Notre Dame Recruiting 2025: How this Great Class Could Compare to the Irish's Best

Notre Dame is compiling a superb recruiting class, among the nation's best. How have past elite recruiting classes panned out for the Irish? And what can fans expect this one to accomplish?

Sep 6, 2003; South Bend, IN, USA; FILE PHOTO: Notre Dame head football coach Tyrone Willingham leads his team onto the field at Notre Dame Stadium before the 2003 season opener against Washington State. Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White announced Tuesday Nov. 30, 2004 that Tyrone Willingham would not be retained as head coach at Notre Dame. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Matt Cashore-Imagn Images Copyright (c) 2004 Matt Cashore | Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Thanks to the double whammy of Khary Adams' and Joey O'Brien's commitments, Notre Dame's 2026 recruiting class currently ranks second on this cycle's team recruiting rankings.

Certainly subject to change, Notre Dame may rise to the top or fall a couple of slots in the rankings by the end of the summer. However, odds are that the Irish don't move too far in either direction, leaving them with around the second-best collection of prospects in college football entering next year.

A rating that high would make it one of Notre Dame's best classes of the century, and, given a standout recruiting season, fans anticipate a lot. But what does past experience suggest as to how much success such a highly heralded class should deliver?

With hopes high and patience thin, what do reasonable expectations look like amidst the swirling hype? Let's examine how four of Notre Dame's best recruiting classes from this century, according to 247Sports, panned out.

4. 2022

Class Score via 247sports: 275.44
Recruitment Rank via 247sports: 7
4-Year Record: 16-5*
Top Achievement: 2024 National Championship Game Runner-Up

3. 2006

Class Score: 282.80
Recruitment Rank: 5
4-Year Record: 24-26
Top Achievement: 2010 Hyundai Sun Bowl Champions

2. 2013

Class Score: 284.87
Recruitment Rank: 5
4-Year Record: 32-19
Top Achievement: 2017 Citrus Bowl Champions

1. 2008

Class Score: 295.57
Recruitment Rank: 2
4-Year Record: 34-17
Top Achievement: 2012 National Championship Game Runner-Up

Though far more goes into developing a winning team than just recruiting, these slices of the narrative still tell an important story. Will this 2026 class follow in the footsteps of their 2022 and 2008 brethren and reach a national championship game?

Or will it comparatively underdeliver like the 2006 class? With a ceiling sky high, it is an exciting time to be an Irish fan, but only time will tell what this promising group of athletes has in store.