2026 Notre Dame Commits, Offers, and Prospects The target number is ~25Β recruits for this year (7 Verbals, ?Β EEs [^]) : Β Overall 247 Composite Rankings: Total Points - #? Overall and Player Avg. - #? Overall 247: Notre Dame 2026 Football Offers 247: 2026 Football Recruiting Composite Team Rankings Β QB (1) FL QBΒ Noah GrubbsΒ [ND Verbal]: 247 Composite 4* 0.93 Β RB (2) TX RBΒ Davian GroceΒ [Offer]: 247 Composite 4* 0.96 GA RB Jonaz Walton [Offer]: 247 Composite 4* 0.95 PA RB Messiah Mickens [Offer,
Yeah, I know this is going to ruffle some feathers. However, when he continues to give evidence to my view, I feel inclined to point it out: Charlie is not a good game manager, and that is why we will never have an elite team with him as a HC. It has nothing to do with defense, injuries, or whatever else is offered as an excuse.
Β
I was unable to watch the 1st half, but from the stats and replays at halftime, I was very impressed and encouraged with Charlie's gameplan in those circumstances and had a glimmer of hope that maybe....maybe he might get it. Through the 3rd qtr., Purdue had adjusted but we still had the 11 point lead at with 2 minutes left in the 3rd. That's when Charlie proved again he hasn't learned:
Β
- 4th and 10 on the opponents side of the field. Out of field goal range but in the 'gray' area on punting. (Well, it's gray if it's 4th and 2 and you have Clausen taking the snaps) The defense is holding their own and Crist hasn't been asked to do anything significant with his arm. What to do? PUNT. It seemed like such an easy decision. This is how you win football games when you don't have your best guys: field position and defense.
Β
Not Charlie. He decides instead to ask Crist to throw for a 1st down. Result? Sack, turnover on downs and all momentum gone. Purdue scores and thus begins the wild 4th qtr.
Β
- In the 4th qtr., when Charlie correctly determined Crist couldn't move the team anymore, he correctly brought back in Clausen. It was our second to last drive, still up by 3. On 2nd down, Charlie calls a 5-wide formation and puts Clausen in the shotgun. Are you serious? Clausen is about as mobile as Drew Bledsoe with that toe injury and Charlie determines this is the best way for him to succeed - to offer no additional blockers? Just hold up a sign that says: "Please Blitz Now". Clausen is in fact sacked, the drive fails and Purdue takes the punt and goes down and scores.
Β
Clausen and the team as a whole showed a lot of guts coming back. The D had one LARGE breakdown on the late TD but otherwise looked better. But this coach refuses to put his team in the best position to win the game. Field position, clock management (burning 2 timeouts needlessly in the 2nd half), and play-calling are all things coaches are depended upon to put the team in a position to win. Charlie simply does not do these things and therefore is not a good HC. With Weis as HC, I see ND continuing to struggle with Purdue's and Michigan State's of the world. His 5th year is cementing what was feared in previous years- Weis can't get it done.