The 2024 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their third year under head coach Marcus Freeman, the team compiled a 14–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 578 to 248, and were ranked No. 2 in the final AP and Coaches Polls, which was the highest finish for the Irish since 1993. The Irish lost in week 2 to Northern Illinois and proceeded to win their next 13 games, including regular-season wins over No 15 Louisville, No. 24 Navy, and No. 18 Army. They advanced to the College Football Playoff where they defeated No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers in the first round, No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal), and No. 4 Penn State in the Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal), and lost to No. 6 Ohio State in the national championship game. The Irish won a school-record seven games against teams that were ranked in the AP poll.
Quarterback Riley Leonard passed for 2,861 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, rushed for 906 yards and 17 touchdowns, and was selected as the team's most valuable player. The team's other statistical leaders included running back Jeremiyah Love (1,125 yards, 116 point scored), wide receiver Jaden Greathouse (592 receiving yards), and linebacker Jack Kiser (90 total tackles). In addition, safety Xavier Watts tallied 82 total tackles and six interceptions and was a consensus first-team pick on the 2024 All-America college football team.
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Offseason Coaching changes
The following coaches left the program: Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Gerad Parker left for the head coach position with Troy. Defensive backs and safeties coach Chris O'Leary left for the safeties coach position with the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL. Wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey was not retained.
The following coaches were hired: Mike Denbrock was hired from LSU to be the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. Mike Brown was hired from Wisconsin to be the wide receivers coach. Loren Landow was hired to be the director of football performance. The position has been vacant since Matt Balis resigned prior to the 2023 season.
The following coaches were promoted: Special teams coordinator Marty Biagi was promoted to special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach. Running backs coach and run game coordinator Deland McCullough was promoted to associate head coach and running backs coach. Graduate assistant Max Bullough was promoted to linebackers coach. Cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens was promoted to defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
The following coaches were demoted: Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Al Golden was demoted to defensive coordinator.
Departures NFL
Joe Alt OL Los Angeles Chargers 1 5 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility Blake Fisher OL Houston Texans 2 59 Forewent 2 years of remaining eligibility Marist Liufau LB Dallas Cowboys 3 87 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility Cam Hart CB Los Angeles Chargers 5 140 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility JD Bertrand LB Atlanta Falcons 5 143 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility Audric Estimé RB Denver Broncos 5 147 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility Javontae Jean-Baptiste DL Washington Commanders 7 222 Thomas Harper S Los Angeles Chargers Undrafted free agent Sam Hartman QB Washington Commanders Undrafted free agent Spencer Shrader K Indianapolis Colts Undrafted free agent Michael Vinson LS Indianapolis Colts Rookie minicamp invite
UFL
Sam Hartman QB Birmingham Stallions 9 72
Transfers out CB Ryan Barnes transferred to UMass. CB Micah Bell transferred to Vanderbilt. OL Michael Carmody transferred to UCLA. S Antonio Carter II transferred to Jacksonville State. OL Zeke Correll transferred to NC State. WR Rico Flores Jr. transferred to UCLA. S Ramon Henderson transferred to UCLA. WR Braylon James transferred to TCU. DL Aidan Keanaaina transferred to California. CB Clarence Lewis transferred to Syracuse. P Bryce McFerson transferred to Maryland. WR Tobias Merriweather transferred to California. OL Quinn Murphy transferred to Western Michigan; previously walk-on. DL NaNa Osafo-Mensah transferred to TCU. TE Holden Staes transferred to Tennessee. OL Joey Tanona transferred to Purdue; previously medically retired. WR Chris Tyree transferred to Virginia. RB Skip Velotta transferred to LSU; previously walk-on. LB Nolan Ziegler transferred to Central Michigan.
Retirements RB Sam Assaf DL Cole Aubrey S DJ Brown WR Henry Cook WR Chase Dixon P Bryan Dowd WR Griffin Eifert DL Tyson Ford (medically retired) DL Aiden Gobaira (medically retired) RB Chase Ketterer P Ben Krimm OL Andrew Kristofic WR Matt Salerno TE Hakim Sanfo S Eddie Scheidler OL Brennan Wicks
Additions Transfers in
S Jordan Clark transferred in from Arizona State. WR Beaux Collins transferred in from Clemson. WR Jayden Harrison transferred in from Marshall. S Rod Heard II transferred in from Northwestern. K Mitch Jeter transferred in from South Carolina. QB Riley Leonard transferred in from Duke. WR Kris Mitchell transferred in from FIU. DL RJ Oben transferred in from Duke. P James Rendell transferred in from RMIT.
Walk-on transfers in DL Quentin Autry transferred in from Columbia. P William Bartel transferred in from Villanova. WR Tyler Buchner transferred in from Alabama. P/K Eric Goins transferred in from The Citadel. CB Max Hurleman transferred in from Colgate. RB Jake Tafelski transferred in from Central Michigan.
Recruiting
New walk-ons OL Max Anderson CB Mickey Brown CB Charles Du WR Matt Jeffery (on lacrosse scholarship) LB Tommy Powlus QB Anthony Rezac WR Xavier Southall LS Joseph Vinci OL Robbie Wollan
Other LB Kahanu Kia returned from Mormon missionary.
Changes Marty Auer switched positions from S to CB. Dylan Devezin switched positions from QB to RB. Justin Fisher switched positions from TE to RB. Kahanu Kia switched positions from DL to LB. Chris Salerno switched positions from P to K. S Luke Talich earned scholarship on March 7; previously walk-on.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries at No. 20 Texas A&M
Statistics ND TAMU First downs 18 17 Total yards 356 246 Rushes/yards 34–198 38–146 Passing yards 158 100 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–30–0 12–30–2 Time of possession 31:35 28:25 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 18/30, 158 yards Rushing Jeremiyah Love 14 carries, 91 yards Receiving Beaux Collins 5 receptions, 62 yardsTexas A&M Passing Conner Weigman 12/30, 100 yards, 2 INT Rushing Le'Veon Moss 20 carries, 70 yards, TD Receiving Jahdae Walker 6 receptions, 31 yards
Northern Illinois
Statistics NIU ND First downs 16 17 Total yards 388 286 Rushes/yards 45–190 28–123 Passing yards 198 163 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–20–0 20–33–2 Time of possession 34:38 25:22 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 10/19, 198 yards, TD Rushing Antario Brown 20 carries, 99 yards Receiving Antario Brown 2 receptions, 126 yards, TDNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 20/32, 163 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 11 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Beaux Collins 5 receptions, 45 yards
at Purdue (rivalry)
Statistics ND PUR First downs 27 6 Total yards 578 162 Rushes/yards 44–362 25–38 Passing yards 216 124 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–26–0 11–24–2 Time of possession 35:43 24:17 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 11/16, 112 yards Rushing Jeremiyah Love 10 carries, 109 yards, TD Receiving Jayden Harrison 2 receptions, 47 yardsPurdue Passing Hudson Card 11/24, 124 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Reggie Love III 10 carries, 61 yards Receiving Kam Brown 1 reception, 52 yards
Miami (OH)
Statistics M-OH ND First downs 17 24 Total yards 229 428 Rushes/yards 28–110 36–270 Passing yards 119 158 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–36–2 17–28–0 Time of possession 29:54 30:06 Team Category Player StatisticsMiami (OH) Passing Brett Gabbert 14/35, 119 yards, 2 INT Rushing Keyon Mozee 6 carries, 36 yards Receiving Cade McDonald 4 receptions, 52 yardsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 16/25, 154 yards, TD Rushing Riley Leonard 12 carries, 143 yards, 2 TD Receiving Beaux Collins 4 receptions, 60 yards, TD
No. 15 Louisville
Statistics LOU ND First downs 19 11 Total yards 395 280 Rushing yards 35–131 31–163 Passing yards 264 163 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–41–1 17–23–0 Time of possession 32:05 27:55 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisville Passing Tyler Shough 24/41, 264 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Isaac Brown 13 carries, 72 yards Receiving Ja'Corey Brooks 5 receptions, 71 yards, 2 TDNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 17/23, 163 yards, 2 TD Rushing Riley Leonard 13 carries, 52 yards, TD Receiving Jaden Greathouse 4 receptions, 61 yards, TD
Stanford (rivalry)
Statistics STAN ND First downs 14 24 Total yards 59–200 66–477 Rushing yards 41–113 39–229 Passing yards 87 248 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–18–0 18–27–0 Time of possession 30:44 29:16 Team Category Player StatisticsStanford Passing Ashton Daniels 8/13, 74 yards Rushing Chris Davis Jr. 10 carries, 45 yards Receiving Ismael Cisse 2 receptions, 29 yardsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 16/22, 229 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jeremiyah Love 6 carries, 53 yards, TD Receiving Beaux Collins 4 receptions, 85 yards
at Georgia Tech
Statistics ND GT First downs 23 18 Total yards 69–385 67–333 Rushing yards 39–168 29–64 Passing yards 217 269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–30–1 20–38–2 Time of possession 35:45 24:15 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 20/29, 203 yards, INT Rushing Jadarian Price 8 carries, 69 yards Receiving Jeremiyah Love 3 receptions, 57 yardsGeorgia Tech Passing Zach Pyron 20/36, 269 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Zach Pyron 13 carries, 45 yards Receiving Abdul Janneh Jr. 1 reception, 60 yards
at No. 24 Navy (rivalry)
Statistics NDNAVY First downs 20 17 Plays–yards 65–466 57–310 Rushes–yards 40–265 43–222 Passing yards 201 88 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–25–0 7–14–1 Time of possession 30:29 29:31 Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 13/21, 178 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jeremiyah Love 12 carries, 102 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Faison 4 receptions, 52 yards Navy Passing Blake Horvath 7/13, 88 yards, INT Rushing Blake Horvath 13 carries, 129 yards, TD Receiving Alex Tecza 2 receptions, 39 yards
Florida State
Statistics FSU ND First downs 14 22 Total yards 69–208 62–453 Rushing yards 43–120 32–201 Passing yards 88 252 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 0–0–0 0–0–0 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida State Passing Brock Glenn 5/18, 51 yards, 2 INT Rushing Lawrance Toafili 16 carries, 77 yards Receiving Lawayne McCoy 2 receptions, 22 yardsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 14/27, 215 yards, TD Rushing Jadarian Price 7 carries, 95 yards, TD Receiving Jaden Greathouse 5 receptions, 66 yards
Virginia
Statistics UVA ND First downs 15 21 Total yards 68–300 71–448 Rushing yards 32–128 38–234 Passing yards 172 214 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–36–3 22–33–1 Time of possession 25:24 34:36 Team Category Player StatisticsVirginia Passing Tony Muskett 9/14, 103 yards Rushing Xavier Brown 11 carries, 52 yards Receiving Malachi Fields 4 receptions, 81 yardsNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 22/33, 214 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 16 carries, 137 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jayden Harrison 3 receptions, 41 yards, TD
vs. No. 19 Army (rivalry)