Watch highlights of Notre Dame’s first spring practice of the 2026

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Notre Dame football has started its quest for a 2026 championship, as the spring practices began on Friday morning.

The Irish have sky-high exceptions for this season, as they’re expected to be one of the few teams that have a legit chance at winning the College Football Playoff. There’s plenty of motivation inside the program to return to the title game after missing the field last year.

Some of the younger stars are older and more experienced, with an influx of talent from the transfer portal along with the high school ranks. Notre Dame looks like a top team, as some of the first practice clips shared below will show.

Notre Dame is back

Football is officially back in South Bend, and it’s looking like the offense was rolling early. They weren’t the only side of the ball that made plays, as the defense stepped up plenty as well.

Freshman wide receiver Bubba Frazier

One of the many early enrolling freshman, Frazier brings a different element to the wide receiver room with his stepped and elusiveness. He’s a perfect fit at the slot, and could see the field early in his career.

Wide receiver Mylan Graham

Graham is back in his home state after spending his first two collegiate seasons with Ohio State, and looks like it’s going to be a perfect fit with the Irish. He’s going to be an instant impact transfer, and Notre Dame has a massive new weapon at the position.

Defensive lineman Keon Keeley

It’s a long time coming for Keeley, who previously was at Alabama. After committing early to Notre Dame, he finally landed in South Bend, and it’s a great sight to see, even if he’s just a contributor during his first year on campus.

Safety Tae Johnson

The next great Notre Dame safety, Johnson will be a household name by the end of the season. He already made a big impact last year, and with more time on the field, he’ll fill the stat sheet.

Defensive tackle Chris Burgess Jr.

Burgess entered the program as an end, but has bulked up to play tackle this fall and looks the part. It doesn’t seem like he’s lost any of his explosiveness, and he could be in line for a coming out party this fall.

Running back Aneyas Williams

Williams will be held out of much of the spring, but he’s healthy enough to participate in some of the drills. Most likely he’s the starter in the fall, as he’s shown plenty in limited opportunities over the last two seasons.

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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: See highlights of Notre Dame’s first spring practice of 2026

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