer 6 receptions, 115 yards, TD

at No. 16 Syracuse

Statistics ND CUSE First downs 22 15 Total yards 362 286 Rushes/yards 56–246 25–61 Passing yards 116 225 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–19–1 16–36–2 Time of possession 37:40 22:20 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 9/19, 116 yards, TD, INT Rushing Audric Estimé 20 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Michael Mayer 3 receptions, 54 yardsSyracuse Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 11/22, 190 yards, TD, INT Rushing Sean Tucker 16 carries, 60 yards, TD Receiving Oronde Gadsden II 4 receptions, 78 yards, TD

vs No. 4 Clemson

Statistics CLEM ND First downs 21 24 Total yards 281 348 Rushes/yards 25–90 47–263 Passing yards 191 85 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–40–0 9–17–0 Time of possession 27:00 33:00 Team Category Player StatisticsClemson Passing DJ Uiagalelei 27/39, 191 yards, TD, INT Rushing Will Shipley 12 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Davis Allen 7 receptions, 60 yardsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 9/17, 85 yards, TD Rushing Logan Diggs 17 carries, 114 yards Receiving Michael Mayer 4 receptions, 44 yards, TD

vs Navy

Statistics ND NAVY First downs 15 19 Total yards 335 363 Rushes/yards 34–66 46–255 Passing yards 269 108 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–21–1 6–13–1 Time of possession 29:21 30:39 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 17/21, 269 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Audric Estimé 8 carries, 49 yards Receiving Jayden Thomas 3 receptions, 80 yards, TDNavy Passing Xavier Arline 2/4, 57 yards, TD Rushing Daba Fofana 15 carries, 133 yards, TD Receiving Mark Walker 3 receptions, 67 yards, TD

vs Boston College

Statistics BC ND First downs 10 22 Total yards 173 437 Rushes/yards 36–56 38–281 Passing yards 117 156 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–22–3 13–25–0 Time of possession 29:00 31:00 Team Category Player StatisticsBoston College Passing Emmett Morehead 9/22, 117 yards, 3 INT Rushing Alex Broome 7 carries, 25 yards Receiving Zay Flowers 3 receptions, 46 yardsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 13/25, 156 yards, TD Rushing Logan Diggs 15 carries, 122 yards, TD Receiving Michael Mayer 5 receptions, 64 yards

at No. 6 USC

Statistics ND USC First downs 22 23 Total yards 52–408 61–436 Rushes/yards 90 204 Passing yards 318 232 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–26–1 18–22–0 Time of possession 24:37 35:23 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Drew Pyne 23/26, 318 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Audric Estimé 6 carries, 43 yards Receiving Michael Mayer 8 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TDUSC Passing Caleb Williams 18/22, 232 yards, TD Rushing Austin Jones 25 carries, 154 yards Receiving Jordan Addison 3 receptions, 45 yards

vs No. 19 South Carolina (Gator Bowl)

Statistics ND SC First downs 27 20 Total yards 558 352 Rushes/yards 46–264 22–65 Passing yards 294 287 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–34–3 31–49–1 Time of possession 36:39 23:21 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Tyler Buchner 18/33, 274 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Audric Estimé 14 carries, 95 yards Receiving Braden Lenzy 4 receptions, 89 yards, TDSouth Carolina Passing Spencer Rattler 29/46, 246 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Juju McDowell 6 carries, 28 yards Receiving Xavier Legette 7 receptions, 78 yards, 2 TD

Rankings

References