Why is Notre Dame not in a conference for college football? Here's what to know as the Irish are set to compete in the CFP championship game on Monday:

We now know the entire 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football schedule, including dates and home/away locations. The Irish have seven home games on the schedule. Notre Dame will also face several teams that are considered rivals. Navy, USC, Boston College, and Stanford are on the schedule.

Three major college football programs are reportedly in the mix for Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman appeared in 40 games with 23 starts over the last four seasons. He started the 2023 season before missing the final three games due to injury and returned to his starting role in 2024.

Less than a week after losing its defensive coordinator to the NFL, Notre Dame is set to lure Chris Ash from the NFL to be the new DC in South Bend, Ind., ESPN first reported Wednesday. Ash, 51, has been in the NFL since the 2021 season and was a scout for Jacksonville in 2024.

With conference realignment being such a prevalent topic in college football over the last few years, Notre Dame has been an interesting discussion. With their independence considered, many have wanted the Fighting Irish to join a conference to potentially establish some level of equality.

Notre Dame is set to hire a new defensive coordinator in the wake of Al Golden’s departure. Chris Ash on Wednesday agreed to a deal to become the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports.