INSIDER
2 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
FOOTBALL
Denbrock faces former program By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
In his third year at the helm of the Irish offense, Mike Denbrock has led Notre Dame to a dominant start to the 2026 season. While the seasoned playcaller has coached for the Irish across three different spurts, he has helped Notre Dame find its offensive groove in the Freeman era as a critical piece of the coaching staff. Now with sights set on a national championship, Denbrock will lead the offense against Stanford on Saturday, where he once coached in the 2001 season. Denbrock’s coaching career began at Grand Valley State as a graduate assistant after playing tight end there for four seasons. He spent two seasons learning the trades of the offense before embarking on a coaching journey that would eventually land him in Northern California at Stanford in 2001. Denbrock coached offensive tackle and tight end units that helped the Cardinal finish the season 9-3, including a 38-28 victory over No. 4 UCLA at home. He will take on the Cardinal again Saturday as a big home favorite, with Notre Dame currently undefeated against Stanford under Denbrock. Denbrock ended up at Notre Dame the following season in 2002, in his first of three stints coaching the Irish. Assuming the same role as leader of the offensive tackle and tight end units, Denbrock’s first season was successful, finishing 10-3 under head coach Tyrone Willingham. 2003 and 2004 finished on less positive notes, with 5-7 and 6-6 records, respectively. He then moved to Washington and Indiana State before returning to Notre Dame from 20102016. Coaching tight ends, wide
receivers and the entire offensive unit, Denbrock established his winning pedigree, creativity and leadership in his second stint. He coached under Brian Kelly during seven winning seasons, including the run to the 2012 national championship game. Denbrock finally took his shot at the NFL in 2017 with the Cincinnati Bengals, but never saw a winning record. He helped mentor quarterback Joe Burrow during his first season in the NFL but left before their Super Bowl run in 2021 to return to college football at Burrow’s alma mater, LSU. There, he helped quarterback Jayden Daniels win the Heisman Trophy in 2023. In that season, Daniels threw for 3812 yards and 40 touchdowns, while rushing for 1134 yards and 10 touchdowns as well. Marcus Freeman finally lured Denbrock back to South Bend for the 2024 season, where Denbrock orchestrated an offense behind Riley Leonard that led the Irish to the 2025 national championship game. So far in 2026, Notre Dame’s offense has been a top unit in the country, scoring over 41 points per game. Efficiency has been the key, as the Irish have relied on a combination of junior quarterback CJ Carr’s decision-making in the short-to-intermediate passing game and the ability to still hit on big plays. Denbrock’s offense has helped propel Notre Dame to 15 consecutive wins in a row by double digits dating back to the 2025 season. “I think we started out a little better throwing the ball early in the year, but I think the running game has continued to come along,” Denbrock said. The Irish rushed for a seasonhigh 241 yards against North see “Denbrock” on page 12
Irish vs. Cardinal: History of a cross-country rivalry By Tess Corvera Sports Reporter
Saturday, Notre Dame will fight for the Legends Trophy against its West Coast rival Stanford University. The storied trophy was created by the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Northern California and given to Notre Dame and legendary head coach Lou Holtz in 1989. The physical trophy features an Irish crystal cup mounted on three tiers of California redwood, symbolizing various motifs of each university. The crystal, which was originally manufactured in Dublin, Ireland, is etched with an ‘ND’ logo on one side and the block
‘S’ on the other. The base of the trophy is lined with brass plaques commemorating the score of each game since 1925. The series name stems from the legendary first matchup almost 100 years ago on Jan. 1, 1925, in the Rose Bowl. The teams faced off in Pasadena, Calif., under the famous leadership of Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne and Stanford’s Glenn “Pop” Warner. Notre Dame’s roster featured the backline “Four Horsemen”: Jim Crowley, Don Miller, Elmer Layden and Harry Stuhldreher. Rockne’s famous “Seven Mules” were in front of the four men on the offensive line including Joe Bach, Chuck Collins, Ed Hunsinger, Noble Kizer, Edgar
“Rip” Miller, Adam Walsh and John Weibel. On Stanford’s side, ‘The Man’ Ernie Nevers, having removed his casts from both broken ankles a few days prior, took the field and dominated with 34 carries and gaining 114 yards, while also playing on nearly 80% of Stanford’s defensive plays. The Irish came out victorious in the end with a 27-10 win, advancing to a 10-0 perfect season and the National Championship title. The teams did not meet again until 1942 where Notre Dame conquered Stanford 27-0 with the help of Angelo Bertelli’s spectacular touchdown passes. The two faced off again in 1963 with see “Rivalry” on page 14
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Then-senior wide receiver Malachi Fields reels in the ball during Notre Dame’s 49-10 victory against Stanford on Nov. 29, 2025, at Stanford Stadium. Fields finished the day with three receptions for 22 yards. FOOTBALL
Keys to an Irish victory against the Cardinal By Payton Dymek Senior Sports Reporter
if it wants to continue impressing and extend its win streak to six.
After starting the season with a perfect record, Notre Dame hosts longtime rival Stanford this Saturday in a matchup likely to warm up the Irish before they travel to Provo, Utah, next weekend to face the BYU Cougars. The Cardinal opened the season with a narrow win over Hawaii but struggled against a couple of ACC teams. After only beating Georgia Tech and losing to Wake Forest, they have been set up as massive underdogs against Notre Dame, a position that may also make Irish fans a little overconfident. Here’s what Notre Dame will need to do
Stop with the slow start Although the Irish have moved the ball well, opening drives have historically gone for naught, allowing inferior opponents to hang around longer than is comfortable. Despite an Irish score coming early, with a little under seven minutes left in the first quarter, that’s not the performance a No. 3 team should be putting on when it opposes an unranked team. If Notre Dame wants to solidify a stressfree win against Stanford and get out of the headlines for this performance, then a strong start with a quick score will be crucial.
Special teams improvement After halftime, an Irish kickoff led to a 98-yard touchdown run from Tar Heels returner Jaden Jefferson, which cut the 7-point Notre Dame lead to a single play. Although it was only a single explosive touchdown, Notre Dame can’t be giving up easy points and free yards on such plays, especially with high-stakes matchups like Miami and SMU looming over the team in the upcoming months. Cleaning up special teams return coverage is an easy adjustment for practice this past week and is a non-negotiable. Cleaning up vulnerability The passing defense had its
worst performance of the season Saturday, struggling to cover the opposing tight ends while the Tar Heels racked up 208 passing yards. Though the front seven did expectably well stuffing the run game, the secondary’s soft spots were obvious and gave the North Carolina attack opportunities and confidence. Against Stanford, the backfield needs to stay in constant communication and prevent the Cardinal from finding other weak spots. Getting backups involved With an increasingly difficult schedule after this week’s matchup, head coach Marcus Freeman may be looking to give more
backups playing time in order to rack up in-game experience and keep starters healthy. If a comfortable margin develops early, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock may involve junior running back Kedren Young or freshman and sophomore quarterbacks Noah Grubbs or Blake Hebert. Though it is unlikely they will get time against the Cougars, they’ll be warm if needed. All said, expect to see some new faces. The traditional “Irish Wear Green” game against Stanford is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. Contact Payton Dymek at pdymek@nd.edu
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026 | VOL. LXI, NO. 15
Alumna speaks on recovery at Raise Your Voice keynote
Dowd launches dialogue council By Mara Hall
By Berhan Hagezom and Soledad Castellanos
Associate News Editor
Saint Mary’s News Editor and Associate News Editor
Editor’s note: This article includes mentions of sexual violence. A list of reporting options and on-campus resources can be found on Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross websites. Traditionally a week-long event in April, the 2026 Raise Your Voice symposium took place on Tuesday in alignment with the “Red Zone” — a time of year where students are most likely to be assaulted. Students and staff joined in the Stapleton Lounge to hear keynote speaker Liz Hanlon Sands, a 2004 graduate of the College, present for the sixth iteration of the event since 2021. Sands was kidnapped and sexually
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
BERHAN HAGEZOM | The Observer
Liz Hanlon Sands speaks on her recovery after a sexual assault, her time at Saint Mary’s and founding a nonprofit for assault survivors.
assaulted by two men in 2000 when she was a senior in high school. “I’ll start by sharing my story of the biggest pivot of my life, becoming a survivor,” Sands said. “In less than a blink of an eye, my whole world had been flipped
upside down.” After graduating high school and committing to playing golf for Saint Mary’s, Sands reflected on her initial feelings of leaving home with an identity that she See “Speaker” on page 4
Student government speaks with Trustees on AI
University President Fr. Robert Dowd has publicly instituted a new committee to address questions of dialogue on campus. In a University-wide email, the Ad Hoc University Committee on Respectful Dialogue was introduced as an instrument of the University President’s inaugural address, which called for a campus environment that evokes difficult conversations. “I have asked the committee to consider how, grounded in our Catholic mission, we can foster a culture of respectful dialogue across differences. What is the current landscape on our campus? What things are we doing well, and what gaps might exist? What are our institutional goals in this regard and how will we measure success?” the email
stated. Dowd identified a need to recommit the University’s efforts to dialogue in light of a divided climate in the United States. “We should nonetheless acknowledge that the unprecedented polarization shaping American society and the wider world also shapes our life at Notre Dame,” the email stated. “Faculty and students alike express a desire for more frequent interactions between those with different views on contested issues. The temptation to engage only with the like-minded is strong in these polarized times, and we see this on our own campus as well as in wider society.” The email states Dowd has requested the committee return a report to him by April 1, 2027. See “Council” on page 5
Faculty senate proposes major
On Tuesday, representatives from student government presented to the Board of Trustees about the state of student artificial intelligence use at Notre Dame. Student body president Elijah Jones, vice president Riley Evers and chief of staff Kaeleigh Picco highlighted how students interact with AI emotionally, spiritually, socially, academically and professionally. Based on data from student life surveys and conversations with professors, student government concluded that AI primarily impacts students academically and professionally as they use technology in the classroom and in the workforce. Compared with academic and professional use, student government found undergraduates do not rely on AI spiritually, socially or emotionally, especially relative to national statistics. “We got survey data that only 7% of the graduating
senior class use AI emotionally, whereas the national average is about 28%,” Jones said. Student government used data from a survey the Division of Student Affairs conducted before the class of 2026 graduated that asked students general questions as well as questions about their AI use. Socially, Jones said the investigation “found that Notre Dame students aren’t really turning to AI as an emotional resource, and then socially, like a lot of people, aren’t talking to AI friends. Like they go to parties, they go to dorm events, they hang out with their friends. So AI wasn’t a big deal socially either.” Academically, Jones, Evers and Picco spoke individually about how AI impacts their fields of study. Jones said he uses AI frequently in his computer science courses; Evers is restricted from using it in any form in the Program of Liberal Studies and classics courses. Picco’s Spanish
professors encourage students to use AI to show its shortcomings. “One assignment that Kaeleigh had was to have AI write a paper for her and then critique that paper and show why her paper would have been better, just to prove that there are certain disciplines that AI doesn’t work in,” Jones said. Professionally, Jones found that despite AI’s help on resumes, it “cannot replace the ability to talk to people.” Overall, the presentation emphasized using AI as a tool, not a crutch. “We felt that the presentation went well, and the main thing we tried to communicate to the board was that students are best served when they use AI as kind of like a subsidiary resource or tool, but that they still develop their own critical thinking and communication skills,” Jones said. Student government presents for the board biannually — on an assigned topic in the fall and on a topic of
NEWS | PAGE 4
OPINION | PAGE 6
SCENE | PAGE 10
SPORTS | PAGE 13
SPORTS | PAGE 15
The “What Were You Wearing” exhibit raised awareness on stories of sexual violence.
The murals in the Main Building deserve to have their truth known.
A look back at the middle child of Irish football movies in which the spirit lives on.
Engle secures an Irish win at home with a late goal in the 83rd minute.
The football beat makes its predictions for Notre Dame vs. Stanford tilt.
By Megan Cornell Notre Dame News Editor
Symposium exhibit
Columbus Day
See “Trustees” on page 5
Spirit of Notre Dame
By Emma Colitz Reporter
The Faculty Senate held its monthly meeting on Tuesday night, the discussion fixating on a proposal to create a new bioengineering department within the College of Engineering. Mark Golitko of the academic affairs committee presented the proposal to the senate, sharing that current bioengineering department at Notre Dame is run across different engineering groups — creating a lack of faculty members whose main disciple is bioengineering. The bioengineering Ph.D. program supports 35 students, and a bioengineering minor lists 75 participants. According to Golitko, an external review of the program found that Notre Dame bioengineering has reached its limits under its current structure. The need to expand comes at the demand currently being expressed by students. The proposal states that
ND defeats Virginia
seven faculty members who are currently involved in bioengineering, but are primarily stationed in other departments, would transition to the new department fulltime, forming an executive structure. Pinar Zorlutuna is expected to be department chair. She is currently director of the bioengineering graduate program. Joshua Shrout, currently a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, would also join the new department. The proposed department would initially encompass the graduate program and the minor, before introducing an undergraduate major that would be offered in two or three years. A goal 15 fulltime faculty members for the department was stated. The proposal passed with 28 approvals, three abstentions and no dissensions. While faculty senate cannot institute new departments, See “Major” on page 5
Irish face Cardinals
NEWS
4 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
Exhibit shows clothes of sexual assault survivors By Berhan Hagezom Saint Mary’s News Editor
Editor’s note: This story includes mentions of sexual violence. A list of reporting options and on-campus resources can be found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross websites. The “What Were You Wearing” exhibit accompanies the sixth annual Raise Your Voice symposium, providing a physical representation of the effect of sexual violence across campus during Relationship Violence Awareness Month. The exhibit was open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Stapleton Lounge within Le Mans Hall with students and staff able to go behind the lounge to visit the exhibit, which included a reproduction of the outfits of the survivors when they were assaulted. The online versions of these outfits were drawn by seniors Sally Bradshaw, Anna Catherine Gardner and Abbie Lopez, alongside the survivors’ testimonies. This was the first year that the Office for Harassment Education and Response collaborated with the Costume Shop, a part of the theater department, in providing pieces for the physical display, overseen by Melissa Bialko, professional specialist in costume design. Liz Baumann, director of OHER and a Title IX officer, said it is a “really exciting partnership that has been working out really great and we’re really excited about.” The exhibit is based on a poem by writer Mary Simmerling
Speaker
Continued from page 3 was not yet sure of. “Leaving home for college comes with all the usual excitement, sadness, joy, ‘fill in the blanks’ of all feelings. Parents probably feel different than students, and worry. For me, there was another layer,” she said. Entering college, Sands said she sought normalcy as she made Saint Mary’s her new home. “I was going into the world as a completely different person, and someone I don’t think I fully understood, but was definitely wanting to just be normal,” she said. Adjusting to life on campus, she recalled her freshman year as a McCandless Hall resident and the time and patience it took to share her story with peers. In her sophomore and junior years, Sands continued to face challenges when it came to her healing journey. Gearing up for a
titled “What I Was Wearing.” Similar exhibits are seen across various institutions, including the University of Toledo, the University of Northern Iowa, Texas A&M University and George Mason University. The first one was held at the University of Arkansas in 2013. The initial email sent Aug. 28 by Mallory Lipps, coordinator of the Belles Against Violence Office, shared the date change of the symposium and stated the exhibit submission deadline as Sept. 20. Responses were welcome from “students, faculty and staff. They have the opportunity to share their story as well as what they were wearing when they were sexually assaulted,” Baumann said. The ultimate motive behind this exhibit is to show that not one survivor looks or dresses the same and to combat stigmas that are associated with surviving sexual assault. “That never gives someone an excuse to harm you in any way and seeing the visual representation of recreations of each outfit I think really shows that,” Baumann said. “In just the variety of clothing that you are seeing, there’s not one look of a survivor.” This year, the exhibit received 16 submissions for both online and in-person presentation. Baumann said that they have received as low as 11 and upward of 40 depending on the year, with all of them being displayed with minimal to no editing. Because of the emotional nature of the exhibit, BAVO provides
further support and an open space for students to reach out. “If someone has strong emotions from What Were You Wearing or needs to talk to someone, they can always make an appointment with the BAVO office and myself to kind of process those emotions,” Lipps said. Students who viewed the exhibit were able to roam freely during the exhibit, and some were incentivized to do so with extra credit. One class that offered it is the Adult Development and Aging Psychology class by associate professor of psychology Alissa
Russell. Junior Megan Campbell said that the class’s content directly aligns with what she saw throughout her time in the exhibit and builds on previous knowledge. “So the class goes through the developmental phases and how something like this can affect [you] throughout your lifetime,” she said. “So I think it’s like really interesting to actually get to see and read everything that’s happened to these women.” Junior Eleni Fefles noted the importance of the symposium despite it being her first time in
attendance. “I haven’t gone in years past, but it’s definitely very eye opening, I’m really glad that Saint Mary’s does something like this to give women the opportunity to advocate for other women that have gone through sexual violence and just spread overall awareness on the topic in general,” she said. Editor’s note: Sally Bradshaw was a news writer for The Observer.
trial against one of her attackers amid a semester in full swing and season training, Sands noted the continual stress that lingered in the back of her first three years on campus. “There are many times I look back and think I don’t know how I got through that, and I’d like to think that I just have some really exhaustive guardian angels working overtime to keep me going most days,” she said. After graduation, Sands spent one year working in the college’s admissions office and later attended graduate school to become verified as a certified public accountant. On the first anniversary of the assault, Sands explained it was her parents who came up with the idea to celebrate her healing journey rather than ponder on the pain of the past. They named the day “Courage Day.” Courage Day became the namesake for The Courage Closet, a
nonprofit organization the Sands family founded in 2019. “The Courage Closet’s mission is to empower survivors of sexual abuse through collaboration with local hospitals, agencies and nonprofit organizations,” part of the organization’s mission statement reads. Before this, Sands took her experience and partnered with fellow sexual assault prevention and solidarity organizations such as the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network to work in correctional facilities to educate inmates on the impact of assault — not only for the victim but also for the outside community. Sands became a program leader for the RAINN Speakers Bureau in 2016. It was through work with RAINN that Sands realized the impact her story could make not only on assailants but on survivors too. “My story can be more than something I survived; it can be
something I use to help create change,” she said. Sands explained that although the initial idea of The Courage Closet was to provide new clothing to victims after their assault, she realized that survivors, communities and hospitals were in need of services beyond clothing. “You don’t have to erase where you’ve been to move forward. You don’t have to have everything figured out.” She said, “You don’t even have to know exactly where you’re going. You just have to have enough courage to take the next step.” After receiving a standing ovation, Sands offered a Q&A session for attendees to submit anonymous questions through a live text line. When asked about her initial reaction to being asked to speak at Saint Mary’s College, Sands remarked “It felt like coming home.” Senior Ava Hess and junior Addison Wilhelms moderated the
discussions. “I think Liz in her keynote address did a really great job at acknowledging that no action is too small when we’re addressing sexual violence, specifically on campuses,” Wilhelms said in an interview with The Observer. Viviana Antimo, a sexual assault advocate for the Special Victims Unit of the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, manned a table at the event. “I think everyone should know certain services and organizations that that are in St. Joseph County and should be well informed about what each organizations do specifically,” she said of the tabling, which included the Special Victims Unit, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Campus Safety among others.
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BERHAN HAGEZOM | The Observer
The Raise Your Voice Symposium hosted its annual ‘What Were You Wearing’ Exhibit on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Stapleton Lounge in Le Mans Hall. It featured 16 submissions recreated for public display.
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NEWS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 5
Student senate approves letter on snow removal By Allison Riley Reporter
The University of Notre Dame’s student senate began its weekly meeting Wednesday with an opening prayer by Ryan Hall senator Militza Algredo-Huerta, followed by three minutes of roll call in which each member stated their favorite comedy movie. This accounted for more than a quarter of the meeting’s under-12-minute run time. The meeting focused on a letter to Notre Dame Landscaping Services and Building Services requesting information on snow removal routes. The letter, coauthored by Lewis Hall senator Autumn Chiu and Pasquerilla West Hall senator Olivia Lewis, asks that snow removal routes “be amended annually to ensure prioritization of dorms with individuals with longitudinal access needs.” It also asks that the routes be publicized for the benefit of students with mobility concerns. With one question asked by Carroll Hall senator Max Barton, the debate on this item
Council
Continued from page 3 The committee will be cochaired by Law School dean Marcus Cole and Arts and Letters associate dean Kate Marshall. The rest of the committee is composed of Lissa Bill, Ramzi Bualuan, Katlyn Carter, Joel Day, Claudia Francis, Fr. Gregory Haake, Bruce Huber, Ken Kollman, Krupali Krusche, Susan Ostermann, Daniel Philpott, Gregory Robson, Jennifer Tank, Doug Thompson, Ethan Chiang and Archita Bhattacharya. The group includes leaders from all undergraduate colleges, Notre Dame Law School, the University’s Institutional Research, Innovation and Strategy department, the Division of Student Affairs, one
Major
Continued from page 3 their non-binding proposal will pass on to the Academic Council, which will vote on the issue next Wednesday. Concerns surrounding students’ use of AI was also discussed, as associate professor of civil and environmental engineering Alan Hamlet said that the student affairs committee convened last week to discuss the issue. He said the committee is looking into how the University can reduce stress on professors as they
DECLAN HUGGINS | The Observer
Within the 12-minute time span of the student senate meeting on Wednesday, senate approved a letter to the University of Notre Dame Landscaping Services and Building Services requesting snow removal routes.
found on the walk to Carroll Hall but withdrew his request shortly thereafter, saying, “I see nothing wrong with passing this. I see a lot of things right with it, so I would certainly approve that we pass this.” The letter was approved unanimously without abstention or dissent. Barton, a first-time member of the body, also shared he had plans to propose several procedural changes to the senate’s bylaws pertaining to the introduction of resolution amendments and attendance rules. The remaining four minutes of the meeting following the vote were largely devoted to announcement of campus events all regarding scheduled dorm events. Student body vice president Riley Evers also announced that student body president Elijah Jones would be giving a state of the union address at next week’s meeting. With these announcements shared, the senate voted unanimously to conclude, and Evers adjourned the meeting. Contact Allison Riley at ariley4@nd.edu
was short. Barton originally
stated that he wanted the letter
to include a specific issue he
undergraduate student and one graduate student. The email did not specify how committee members were selected, and University spokesperson Erin Blasko declined to comment on the matter. “Through this Committee, Fr. Bob has given our campus community an opportunity to bring disagreements and debate into conversation with our Catholic mission, which fundamentally calls on us to see one another as made in the image of God and worthy of dignity and respect,” Democracy Initiative director Day wrote in a statement to The Observer. “I am energized by this charge and I look forward to learning from, and discerning with, this amazing group of campus leaders.” Ostermann, Bhattacharya and
Robson each stated they were looking forward to working on the committee. Last spring, Ostermann sparkedconversation and drewbacklash for her abortion advocacy views after she was appointed to lead the Liu Institute. Students organized a protest before Ostermann declined the appointment. Luke Woodyard, an organizer for the protest-turned-prayer service and co-signer on a Letter to the Editor from the Notre Dame Right to Life Executive Board, wrote the new committee was “a way of replying without replying.” “No one has ever opposed dialogue,” he wrote. “Critics oppose having nothing to say until it ends. A Catholic university already knows whom it worships,
so it can afford to argue about everything else. Notre Dame needn’t be nervous. It needs to be Catholic.” In the last two decades, including in recent years, students and the local community have protested the speaking engagements of multiple public figures: President Obama in 2009, Vice President and former Indiana governor Mike Pence in 2017, Florida governor Ron DeSantis in 2024 and Amy Coney Barrett last year. Notre Dame earned an “F” in free speech grading by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and has consistently received a below average score since 2023.
restructure courses to deal with AI concerns. In an email interview, Hamlet shared that he believes it is in the University’s best interest to support faculty as they deal with crises caused by AI. “AI can be used to simplify tedious research tasks but should not be used in place of students’ own critical thinking,” he said. Continuing to emphasize the development of critical thinking, writing skills and retention of technical skills, Hamlet stated, “Within these areas of concern, there are
also many ethical challenges to be confronted.” The senate also heard a presentation from Samuel Miller of the benefits committee, who discussed the upcoming open enrollment renewal and rising health insurance costs for Notre Dame employees. During the open enrollment period, which will begin in late October and last for a few weeks, employees can sign up for or change their health insurance and other benefits. “The pharmacy benefits manager, and also adjacent to that, the record
keeper for the retirement savings plan have both been renewed in their roles, so we should be carrying forward with the similar partners that we’re used to,” Miller said. The University’s health insurance costs are projected to rise by about 7.9 percent, but Miller emphasized that this increase is smaller than the increases other employers are experiencing. “We’re on the south end of that curve, so to speak,” Miller said.
its choice in the spring. The board traditionally selects a topic about student belonging, but this year requested AI. Jones said that is because they’re debating a University-wide AI policy. Student government doesn’t have a stance on a Universitywide AI policy, but Jones said he believes “the best thing to do is to leave it up to the individual colleges to decide how they want to tackle the AI issue.” Although he has the freedom to choose the spring topic, Jones said he’s considering a follow-up about AI. “Especially if the university is still considering its policy and stance on AI, then we may just revisit the same topic. But we have not decided on anything yet,” Jones said. Student government has multiple AI-related initiatives, including a dining hall chatbot that will tell students what the dining hall is serving. “We’re working to make sure that that’s up and running, that there’s no bugs, and that students are able to use that because the dining hall website can sometimes be complicated,” Jones said.
Contact Emma Colitz at ecolitz@nd.edu
Contact Megan Cornell at mcornell@nd.edu
Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
Trustees
Continued from page 3
6 | THE OBSERVER
People over politics
OPINION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
Why Columbus Day, and the Notre Dame murals, matter
By Jorden Poulson
Fr. Edward Sorin hired Luigi Gregori, a former Vatican portrait artist invited to Notre Every October, there is Dame by Pope Pius IX, to paint renewed discussion about 12 murals of Columbus’ life. ColumbusDay celebrations. Columbus was seen as a hero to Each year,more organiza- both Catholics and Americans. tions quietly drop Columbus As Notre Dame Magazine exDay commemorations. This plained, the Columbus murals is wrong, especially at Notre combined religious, ethnic and patriotic themes. Dame. In 2019, the University anBeginwiththe history of the holiday. Columbus Day was nounced plans to cover the notintended tohonor con- murals with fabric and display quest. As noted by Britannica, them occasionally, along with protests over thelynching photographs of the murals, in of 11 Italian immigrants in other locations. The murals should be New Orleans in 1891 fueled calls for anational holiday. uncovered. A number of Notre Dame Stronganti-Italian sentiment existedat the time. In 1892, faculty members also support President Benjamin Harrison keeping the murals. According issued a proclamation des- to history professor Felipe who ignating a national holiday Fernández-Armesto, to commemorate the 400th spoke at an Italian Club event, anniversary of Columbus’ Sorin chose to place the muvoyage, in partto im- rals in prominent locations prove U.S.-Italy relations so that “the first thing people andpatch ties with Italian saw” would be the murals. immigrants. Efforts to make Sorin viewed his plans for the Columbus Day a permanent University and his plans for the federal holiday in the 1930s United States as closely linked, added. were led by the Knights of Fernández-Armesto Fernández-Armesto has also Columbus. The nameisimportant. Fr. said that the murals depict MichaelMcGivney founded Native Americans in a positive, the Knights of Columbus in noble light. History professor 1882 to serve recent Catholic Fr. Wilson Miscamble has enimmigrants on the fringes of couraged Notre Dame officials society. He named thegroup to preserve the murals as part after Columbus to emphasize of Notre Dame’s heritage. The University has demonthe role ofCatholics in early American history. The intent strated that this can work. was to bind Catholicism and It uncovers the murals sevAmericanism together. Many eral times a year, usually for recent Catholic immigrants two weeks each semester. felt likeoutsiders in America. Some people have suggestSeeingColumbus as one of the ed placing plaques nearby to first Americans helped them provide information about the murals. This is a good apfeel accepted. Columbushimself was a proach to consider on a perbrave anddevout man. He manent rather than temporary madea daring voyage across basis. A university is a place to the Atlanticbased on a widely viewed long shot. He named confront challenging topics. his first island discovery San Hiding controversial artwork sends a message to students Salvador, or Holy Savior. However, we don’t have to that the appropriate response view Columbus as a saint to to controversial topics is to recognize these facts. He was hide them. Other strategies to not a saint. Many Native peo- broaden students’ understandples suffered great harm from ing of controversial artwork later colonial settlers, and in include installing interpretive 1500, the Spanish crown sent displays, hosting an annual a judge to arrest Columbus lecture series on European in Hispaniola on charges of and American interactions and inviting Native American misgovernment. Catholics,in particular, and Italian American scholars should nothesitate to accept to speak in the same building. Notre Dame should keep conflicting facts. We honor St. Peter, whodenied Jesus three Columbus Day with honesty, and it should take the fabric times. What would be lost by not off its walls. A school that asks commemorating the holiday is students to seek the “truth” not an individual explorer. It cannot keep part of its own would be the history and les- story behind a curtain. sons of the immigrants who The views expressed in this celebrated him, including the column are those of the auimportance of questioning histhor and not necessarily torical narratives rather than those of The Observer. avoiding conflict with them. That leads us to the Main Contact College Democrats Building. at cdems@nd.edu After the great fire of 1879, Guest Columnist, College Democrats
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
By Jonas Lane
However, we don’t have to Sorin viewed his plans for the view Columbus as a saint to University and his plans for recognize these facts. He was the United States as closely Every October, there is not a saint. Many Native peo- linked, Fernández-Armesto Fernández-Armesto renewed discussion about ples suffered great harm from added. Columbus Day celebrations. later colonial settlers, and in has also said that the muEach year, more organiza- 1500, the Spanish crown sent rals depict Native Americans tions quietly drop Columbus a judge to arrest Columbus in a positive, noble light. Day commemorations. This in Hispaniola on charges of History professor Fr. Wilson Miscamble has encouraged is wrong, especially at Notre misgovernment. Catholics, in particular, Notre Dame officials to preDame. Begin with the history of the should not hesitate to accept serve the murals as part of holiday. Columbus Day was conf licting facts. We honor Notre Dame’s heritage. The University has demonnot intended to honor con- St. Peter, who denied Jesus strated that this can work. quest. As noted by Britannica, three times. What would be lost by not It uncovers the murals sevprotests over the lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in commemorating the holiday eral times a year, usually for New Orleans in 1891 fueled is not an individual explorer. two weeks each semester. calls for a national holiday. It would be the history and Some people have suggestStrong anti-Italian sentiment lessons of the immigrants ed placing plaques nearby to existed at the time. In 1892, who celebrated him, includ- provide information about President Benjamin Harrison ing the importance of ques- the murals. This is a good issued a proclamation des- tioning historical narratives approach to consider on a ignating a national holiday rather than avoiding conf lict permanent rather than temporary basis. to commemorate the 400th with them. That leads us to the Main A university is a place anniversary of Columbus’ to confront challengvoyage, in part to im- Building. After the great fire of 1879, ing topics. Hiding controprove U.S.-Italy relations and patch ties with Italian Fr. Edward Sorin hired Luigi versial artwork sends a immigrants. Efforts to make Gregori, a former Vatican por- message to students that the response to Columbus Day a permanent trait artist invited to Notre appropriate federal holiday in the 1930s Dame by Pope Pius IX, to controversial topics is to were led by the Knights of paint 12 murals of Columbus’ hide them. Other stratlife. Columbus was seen as egies to broaden stuColumbus. understanding of The name is important. Fr. a hero to both Catholics and dents’ Michael McGivney founded Americans. As Notre Dame controversial artwork inexplained, the clude installing interpretive the Knights of Columbus in Magazine 1882 to serve recent Catholic Columbus murals combined displays, hosting an annual immigrants on the fringes of religious, ethnic and patriotic lecture series on European and American interactions society. He named the group themes. In 2019, the University an- and inviting Native American after Columbus to emphasize the role of Catholics in early nounced plans to cover the and Italian American scholars American history. The intent murals with fabric and dis- to speak in the same building. Notre Dame should keep was to bind Catholicism a nd play them occasionally, along Americanism together. Many with photographs of the mu- Columbus Day with honesty, and it should take the fabric recent Catholic immigrants rals, in other locations. The murals should be off its walls. A school that felt like outsiders in America. asks students to seek the Seeing Columbus as one of uncovered. the first Americans helped A number of Notre Dame “truth” cannot keep part of its faculty members also support own story behind a curtain. them feel accepted. Columbus himself was keeping the murals. According The views expressed in this a brave and devout man. to history professor Felipe who column are those of the author He made a daring voy- Fernández-Armesto, and not necessarily those of age across the Atlanticspoke at an Italian Club event, The Observer. based on a widely viewed long Sorin chose to place the mushot. He named his first is- rals in prominent locations Contact Jonas Lane at land discovery San Salvador, so that “the first thing people saw” would be the murals. jlane8@nd.edu or Holy Savior. Columnist, “Life, Liberty and Lane”
OPINION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 7
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Yes, you should go to confession Two weeks ago, this paper published an opinion column entitled ‘Should I go to confession?’ The answer is yes. Why? “Why must I confess my sins to a priest when I can just do so straight to God?” Why bother with this ritual which the Church has fabricated to make itself more useful? When Jesus told His Apostles “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained,” (John 20:23) they ought to have said to Him: “No Lord! You don’t need to fabricate this authority to make the Church which you established upon us more important. Everyone can just go straight to God.” Then again, perhaps the Apostles already knew that Jesus was a fan of using circumlocutions to mean the exact opposite of what He actually said; when He had previously said to them “This is
my body,” (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24) they all understood that He had actually meant “This is not my body, but rather something nebulously related to my body or perhaps a symbol of my body.” Like Bill Clinton, Jesus’ disciples understood that “it depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘is’ means.” Of course, like Bill Clinton’s dissimulation, this is nonsense, and Catholics, along with the Orthodox, understand as much by following Paul’s instruction to “hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:14). How scandalous! It can’t possibly be that Paul was a follower of the “religion of tradition rather than the religion of God.” In reality there is no such dichotomy since “in everything
we do there is a preferred way of doing it.” If, when interrogated about the purpose or reason of a given tradition, the interrogatee does not furnish one with a fuller explanation, it is rather because he or she does not know it than because one does not exist. However, when one does not hold to the traditions which have been handed down concerning the preferred way of doing things — as also in matters of faith and morals — it requires that each person make the determination for oneself or follow some arbitrary determination which another has made but without reference to everything that has come before. Surely those practices which have been preserved according to immemorial custom adhere more closely to the religion of God than those which have been invented according
to the will of man. It might even be said that to prefer the former to the latter is to follow the religion of man rather than the religion of God. The same is true when if we are to espouse moral doctrines or dogmas of faith which are altogether contrary to the history of Christian belief and the express teachings of God and Jesus, such as support of “contraception, divorce, abortion, female priests and gay marriage.” These ideas have nothing to do with Christianity and everything to do with modern innovations which have come from the secular world and on account of principles wholly opposed to Christianity; the faith which adheres to these ideas about practice and morals is not the religion of Christ. Rather, an adherent of these things would find themselves more at home with secular ethical
humanists, such as those in Auguste Comte’s Religion of Humanity. Ultimately, the ideas of Christians ought not to be ones which the world has set forth first, for Catholicism has been revealed, and is necessarily universal and its unparalleled tradition supersedes any individual concern. We should seek to be like the Apostles, of whom Jesus said “the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world” (John 17:14), and like Peter, the rock upon which the Church was founded, “we ought to obey God, rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Dennis O’Connell Class of 2029 Oct. 7, 2026 The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Democrats aren’t choosing people over politics By Sam Marchand and Alex Salentine
Guest Columnists, College Republicans
Jorden Poulson, in an opinion column written on behalf of Notre Dame College Democrats and published by The Observer yesterday, attempted to paint a picture of a Democratic Party that has transcended partisan allegiance and has now placed people over politics. Democrats, in an effort to conceal their moral bankruptcy from voters, are focusing on pragmatic issues, in this case cost of living and the war in Iran, while quietly letting in hardcore socialism through the back door. This idea that Democrats in 2026 place the interests of people over partisan politics cannot be further from the truth. The dichotomy Poulson creates between the public interest and moral positions does not functionally exist; the modern Republican Party proves it. Notre Dame College Democrats will position themselves as morally superior at America’s leading Catholic university, all while defending 70 million deaths from abortion as “healthcare” and crusading to enshrine gay marriage as an unalienable right. Democrats for decades have marketed themselves as the sole viable political vehicle for minorities, particularly Black Americans. Black mothers abort their children at a rate more than four times that of white women. In 2022, for every 100 live births among Black mothers, there were 43 abortions. In the last 30 years, the Black birth rate has fallen by over 40%. I challenge Notre
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
Dame College Democrats to put people over politics and dissent from their party’s genocidal abortion policy that’s killed millions of those they claim to support the most. Democrats, while making an argument catering to common-sense affordability concerns, will gaslight the American people and call this genocide “healthcare.” For College Democrats, this is not putting people over politics. It’s manifestly supporting the depopulation of the country while masquerading as Catholic. The pragmatic cost-of-living argument Democrats make is similarly absurd. It is a mathematical fact that the war in Iran has driven price increases. However, these price increases pale in comparison to those under the Biden administration. The Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is clear. While over
Biden’s term the overall household basket of goods grew in price by 21.4%, the corresponding increase since the war in Iran started has barely exceeded 2%. Groceries now cost only 0.8% more than they did in February, while Biden’s term saw a 23.3% explosion in prices. Even electricity, driven by fossil fuels restricted by the war, has only climbed 4.5% in price since February compared with a 31% leap under Biden. Even including tariffs, inflation has only increased by 5.4% since Trump took office, far lower than the 21.4% increase driven by Biden. Democrats are misrepresenting the facts, hiding that their failed autopen president ballooned prices and thus inflation significantly more than the war in Iran has. They again fail to serve the public interest over the dishonest objective of concealing their partisan
failure. It must be acknowledged that modern Democrats have fully embraced textbook Marxist socialism. That is no longer a label that offends Democrats who used to maintain Cold Warera patriotic sensibilities. Now we see many of them proudly identifying as socialists themselves, even at Notre Dame. Poulson cites Abdul El-Sayed, the Michigan Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, as an example of a candidate who relates well with the people. El-Sayed campaigns with Hasan Piker, a far-left Twitch streamer who has expressed support for Hamas, said he “hates America so f***ing much” and dismissed the sexual assault of Israeli women during Hamas’ October 2023 attacks. He is supported by nationwide Democratic Socialists of America staff, who advocate for universal abortion access
and the abolition of prisons, defunding the U.S. military and ending nationwide presidential elections. El-Sayed is further endorsed by Reproductive Freedom for All and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. It should be clear that this is not our parents’ Democratic Party. It is instead a wolf in sheep’s clothing that pretends to put people over their radical socialist infinity-abortion agenda. College Democrats have presented arguments around cost of living as a substitute for their moral and ideological bankruptcy compared with Catholic teaching. The data bears it out clearly that while the war in Iran has caused marginal price increases and inflation, Democrats caused this country immense economic hardship far beyond the war’s scale. The abject socialism the Democratic Party represents has been soundly rejected since Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum” and later encyclicals and thus no adherent Catholic can support it. I challenged College Democrats to choose people and Notre Dame’s cherished Catholic doctrine over their party’s infatuation with genocidal abortion and Marxist socialism. If the Catholic Democrats at Notre Dame adhere to their own call to action, to choose people over politics, they cannot support their own party in November. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Contact College Republicans at creps@nd.edu
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
PHOTO
THE OBSERVER | 9
Notre Dame women’s soccer The Fighting Irish faced off against the No. 1 Tar Heels on Oct. 2 at Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium. The Irish lost 4-1, marking their first loss of the season. Photography by Ellie Collins
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‘The Spirit of Notre Dame’ lives on By Harry Penne Scene Copyeditor
Most Notre Dame fans have seen “Rudy.” Many are familiar with “Knute Rockne, All American.” But what about the third film in the Irish trifecta: “The Spirit of Notre Dame”? Celebrating the 95th football season since its release, let’s roll back the film and examine how this vintage relic stands today. “Spirit” opens with a tribute to coach Knute Rockne with a recording of him giving an inspirational speech playing over football gameplay. The film we have today is fairly different from the original plans as Rockne was initially meant to play himself in a football movie about Notre Dame. On March 31, 1931, he boarded Transcontinental & Western Air Flight 599, set to fly to California for the production. It crashed in Kansas, leaving no survivors. “The Spirit of Notre Dame” was produced by Carl Laemmle Jr., the founder of Universal Pictures and the man responsible for bringing the classic Universal Monsters to the big screen. What Laemmle did for this film was reconstruct it following Rockne’s passing, making it something new: a memorial film. While Rockne is no longer a character in the film, the coach character is
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
clearly inspired by him, and there’s an overall feeling of respect. “Spirit” is a time capsule of the football-frenzied campus of Rockne’s time. But it is also a grieving campus. It creates the mythology that we still tell today. Notably, the Four Horsemen — Don Miller, Elmer Layden, Jim Crowley and Harry Stuhldreher — play themselves. These four athletes are some of the most famous in college football history, and it’s wonderful that they have been recorded on film. The main star of the film is Lew Ayres as football player Bucky O’Brien.
The film, despite being set in South Bend, was seldom filmed in Indiana. Even interior scenes, such as the South Dining Hall dining room, were rebuilt on soundstages in Universal City, California. The only bits filmed on campus were B-roll footage, particularly of the Lyons Hall arch and the SDH exterior, and footage of football gameplay. It wouldn’t be until “Knute Rockne, All American” when crews could film substantially on campus. The picture offers a wonderful insight into life at Notre Dame circa the early 1930s. A relic preserved is the old setup of South Dining Hall:
It used to not be the buffet style we know today. Instead, students (often freshmen) acted as waiters and served the upperclassmen. A relatable tradition that still stands today is random roommates. It’s an experience that has unified university freshmen for a very long time. Let’s just hope that it works out better in 2026 than it does in the film! “Spirit” also fabricates traditions that aren’t real. One sequence in the film shows the students rallying to throw another student in St. Mary’s Lake. There are no clear records of this being an actual prank before the film.
The picture is, in a sense, a reverse “Rudy.” Bucky enters Notre Dame with high hopes and aspirations of being the next university football star; however, he is quickly humbled by his coach and put in his place while his roommate takes the fame. “Rudy” explores the story of dreams and how one can achieve them with hard work; “Spirit” instead focuses on the importance of teamwork and how to surrender personal ambitions for the greater glory of the team. Does the film hold up today? Admittedly, it’s not the most accessible to watch. It doesn’t adhere to modern pacing, and some of the humor gets lost. Compared to “Rudy” or “All American,” it can be a slog. It’s certainly a product of the era in which it was made. I would recommend it for die-hard Notre Dame fans, film historians and those who want to see a relic of Notre Dame’s past. It’s also a treat to have this time capsule showcasing the football culture of Notre Dame. What is most recognizable, though, is that the spirit of the film is still felt today. Irish fans still rally behind the boys on the field as they did back in 1931, and they will continue for another 95 years. Go Irish! Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu
Swift’s ‘The Encore’ leaves me with questions By Taylor Bell Scene Writer
In her typical fashion, Taylor Swift — the queen of deluxe editions, vault tracks and anthologies — added an “Encore” to her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” on Sept. 25. The four additional tracks (“Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon”) have sparked opinions about the evolution of Swift’s music; for me, they have fueled speculations about her love life as well. “Patient Zero” The first song of “The Encore” opens to a dramatic, folksounding violin riff, suggesting a full 180 from the original album — what I could only classify as an upbeat jumble of words. Despite the hopeful start, Swift wastes no time in getting back to “TLOASG’s” overdone beats and empty lyrics. “Patient Zero” is Swift’s reflection on a previous relationship through the lens of a conversation with an ex’s new partner (“But if you’re sick of him, I got you; / I was patient zero”), raising the question of why, if she’s found “the love of [her] life,” which she repeatedly proclaims in “Cleveland!,” she is so caught up on her ex — and which ex is still on her mind? I believe it’s Matty Healy, the frontman of the English pop rock band The 1975. Better known for his scandals, which I won’t get into here, Matty Healy’s history with Taylor
Swift began on Tumblr in 2014 and progressed through the artists’ mutual support over the following years (often seen in their repping each other’s merch on stage). Songs like “Peter” off “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” even seem to suggest that, despite Swift’s long-term relationship with partner Joe Alwyn, she had always held onto the idea of a future with someone else, thought by many to be Matty Healy. The culmination of their decade’s worth of pining came as a short, romantic spell in the spring of 2023 amid Swift’s Eras Tour and The 1975’s At Their Very Best tour. This fling, I think, continues to haunt her and repeatedly shows up in the new release. One particular line in “Patient Zero” seems to connect to Healy: “About the devil on his shoulder under his halo” is a parallel to “He had a halo of the highest grade,” a line from the song “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” on “TTPD.” This song is almost certainly about Healy — as much of her 11th album was — not to mention that it is just one of the many instances of religious symbolism in relation to Matty Healy used by Swift. Healy’s marriage to model Gabbriette Bechtel this past July could be further evidence of the link, as the line “I heard somebody mention there’s trouble in paradise” could certainly be a reference to their new marriage. “Cleveland!” While “Patient Zero” has some
redeeming qualities, “Cleveland!” is where things really go downhill. If you thought the lyrics “Did you girl-boss too close to the sun?” were bad, you’ll be disappointed to find that it could get worse; she could write an entire song about how romantic it is that her new husband, Travis Kelce, “took [her] to Cleveland” with a beat vaguely resembling that of an AI parody you would find on TikTok. Not only is the music bad, but the message just isn’t coherent. The lines “So hate all you like” and “He likes what he likes, ... and he likes me” give the impression that she’s trying to prove — or rub in fans’ faces, rather — that she really is happy, that she’s letting all the hate roll off her back — but it’s not working like it did in “But Daddy I Love Him,” another song where she addresses fans’ disapproval. Now, fans aren’t writing letters urging her reconsideration of a romantic partner; they’re saying her music isn’t good. “Pink Clouding” “Pink Clouding” is pretty on par with the rest of the “TLOASG”: a catchy pop song with no real unique qualities. I can see someone adding this song to an upbeat car playlist and never thinking about it again. On another note, lines like “Years later, I still wonder how to tell you sorry” seem a bit out of place given her recent marriage but fit right in with the reflective theme of the other three songs.
“Babylon” “Babylon” is noticeably more mellow, and its solemn tone offers something different from the other three tracks. In my opinion, it’s the best of the four. In this song, Swift seems to grapple with a longing for the past and regret for the inability to see a good thing in the moment, evident in lines like “You’re missing all the best parts” and “You never knew that it was Babylon / ’til it was gone.” Like anyone familiar with Swift’s discography, the first thing that came to mind when I heard these lyrics was one of her most iconic lines, “Now you hang from my lips / like the Gardens of Babylon” in “Cowboy Like Me.” This song describes the hesitation to start a relationship with someone she’s known for a long
time while simultaneously not letting go of them (“With your boots beneath my bed / forever is the sweetest con”). In both “Cowboy Like Me” and “Babylon,” it seems like someone she used to know is psychologically torturing her while she’s in a relationship, which pretty much sums up the Matty Healy-Taylor Swift storyline. Overall, “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” leaves me questioning if Taylor Swift really is as happy with Travis Kelce as she says — and what needs to change for her music to get back to the level it once was. I mean ... she used to write beautiful songs about London and Paris; now, her inspiration is Cleveland, Ohio. Contact Taylor Bell at tbell5@nd.edu
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THE OBSERVER | 11
‘The Big Lebowski’: Rewatchable to no end By Nolan Scozzaro
any Coen brothers films. This remains probably the funniest movie in jokes but also in visual bits ever made. It’s certainly the greatest bowling film ever made. That’s enough of that. Unforgettable and unendingly quotable, “The Big Lebowski” may be of a different time, but its humor is timeless. Never before and never again has there been a movie so enjoyable, so mind-boggling and so focused on bowling. I’m absolutely delighted to inform you that this movie is most definitely worth your time. The Dude abides, and so do I.
Scene Copyeditor
Sometimes there’s a film … I won’t say masterpiece because what is a masterpiece? But sometimes there’s a film. And I’m talking about “The Big Lebowski” here. Well, it’s the film for its time and place. It fits right in there. And that’s “The Big Lebowski” in American cinema. And even if it’s a confusing film, and “The Big Lebowski” is certainly that — maybe the most confusing in 1990s comedy, which would place it in the running for most confusing of all time — but sometimes, there’s a film … Sometimes there’s a film. Well, I lost my train of thought here. I’ve introduced it enough. Welcome to the sixth week of DPAC’s Coen brothers series. “The Big Lebowski” shined on the silver screen last night. Slightly less importantly, we’ve reached my favorite of their films, and somehow I haven’t been fired yet! This is a film about bowling, drinking, sleuthing, unemployed bums (not “niles”), rugs (not “ruggz”), Vietnam, nihilism and the potential that we as humans are punished by the Lord (not “thejesus”) any time that we try to act in our own best interests and thus should be resigned to do nothing for all time. Oh, it’s also about laziness. The Coen brothers are good men and thorough. They craft a wonderfully intricate story that follows “The Dude” (Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey Lebowski), his buddy Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) and the maybeghost Donny (Steve Buscemi) on a journey to replace The Dude’s rug. His previous rug — which really tied the room
MARIA GORECKI | The Observer
together — was peed on by Woo, an unhousetrained enforcer who comes to The Dude’s house with his partner (obviously not a golfer) to get money out of The Dude, mistakenly thinking him to be a millionaire named Jeffrey Lebowski (“The Big Lebowski” (David Huddleston)). Along the way the gang runs into Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, a gang of nihilists, a writer for the TV show “Branded” and an unbreakable delinquent named Larry. “You see what happens, Larry? You see what happens, Larry? This is what happens Larry when you find a stranger in the alps!” I don’t even want to get into actual film analysis; I just want to quote the film for 900 words. Still, for your sake, dear reader, I will attempt to break down what is one of the most formative films in my life. “The Big Lebowski” marks an arrival to cinema of the mainstream absurdist comedy picture. Although it clearly fits
within the interests and filmography of the Coens, it remains a bit “out there” as far as your straight-down-the-middle Judd Apatow film is concerned. This is what makes it work so well. By managing to be completely within its own realm from both the comedy and the detective films that had come before, the absurdity of “The Big Lebowski” comes off as genuine and affable. It’s the sort of card you can only play once. However, for just one movie, the absurdity works to perfection. As I hinted at earlier, the picture can be read as a sort of treatise against action. Everything The Dude does is punished. This is, in many ways, just watching a man’s downward spiral. However, it’s far more comedic than “Barton Fink,” and one never actually feels as though The Dude is in real trouble. This is because of the casual environment the Coens have built — an environment you don’t just see, but feel. All the wacky characters and all
the plot twists and turns and dreams with Saddam Hussein as a bowling alley attendant help to make the audience feel as though they, too, are in 1990s Los Angeles just trying to make it through the day. I dare anyone to watch that opening sequence and not feel a primal urge to go bowling. In the discovery of the Coenesque, the duality of the week is between the comedy film and the detective film. However, the film itself contains more contradictions than that alone. Within lies combat between the go-getters and the bums. It also acts as a referendum on the aging generation of flower children living among Vietnam vets. What I love about this relationship is how, at the end of the day, “The Big Lebowski” shows that we all are quite similar. The whole cast is fantastic, with special props to John Goodman. The directing is great, and cinematography is hands down my favorite among
Who made it? Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, David Huddleston, Tara Reid, Peter Stormare, Flea and John Turturro. Who should you go with, and where should you see it? Watch with friends: Yes. Watch with family: Probably not. Date movie: Yes. Watch alone: Yes. Watch in the theater: Yes. See it seven times: Yes. How much should you pay for your ticket? 2BC Scale: $20: It’s old. Don’t care. Go see it in the theater, you bum. Nerd corner: There are not enough words in the nerd corner for what I would like to say. Email me. Contact Nolan Scozzaro at nscozzar@nd.edu
‘ParaBros’ is here — now what? By Jack Schreiber Scene Writer
The dreaded day for filmmakers and fans alike is here: Warner Bros. and Paramount officially merged on Tuesday, Oct. 6, becoming Skydance. This historic $111 billion acquisition sees the “big five” movie studios reduced to four, a consolidation of major streaming services and significant job loss. It has been a tumultuous trip for this takeover thus far. In August 2025, Paramount and Skydance merged while Warner Bros. prepared for sale. After announcing an open sale in October 2025, Warner Bros. incited a bidding war over who would be its next owner. Netflix, Comcast and Paramount submitted formal offers throughout October and November. On Dec. 5, Netflix made a deal to acquire Warner Bros. for $87 billion, and the
film industry stared down the barrel of movie theaters’ ultimate demise via streaming service supplantation. In a twist, however, Paramount submitted an aggressive counteroffer for $111 billion, leading to Warner Bros. switching its allegiance to Paramount and its CEO David Ellison. Several noble parties attempted to block the deal, including Rob Bonta, attorney general of California. However, Bonta ultimately withdrew his suit after securing concessions from the studio in a settlement. This was a blunder. Bonta was able to guarantee the theatrical release of 30-32 films a year for the next five years, an increase of $1.5 billion for domestic production in that same timeline, a $47.5 million workforce recovery fund, a $25 million indie production fund and independent editorial boards overseeing CNN
and CBS. These stipulations amount to nothing but a whimper against Paramount, given a limited timeline of just five years, movie release quotas that were already promised by David Ellison and a nebulous pledge of journalistic integrity that can (and most likely will) be reneged upon, all the while completely destroying the legal leverage that anti-merger advocates held over Paramount. After all of this strife surrounding the merger, the deal went through nonetheless. And one big question is branded onto the minds of everyone who cares: What happens next? Perhaps you’re concerned about streaming prices and the likelihood of a price increase following the merger. Perhaps you worry about Ellison’s friendship with President Donald Trump and the possibility of the journalistic power of CNN and CBS being enervated
in hopes of cozying up to the current administration of reportorial rancor. One commonly held concern of major weight pertains to the likely substantial job loss in the industry, with a possible count of 4,500 jobs and $1.26 billion in lost wages. The film industry stands at the precipice of complete change. Everyone wants to know the next scene. Even I, who tend to subscribe to a sense of radical optimism, look at this merger with a mountainous sense of trepidation. In the next five years we could see fewer movies produced, countless hardworking individuals out of their jobs and the metastatic growth of unaffordable and unwanted streaming models. But we could also see a continued commitment to movies, which continue to be shown in theaters; a thriving “Indiewood” championed by a major studio;
and a studio emulating the classical Hollywood of yesteryear. I’m not exactly saying I’m ready to march into a brave new world of filmmaking ushered in by a glorified “nepo baby,” but if the stipulations of opponents of the deal hold out, there can still be a hope of a sanguine future. One thing is for certain. The movie industry will change forever. It could be for the worse. It could be for the better. To the self-titled soothsayers who proclaim the death of movies as a whole, I argue that this merger does not portend extinction but evolution. Just as the advent of talkies or CGI didn’t kill the movies, this won’t either. The industry has changed before, and it will change again. People love movies. They entertain us, and they connect us. And so they will survive. Contact Jack Schreiber at jschrei3@nd.edu
SPORTS
12 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
FOOTBALL
Boubacar Traore makes a defensive comeback By Claire Watson Senior Sports Reporter
Now a senior on the Notre Dame football team, defensive lineman Boubacar Traore is making a statement this season. Traore has played all four seasons of his college career under the golden dome. As a freshman, Traore appeared in five games and made his first collegiate appearance in the home opener against Tennessee. Against USC on Oct. 14, Traore had his first career sack and forced a fumble. However, Traore’s career took a turn in his sophomore year. After appearing in five games for the Irish and earning a career high of five tackles against Miami on Sept. 22, Traore entered the Louisville matchup ready to continue his streak of luck. Unfortunately, he tore his left ACL in the first half, sidelining him for the rest of the season.
In his junior season, Traore started 11 games for the Irish. He led the team with a career high 6.5 sacks, forced a fumble and 10 tackles for loss. He made 37 total tackles — 23 solo tackles and 14 assisted. Traore is on track to surpass some of those figures this season. He earned 13 solo tackles across five games, two assisted tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Most recently against North Carolina, Traore had a season high six tackles, and against Michigan State on Sept. 19, he picked up a sack. “Don’t focus on what he’s doing. Have him focus on what I’m doing, put the pressure on him,” Traore said in a presser yesterday on his mindset. Senior defensive linemen Armel Mukam also spoke on Traore’s value to the team, saying his work “makes our jobs easier” as one of the best defensive linemen in the country. Traore said he is trying to not get
ahead of himself. “Every practice, it’s like a game rep,” he said. “As long as I’m trying to treat every rep like a game rep, whenever the game comes, it kind of just comes naturally.” He mentioned how important it is to not only work on the field at practices, but to work outside of practice and how that helps him adjust in games. “I watch a lot of film on my opponent, so whatever adjustment he makes, it’s not like seeing it for the first time,” he said. The goal of this year’s Notre Dame team is to get to the national championship game. In January 2025, the Irish made it happen, but fell short against the Buckeyes. The following season, Notre Dame finished 10-2 and didn’t make the CFP at all. Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
Denbrock
Continued from page 2 Carolina behind major contributions from freshman Jonaz Walton. He led the team with 120 yards on the ground and provided an elite burst of speed between the tackles as the workhorse for Notre Dame’s overnine-minute drive in its first possession of the second half. “It’s an example of a guy who, given an opportunity, made the absolute most of it and put himself in a position to earn more,” Denbrock said about Walton. “He complements those other two guys really well. I think that gives us a lot of options with that group.” Stanford is conceding just over 38 points and over 450 yards per game to opposing offenses. If one had to choose the Cardinal’s best asset, it would be their run defense, which will prove to be another test as Notre Dame irons out its offense into midseason form. The Irish have been able to play with a lead for nearly the entire season, but they
trailed against North Carolina for a brief period in the first quarter. “You get a chance to, down and distance-wise, not be compromised by certain situations in the game, and it just allows you to be a little freer with your playcalling,” Denbrock said about playing with a lead. “A lot more options are available to you when you can play ahead of the game and not from behind.” The Irish will look to get ahead early Saturday en route to a fourth consecutive win against Stanford before they head into a critical contest on the road against BYU. With Denbrock in charge of Notre Dame’s offense, it has been smooth sailing for the Irish, but any run at a national championship needs his full playcalling creativity in the biggest moments. If anyone knows how to win with great personnel, it’s Denbrock, who has found success at Notre Dame during all three of his stops. The Irish will kick off against Stanford at 3:30 p.m. on NBC. Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
FOOTBALL
Muething: Grading Irish receiving performances By Jack Muething Sports Reporter
Overall, the offensive production this year has come from the passing game. Junior CJ Carr has been one of the best quarterbacks in college football this season, and he’s had a few very reliable weapons this year. However, there have also been some guys who haven’t produced as much as the Irish would’ve liked. Today we’ll be highlighting some players in both of those categories and grading them relative to what the expectations were heading into the year. Jordan Faison After leading the team in both receptions and receiving yards in 2025, senior wide receiver Jordan Faison picked up right where he left
off as Carr’s go-to guy, and it wasn’t more evident than in the team’s previous game against North Carolina, where he recorded eight catches for 132 yards. He’s been primarily a short route receiver this year, but he’s made a couple of long touchdown grabs as well. Before North Carolina, I would have said that Faison has performed average, or maybe even below average, compared with where his expectations were. But after he was one of the main reasons the offense found so much success against the Tar Heels, he deserves praise for it. Grade: AJaden Greathouse It’s tough to say what the expectations were for senior wide receiver Jaden Greathouse this year. In
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Senior wideout Jordan Faison gets swarmed during Notre Dame’s 3726 win over UNC on Oct. 3 at Kenan Stadium. Faison posted two scores.
2024, he was one of the best passcatching options for a team that made the national championship, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Last year, however, he got injured early and even before he got hurt, hadn’t established much of a rapport with Carr. The same has been true this year, as Greathouse has logged only eight catches for 108 yards (third-most yards on the team). Even if the plan this season was for him to be the third option, he was still expected to pick up more than eight catches through five games, and he needs to find more opportunities to make an impact as the season goes on. Grade: C+ Micah Gilbert If someone told me the most positive surprise on the team this year was the production of Micah Gilbert, I’d have a hard time arguing with them. After the offseason Notre Dame had, bringing in two transfer wide receivers from Ohio State, most of the talk was about new faces slotting into the depth chart as starters immediately, leaving Gilbert largely in the background. He was listed as the starter in Week 1, though, and hasn’t looked back since, picking up 18 catches for 368 yards, second on the team in both of those stats. He has two touchdowns as well. His most impressive game of the season came against the Spartans in Week 3, where he hauled in eight catches for 170 yards, the most receiving yards by a Notre Dame player in a single game since Chase Claypool in 2017. Gilbert has been Carr’s main deep threat this season, and the leap he’s taken as a player has helped the Irish offense tremendously.
Grade: A+ Tight ends The starting tight end this year has been senior Cooper Flanagan, but two others have gotten consistent reps at the position as well: sophomore James Flanagan and fifth-year Ty Washington. They’ve all underperformed. The three have combined for a mere 11 catches for 79 yards, which is simply not enough production through five games, especially for a program whose last four starting tight ends have been Eli Raridon, Mitchell Evans, Michael Mayer and Cole Kmet, all guys who have seen a fair amount of minutes on Sundays. There weren’t a ton of expectations for tight ends entering the season, but the highest overall PFF grade for one in a game has been 59.4, which is significantly below average. The good news for Irish fans is five-star freshman Ian Premer has arrived and could see meaningful minutes soon. For now, though, it’s been a disappointing season for the historically stacked position. The only reason they don’t get an F is that the expectations weren’t high to begin with. Grade: D+ Nolan James Jr. Nolan James Jr. is third on the team in receptions and tied for fourth in receiving yards, while also catching three receiving touchdowns on the year. While the tight ends may not be an effective safety net for Carr, the sophomore running back certainly is. His ability to pick up slack in the passing game has been much needed for the Irish this season. Grade: B+
Transfers It feels slightly wrong to end the article on such a disappointing note, but there’s no other way to say it. The Irish spent a fair amount of money to bring in wide receivers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham from Ohio State, and they have either not been on the field (in Porter’s case) or underperformed significantly (in Graham’s case). Porter underwent left knee surgery in January before transferring to Notre Dame and then suffered another setback after a second procedure later in the year. While the team fully expected his eventual return to the field, on Sept. 28, head coach Marcus Freeman announced that he would be undergoing another surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the season. On the field, Graham has been unable to get involved in any meaningful way, with only three catches for 32 yards (tied for 10th-most yards on the team). For a guy who was brought in to compete for a starting spot, that has been incredibly disappointing for Irish fans to see, and the experiments with these new transfers as a whole already appear to be failing. Grade: F After evaluating these players, my overall takeaway is that the team has two very reliable pass catchers but needs someone to become the clear third. When the Irish have to face teams like BYU or Miami, Carr will need to be able to spread the ball around effectively. In short, the pass catchers have been solid, but there are some questions about depth, especially heading into November. Contact Jack Muething at jmuethin@nd.edu
SPORTS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 13
ND WOMEN’S SOCCER
Late magic propels No. 18 ND past No. 14 Virginia By Dylan Kowalski Sports Reporter
CHRIS NAM | The Observer
Star junior forward Izzy Engle drives the ball past Cavalier defenders during No. 18 Notre Dame’s 1-0 victory againt No. 14 Virginia on Oct. 9 at Alumni Stadium. Engle netted the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute.
On Thursday, the No. 18 Notre Dame women’s soccer team secured a 1-0 win against ACC foe No. 14 Virginia as star junior forward Izzy Engle scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute, propelling the Irish to victory after a 4-1 loss at No. 1 North Carolina last Friday. The Irish capitalized on an errant back pass by the Cavaliers that found the feet of junior forward Ellie Hodsden, who split the Virginia center backs to find Engle, who slotted it past Cavalier goalkeeper Victoria Safradin. Having worked her way back from surgery after a lower-body injury, Engle is no longer on a minutes restriction, and she will look to
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Thursday’s goal to help her replicate the form that made her the 2025 ACC Offensive Player of the Year. After the game, head coach Nate Norman said Engle is the “best when she can run in behind,” telling her not to “worry about checking back to the ball.” Engle was a constant option for the Irish offense as Notre Dame struggled to work through the midfield at times. Beyond being impressed by Engle’s constant running, Norman spoke to Engle’s resilience after she missed some early opportunities as she tallied three shots on goal by the 22nd minute. “I think the best goal scorers are ones that can stay locked in, keep their confidence and have a shortterm memory, and she did,” Norman said. “She was able to finish that one [chance], you know, in the last 10 minutes there. That was a huge goal for us.” Thursday’s matchup marked the third of the season in which Engle played alongside junior forwards Annabelle Chukwu and Lily Joseph. The two represented Canada and the United States at the Women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland, respectively, before returning to battle in matches against Duke on Sept. 24 and North Carolina last week. The three forwards’ integration back into the team is of utmost importance for Norman as the Irish round into the back part of the regular season. “I think those three … they’re very talented players, and when they’re feeling good, and they’re playing together and in a good rhythm, we can be very deadly on the attack,” Norman said. “That’s what we’re trying to build back toward, whether getting people back from a national team or injury, and just getting those three connected again. I think [it] would be really important.” Norman was also impressed with the defensive performance by his back three of freshmen Gracie Milam and Kate Kemmerley and junior Abby Mills, flanked by freshman left-wing back Bristol Kersh and senior right-wing back Morgan Roy. “Honestly, we weren’t great defensively in the last game [against] North Carolina,” Norman said. “[Tonight,] I thought we were fantastic defensively. They had some shots, but against a really good team, I thought we really limited their great chances.” The attacking third was strong for the Irish as they finished with nine shots on goal, forcing Safradin to tie her career-high of eight saves. Reflecting on the game as a whole, Norman said, “We can be a little bit better in the attack, and, you know, be a little more ruthless. Overall, this was a good night for us.” Norman and the Irish will have a week to implement changes before Notre Dame’s next match against Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Alumni Stadium. The Irish will look to secure their first back-to-back ACC victories of the year. Contact Dylan Kowalski at dkowals2@nd.edu
SPORTS
14 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
FOOTBALL
Strike up the ban on Stanford troupe
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
The Stanford community band performs during Notre Dame’s 49-10 victory over the Cardinal on Nov. 29, 2025, at Stanford Stadium. The group filled in for the official band as students were on Thanksgiving recess.
By Jack Muething Sports Reporter
The battle for the Legends Trophy has been one of Notre Dame’s most historic rivalries, the first matchup dating all the way back to the 1925 Rose Bowl. Excluding 2020, the teams have faced off every year since 1997, with 13 games played at Notre Dame Stadium. However, the Cardinal band has not been allowed to attend any of those contests in South Bend, and that will remain true for this year. Stanford’s band has been barred from Notre Dame Stadium multiple times, with the controversy beginning at a 1991 matchup between the two. The teams were playing in Palo Alto, California, and during halftime, a Stanford student dressed as a nun and conducted the band with a crucifix. That was a sight unwelcome to Notre Dame, resulting in the group’s ban from the following year’s contest in South Bend. Notre Dame got the last laugh by beating Stanford 33-15 in that game. Some groups would’ve taken such a ban as a sign that their behavior should change. That was not the case for Stanford, as in 1997, the band performed an incredibly controversial halftime show at the game between the two teams played in Palo Alto that year. The title of the show, “The Irish: Why Must They Fight,” was controversial in itself, but the actions of the band went further than anyone could have imagined. Several students were
portrayed as a Catholic cardinal, whom they described as a “flatEarth advocate” debating the devil. They then made explicit remarks on the field, referring to the Irish people as “stinking drunks.” The group also mocked the Irish potato famine, as the show featured a character named “Seamus O’Hungry” and said that the Irish had a “sparse cultural heritage consisting only of fighting, then starving.” These actions understandably
caused serious outrage from Notre Dame, and Stanford’s president was even offended by the showing. Stanford sent a sincere apology to Notre Dame and prohibited its band from playing at the 1999 contest in Palo Alto, marking a rare occurrence in which a team’s band was not allowed to perform at a home game. Though the ban was lifted for home matchups after that contest, Notre Dame was not as quick to forgive. The first incident occurred 35 years ago,
Rivalry
Continued from page 2
and the group has not been allowed to return for a South Bend halftime show since. The band also didn’t help its case with the apology it sent to Notre Dame after the 1997 game. “[We apologize] for the ambiguity in the script: the field show script should have been much clearer,” the statement said. “Its misinterpretation as an assault on the Irish seems obvious in retrospect, but did not occur to any of our censors. We erred in judgment, and we apologize.” Technically, the band apologized, but not for its deliberate actions. Rather, it apologized for how its actions led to misinterpretation. Especially because this was the band’s second offense against Notre Dame, the University had no patience for its actions and decided to ban the band from Notre Dame Stadium indefinitely. If the relationship hasn’t been repaired yet, it doesn’t seem like it will be repaired anytime soon. When the two teams face off in 2028 at Notre Dame Stadium, it will have been over 30 years since the second incident between the band and the University. 2028 will also be the last year that the two teams have agreed to schedule each other. Obviously, things can change, but with the shifting college football landscape and Notre Dame having lost some of its historical rivalries (such as USC) in recent years, the two teams may not reach a new agreement. Overall, it’s hard to imagine there will be a game at Notre Dame Stadium in the next few years with the Stanford band playing at halftime.
Stanford’s first 24-14 win. The following year, Notre Dame hired head coach Ara Parseghian, who sought revenge and ultimately gained a 28-6 victory. The rivalry took another brief pause until beginning its annual meetups in 1988. Lou Holtz conquered Stanford 42-14 in the first game of the new series. This game contributed to the Irish’s 12-0 season record and led Notre Dame to Holtz’s only title and the Irish’s most recent national championship. Stanford then won its first win of the rivalry’s modern era in 1990 with a close score of 36-31. Through the history of the rivalry, each team has traded wins but also sustained dominant stretches. The Irish hold the record 24-14, with one vacated win. Notre Dame currently leads the series with a streak of three wins since 2023. The matchup did not meet during 1995 and 1996 due to scheduling difficulties and in 2020 when the Pac-12 dedicated itself to a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The teams last faced off in 2025, where the Irish beat the Cardinals 49-20. The series has been renewed until 2028. On account of its 37-26 victory over unranked UNC on Saturday, No. 3 Notre Dame currently holds a 5-0 record. Stanford, who holds a 2-3 season record, enters the coming matchup after a 57-3 loss against unranked Wake Forest on Saturday. The Irish will face off against Stanford this Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m. EST at Notre Dame Stadium. The game will be streamed on NBC.
Contact Jack Muething at jmuethin@nd.edu
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FOOTBALL
Football beat picks: Notre Dame vs. Stanford By Observer Sports Staff Football Beat
Noah Cahill There isn’t much to talk about here. The Stanford football program, which once rivaled Notre Dame year in and year out, has had a massive fall from grace. 2018 was the last time the Cardinal managed more than four wins. And in year one under Tavita Pritchard, there are no signs of that changing. Opening up the 2026 season 2-3, Stanford ranks 107th in offensive success rate and 118th in defensive success rate. The Cardinal average a putrid 2.9 yards per carry while quarterback Davis Warren has completed just 59% of his passes. I can’t see this team scoring a touchdown against an Irish defense that, outside of North Carolina, has smothered all of its opponents. Even if it does, it will be a consolation prize. Notre Dame’s offense is firing on all cylinders, between junior quarterback CJ Carr’s brilliance and the emergence of freshman running back Jonaz Walton against North Carolina. The only question is whether or not the Irish cover the 37.5-point spread. I believe they will. Prediction: Notre Dame 52, Stanford 6 Ellie Collins The Tavita Pritchard era in Palo Alto, California, is off to a rough start, with Stanford arguably being the worst Power 4 team in college football according to current power rankings. Warren boasts a live arm, but his supporting cast does him no favors. The defense is even worse, giving up 458 yards and 38 points per game this season. In short, the Cardinal are in complete rebuild mode, and Saturday will not change that narrative, even with Irish junior cornerback Leonard Moore and linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa out with injuries. I see Notre Dame closing the first half of its schedule with an easy win, dominating from the opening kickoff and getting young guys plenty of playing time after the break. The ground game will continue its strong play from North Carolina, and Walton will score his first career touchdown. Backup receivers, particularly junior Mylan Graham, will finally get some more snaps and a chance to develop. All said, the Irish leave Notre Dame Stadium 6-0, featuring plenty of student section push-ups along the way. Prediction: Notre Dame 49, Stanford 10 Chris Dailey I traveled to Palo Alto, California, for this game last season. It was one of the most memorable trips of my life. The views at Stanford are stunning. It’s truly one of the most gorgeous campuses in the world. Being there felt surreal. When the Irish and the Cardinal took the field, I remembered watching this game on television back in 2015. I was a
nine-year-old Notre Dame fanatic at the time. The No. 6 Irish were nearing a playoff berth. Lo and behold, No. 9 Stanford took down Brian Kelly’s team 38-36 in an instant classic. Eleven years removed, it’s safe to say these programs have changed considerably. While Stanford has a $40 billion endowment, not much of it goes toward football. This is a program that is under a massive disadvantage in the NIL era of college athletics. I expect a result similar to the 49-20 blowout I witnessed in California last year. Give me the Irish in a rout. Prediction: Notre Dame 49, Stanford 14 Payton Dymek There is no discussion this week that Notre Dame will bring the hammer down on Stanford, just as it has on Rice and Purdue; however, I won’t fully count the Cardinal out. I don’t expect a team that lost 57-3 to Wake Forest to suddenly find its footing, especially against a team like the Irish, but I also think that once Notre Dame plays some of the newer members on the squad, it will allow the Cardinal to come away with a couple of points. Additionally, with BYU looming over next week’s schedule, there is a very real possibility these thirdstringers will come in sooner to ensure the starters are well rested to face the Cougars. Prediction: Notre Dame 42, Stanford 10 Ben Hicks Thus far in 2026, only Mother Nature has made a push at slowing down the Irish. Rain in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, last weekend and in Week 3 against Michigan State made for some nervy moments, but Notre Dame’s record doubledigit winning streak has raged on, even when the rain hasn’t. Luckily for head coach Marcus Freeman’s team and his hairline, Saturday’s forecast for South Bend is about as ideal as you can get for mid-October football. The weather and the fact that this Cardinal team is a far cry from the great Stanford sides of the 2010s mean Saturday could get out of hand. Under first-year head coach Tavita Pritchard, the Stanford defense has been unable to stop a nosebleed. The Cardinal allowed 57 to Wake Forest, 45 to Miami, 35 to Duke and 27 to both Hawaii and Georgia Tech in the team’s two wins. Stanford’s only shot at keeping this respectable is if Freeman and company want to save some bullets heading into a top-10 matchup in Provo, Utah, next weekend. This one will be over by the break, and we could see plenty of reserves work their way in by the third quarter. Prediction: Notre Dame 49, Stanford 3 Ethan Laslo I fear that this one could get ugly. Notre Dame has made a habit this season of dominating lesser
opponents like Rice and Purdue. Stanford is 2-3, including an ACC win over Georgia Tech, but its 57-3 loss to Wake Forest last week doesn’t help its case. Another point of discussion from that game is the time shift; like Winston-Salem, North Carolina, South Bend is three hours ahead of Stanford out in Palo Alto, California. Jet lag, anyone? I’m also not one to look past an opponent, but Notre Dame traveling to Provo, Utah, for a date with BYU next week is certainly at the front of my mind entering the Stanford game. The Irish need to make a statement this week. For starters, that should start with firmly establishing who RB1 is. Carr also needs to work on spreading the ball out to receivers not named Jordan Faison and Micah Gilbert. There were flashes last week with senior Jaden Greathouse’s touchdown catch, but that trend needs to continue. I also expect the defense to do what it does best and utterly dominate. The Irish roll into their first marquee matchup of the year. Prediction: Notre Dame 56, Stanford 10 Henry Lytle The Irish are coming off their closest victory this season in a nasty rain game against the Tar Heels. The defense struggled for the first time this year, especially at containing receiving threats Jordan Shipp and Jelani Thurman, neither of whom Stanford possesses. The Cardinal have looked helpless on the road in both matchups this season, losing by a combined score of 92-10 to Duke and Wake Forest. Notre Dame’s defense is a better unit than both of those competitors, and Notre Dame Stadium is a more hostile environment than either of the previous ACC opponents provided. On paper, this matchup
swings in favor of Notre Dame on all sides of the ball. After last week’s reliance on the run game, I expect the Irish to look for big passing plays early to set the tone. In favorable weather and in front of a hungry October crowd, I expect the Irish offense and defense to find a rhythm to carry into Provo next week. In the easiest game left on the schedule, Notre Dame should have no trouble against its longtime rival. Prediction: Notre Dame 55, Stanford 7 Jack Muething Notre Dame heads into a matchup with potentially its weakest opponent of the year in Stanford. In their previous matchup, the Cardinal lost to Wake Forest 57-3. The Demon Deacons are solid, but they aren’t one of the best teams in college football, and an ACC school like Stanford has no excuse for losing by that much. The Irish head into this week’s matchup after playing their worst game of the season defensively. There are also availability questions surrounding two of Notre Dame’s elite defensive players in Moore and junior linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. On the positive side, though, the run game came to life in that game in the form of Walton, and I think it’s safe to say that while the team doesn’t have any elite running backs, it has three solid options. Overall, I expect one of the running backs to get hot in the game on Saturday, and while they may be shorthanded, I expect the defense to rebound after its p erformance against North Carolina. Prediction: Notre Dame 52, Stanford 10 Nikki Stachurski I have no doubt Notre Dame will
uphold its record against Stanford, especially shaking off the nerves apparent in the game against North Carolina Saturday. Truthfully, I think the Irish needed a reality check: a reminder that they are not as invincible as they might seem. Freeman and the Irish coaching staff have prepared the team for a season based on stamina and fundamentals, and this weekend is no exception. As long as the Irish remain calm and do not head into the matchup expecting an easy win, the squad Notre Dame fans know and love can lift the team in the rivalry game. Not only is the Irish win streak at stake, but so is the three-game streak against the Cardinal, and it will be up to the Irish to capture the victory they have worked so hard for. Stay calm, stay strong, rely on the team’s culture, and the Irish will have no trouble keeping the Legends Trophy in South Bend. Prediction: Notre Dame 55, Stanford 13 Claire Watson Now 5-0, Notre Dame will square off against longtime rival Stanford. The Cardinal have been down on their luck this season with two road losses against Duke and Wake Forest. Overall, the run game has been looking strong for the Irish offense, and it was a key factor in their win over North Carolina last weekend. Additionally, Freeman can rely on long downfield passes from Carr to move the ball. Defensively, the Irish should continue to stay strong, stopping their opponents in any way they can. I have no doubt that the Irish will take this win against Stanford. Prediction: Notre Dame 63, Stanford 10.
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. celebrates with teammates during Notre Dame’s 37-26 win against North Carolina on Oct. 3 at Kenan Stadium. James Jr. finished the day with 65 rushing yards on nine carries.
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