Everything comes down to what’s happening in the trenches for Notre Dame

Marcus Freeman took the podium on Monday to begin the first game week for Notre Dame this season as the Irish travel to Green Bay to take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the Shamrock Series. While his press conference didn’t offer too many revelations about this 2026 Notre Dame team, I paid particular attention to anything that was discussed about the offensive and defensive lines.

Marcus Freeman has long talked about the Irish being an offensive and defensive line driven team. Despite Wisconsin being a bit down in recent years, you still look at them as a program that does the work in the trenches as well as anyone.

For Notre Dame, the offensive line has been a work in progress since this spring, and now we have the fuller picture. Ashton Craig is back from injury, which not only makes the center position stronger and deeper with Joe Otting backing him up, it also means there won’t be a possible move to guard (which was a thing during fall camp).

“He’s coming off an ACL injury, but he has a lot of experience. There’s a calmness he brings. He’s a really, really good football player and has progressed throughout camp with his workload. He’s ready to go. There’s a lot of confidence we have in Joe Otting, but having Ashton out there will help our offense.”

“He’s coming off an ACL injury, but he has a lot of experience. There’s a calmness he brings. He’s a really, really good football player and has progressed throughout camp with his workload. He’s ready to go. There’s a lot of confidence we have in Joe Otting, but having Ashton out there will help our offense.”

The biggest battle on the offensive line was probably at right guard. At first it was between Sullivan Absher and Matty Augustine, but a foot injury to Augustine made things murkier. This is when the talk about Craig possibly moving to guard started to come about, but little by little, Styles Prescod started to make a push — and it’s still up in the air this week. While the indecision may come off as a bad thing, it really does seem more like an embarrassment of riches situation. Notre Dame’s offensive line will be really good this year regardless of this one position battle.

“Sullivan Absher and Styles Prescod are an “or” at right guard on the depth chart.”

“We have to make a decision soon. We’re not making it today…We feel confident at the right guard position. You might see them both. It’s a credit to the progression Styles has made in training camp.”

“Sullivan Absher and Styles Prescod are an “or” at right guard on the depth chart.”

“We have to make a decision soon. We’re not making it today…We feel confident at the right guard position. You might see them both. It’s a credit to the progression Styles has made in training camp.”

Going over to the defensive side of the trenches, perhaps the biggest surprise of all was Armel Mukam locking down THE starting job at defensive tackle.

“He’s at the facility early and stays late. He does a lot to be the best football player he can be. He’s improved and has worked tirelessly with Coach Partridge. He’s grasped the information from Coach Partridge…I’m proud of him. I’m grateful that he’s in our program. He’s done a terrific job since he’s been back.”

“He’s at the facility early and stays late. He does a lot to be the best football player he can be. He’s improved and has worked tirelessly with Coach Partridge. He’s grasped the information from Coach Partridge…I’m proud of him. I’m grateful that he’s in our program. He’s done a terrific job since he’s been back.”

Notre Dame almost lost Mukam to the transfer portal, but they were able to bring him back. With the additions of guys like Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray, the return of Mukam wasn’t viewed as a huge deal — but it really was.

And all of that is just part of the story when it comes to the trenches for the Irish. What’s clear, however, is that this team is becoming exactly what Marcus Freeman wants, and that’s the type of team which can win a national championship.