Notre Dame football enters the 2026 season with championship expectations under head coach Marcus Freeman, and a roster loaded with returning talent is a major reason why.

The Fighting Irish don’t have many starting spots up for grabs, but a handful of position battles remain unresolved as the team prepares for its season opener against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. From the offensive line to the secondary to the backup quarterback race, these competitions will shape the depth chart Notre Dame carries into one of the most anticipated openers in the country.

Right guard is the most fluid battle on the roster

The right guard spot became a legitimate question when Matty Augustine was ruled out with a broken foot a week ago. Sullivan Absher seemed like the logical next man up, but the coaching staff has complicated that picture by rotating several players through the position in recent practices.

Returning starting center Ashton Craig has taken reps at right guard, with Joe Otting sliding inside to center. That wrinkle raised the possibility that the staff’s evaluation of Otting could determine whether Craig moves outside. On top of that, redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Styles Prescod has gotten work at right guard this week and appears firmly entrenched in the competition.

I’m going to side with the Otting-Craig duo inside as my prediction today, but I don’t feel confident in it. If Absher or even Prescott wins the job, I wouldn’t be overly shocked. This is the most fluid position battle on the roster right now.

D.J. McKinney holds the edge at field cornerback

The field cornerback spot is one of the most debated remaining battles among Notre Dame fans. Colorado transfer D.J. McKinney, who earned high spring grades, is battling Michigan sophomore transfer Jayden Sanders for the starting role opposite Leonard Moore.

Sanders is going to play a lot in 2026 regardless of who starts. He profiles as a versatile piece at both nickel and field corner. McKinney, however, showed outstanding upside and potential at Colorado when healthy. Durability was a concern during the 2025 season, but when he’s on the field, his ceiling gives him the edge.

I believe Notre Dame will start McKinney when the season kicks off.

Jaden Greathouse gets the nod in the slot

The only wide receiver position battle for a true starting spot is the slot competition between Jaden Greathouse and Ohio State transfer Mylan Graham. Both players are going to see significant snaps no matter who wins the job.

Greathouse has reportedly been having a great offseason after being limited in the spring. When healthy, he’s been productive during his Notre Dame career, though durability remains the primary concern. Graham will play plenty of snaps alongside him.

I’ll give the nod to Greathouse as the starter against Wisconsin.

Defensive tackle rotation is deep, but 2 stand out

Notre Dame will play five to six defensive tackles in heavy rotation this season, but the starting duo is coming into focus. I’m picking Armel Mukam and Francis Brewu to take the first snap of the season.

Jason Onye, Tionne Gray, Elijah Hughes, and Sean Sevillano Jr. should all play significant snaps. I’m fully bought into what Mukam has been doing this offseason, though. Brewu’s relationship with defensive line coach Charlie Partridge brings a high floor and a ceiling worth monitoring.

Noah Grubbs is trending toward the backup quarterback role

The last true battle is behind star quarterback CJ Carr. Redshirt freshman Blake Hebert, who spent a year in the system, is competing against true freshmen Noah Grubbs and Teddy Jarrard.

I had been on record that Hebert would win the job based on his year of acclimation. My thinking has shifted recently, however. Hebert missed a week of practice time while tending to a personal issue, and I believe the freshmen were able to close the gap on his perceived mental advantage during that stretch.

For now, I’m going with Grubbs as the backup quarterback for Game 1.

I am higher on Jarrard long term and believe he can be the quarterback of the future for this team. The fact that Grubbs got a full spring and a more complete offseason compared to Jarrard tips the scales for the opener. Who holds the backup role for the majority of the 2026 season is a different question entirely.