JOHN FINERAN
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2018, file photo, Stanford wide receiver Trenton Irwin is stopped by Notre Dame safety Jalen Elliott (21) and linebacker Asmar Bilal during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame's second-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea has spent all spring, summer and preseason looking for replacements for graduated 2018 tackle leaders Te'von Coney and Drue Tranquill. In grad student Bilal and junior Drew White he may have found two of many. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
No. 9 Notre Dame has stacked deck of youthful linebackers

By John Fineran Aug. 27, 2019 02:42 AM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — For a guy who generally holds his cards close to the vest,

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame running back Tony Jones Jr (6), runs in a touchdown against Ball State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. There is no Dexter Williams in the backfield this season for No. 9 Notre Dame. Instead, the Fighting Irish will look to a stable of running backs to pick up the slack, including Tony Jones and converted wide receiver Jafar Armstrong. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Armstrong, Jones top horses in No. 9 Irish rushing stable

By John Fineran Aug. 21, 2019 05:33 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — No. 9 Notre Dame may find out this season that a stable full

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame wide receiver Jafar Armstrong (8) runs the ball against Clemson during the NCAA Cotton Bowl football game, in Arlington, Texas. Armstrong returns to the backfield for Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Irish hope to ride Book's arm to second straight CFP berth

By John Fineran Aug. 15, 2019 01:52 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — For Notre Dame to reach its second straight College Football

Kelly, Notre Dame ready to wash out taste of playoff loss

By John Fineran Aug. 02, 2019 04:52 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame's latest run at a national title under coach Brian

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, in South Bend, Ind. At a school that has produced its share of legendary quarterbacks, the 6-foot, 208-pound senior was told by coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Chip Long to push the envelope this spring. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Book it! Kelly, Irish like what they've seen in returning QB

By John Fineran Apr. 11, 2019 02:50 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Ian Book came into spring practice with the idea of being out

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly watches play against Clemson during the NCAA Cotton Bowl football game in Arlington, Texas. Nine practices into spring football practice, Brian Kelly has an idea how his Notre Dame football depth chart is settling in at running back, wide receiver and cornerback. Linebacker is another matter. “Clark is working overtime,” Kelly said of defensive coordinator Clark Lea, who oversees the position that graduated its top two inside linebackers in Te’von Coney (123 tackles) and Drue Tranquill (86) (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Linebacking corps still a question for Kelly, Lea, Irish

By John Fineran Apr. 02, 2019 02:10 AM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Nine sessions into spring practice, coach Brian Kelly has an

Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Kelly's Irish resume climb for first title since 1988

By John Fineran Mar. 01, 2019 05:02 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — In two of his nine previous seasons at Notre Dame, Brian

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Clemson's Travis Etienne (9) runs past Pittsburgh's Dennis Briggs (20) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C. Clemson plays Notre Dame on Dec. 29 in in college football playoff semifinal in Arlington, Texas. Etienne has 1,463 yards on 176 rushes (8.3 per carry) and 21 of Clemson’s 46 touchdowns on the ground. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Playoff: Notre Dame defense preparing for prolific Tigers

By John Fineran Dec. 22, 2018 03:03 AM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame All-American cornerback Julian Love already knows

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly watches during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, in South Bend, Ind. Brian Kelly is The Associated Press college football Coach of the Year, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, becoming the third coach to win the award twice since it was established in 1998. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Notre Dame's Kelly announces 23-player class

By John Fineran Dec. 19, 2018 04:03 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly announced a 23-player recruiting

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018 file photo, Notre Dame and Stanford face off during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame’s offensive line is preparing for its biggest challenge of the season. The Fighting Irish will face Clemson in a playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29. The Tigers have one of the best defensive lines in the country and the No. 2 defense overall. Notre Dame defensive line coach Jeff Quinn says his players know what they are up against, but are confident as they get their game plan together.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Irish line readies for nasty Clemson defensive front

By John Fineran Dec. 19, 2018 02:51 AM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Ask Notre Dame center Sam Mustipher a question and you will

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly favors expanding CFP to 8 teams

By John Fineran Dec. 15, 2018 04:37 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — If it's any consolation to Ohio State, Washington, Georgia

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill plays against Florida State in the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. Tranquill, who has suffered a broken left hand and high right ankle sprain during Notre Dame’s magical mystery 2018 tour, has remarkably missed just a few plays this season. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Tranquill leads No. 3 Notre Dame to cusp of playoff berth

By John Fineran Nov. 21, 2018 03:29 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The rectangular medal with the Notre Dame leprechaun etched

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) watches warmups before an NCAA college football game against Florida State in South Bend, Ind.,Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Book did not dress to play in the game. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
No. 3 Irish plan to start QB Book against No. 12 Syracuse

By John Fineran Nov. 11, 2018 03:19 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Ian Book should be back as the No. 1 quarterback for No. 3

Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush (7) runs the ball against Florida State in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Backup QB Wimbush, defense help No. 3 Irish dominate FSU

By John Fineran Nov. 10, 2018 11:10 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Just what third-ranked Notre Dame doesn't need going into its

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush looks to throw against Vanderbilt during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. Two people familiar with the decision say No. 3 Notre Dame will start quarterback Brandon Wimbush against Florida State on Saturday for Ian Book, who is nursing an undisclosed injury. The people spoke Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to because no official announcement was forthcoming. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly had a scheduled news conference later Thursday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Teammates support Wimbush as No. 3 Irish welcome Seminoles

By John Fineran Nov. 09, 2018 01:51 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Sam Mustipher gets to run out of the home tunnel one final

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, Notre Dame's Julian Love watches during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College in Boston. Love can’t wait to get to Ryan Field. The junior cornerback for No. 3 Notre Dame played his high school football at Nazareth Catholic Academy in suburban Chicago, about 30 miles from the Northwestern campus in Evanston. He will be going up against Northwestern’s receivers and talented senior quarterback Clayton Thorson on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
Homecoming: No. 3 Notre Dame CB Love eager for Northwestern

By John Fineran Nov. 01, 2018 02:48 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Julian Love can't wait to get to Ryan Field.

Pittsburgh running back Darrin Hall (22) runs against Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman (11 during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Book, Boykin bail out No. 5 Notre Dame in 19-14 win vs Pitt

By John Fineran Oct. 13, 2018 06:16 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Wide receiver Miles Boykin had a message for quarterback Ian

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett drops back to pass against Syracuse during an NCAA football game in Pittsburgh. Pickett and the Panthers face Notre Dame this week. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Pitt faces tall task against No. 5 Notre Dame's 'Sequoias'

By John Fineran Oct. 12, 2018 02:48 AM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Wide receiver Miles Boykin is usually the tallest guy in a

FILe - In this Nov. 24, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi celebrates a touchdown against Miami during an NCA college football game in Pittsburgh. Back in 2012, Brian Kelly's Notre Dame team ran the table during the regular season to set up a showdown with Alabama for the national title. Along the way the Fighting Irish had to survive some close games, including overtime victories at home against Stanford and Pittsburgh (a triple OT affair). Now Kelly's Irish are 6-0 and ranked No. 5 and look who is waiting them this week -- the Panthers. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
No. 5 Notre Dame knocking on the door for playoff berth

By John Fineran Oct. 09, 2018 05:04 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Brian Kelly has learned to adapt over the years, even when it

Kelly toys with splitting QB duties for No. 8 Notre Dame

By John Fineran Sep. 20, 2018 11:46 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — After No. 8 Notre Dame went indoors to dodge raindrops for