Notre Dame Special Teams Preview: A Step Up or Step Back?

Notre Dame should be better in one special team's department, but will it take a step back at another?

Apr 25, 2026; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish kicker Spencer Porath (35) celebrates kicking the final field goal during the Blue-Gold game at Notre Dame Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The margin of error at the top of college football is perhaps as narrow as it has been in decades.

OK, you want to argue about what order the top-five or seven teams should be in? Great, just know that Notre Dame is in that discussion, and games between most of those teams would come down to just a couple key plays along the way.

Which brings us to Notre Dame's special team units entering the 2026 season.

It was a group that had struggles in some cases last season, and was also key in putting away one of the biggest wins of the year.

So what's in store for Notre Dame in special teams in 2026?

Notre Dame Football 2026: Kicking Game Upgrade

Quick, where were you on October 11, 2025?

That day featured a 36-7 Notre Dame victory over NC State, and just over two minutes into the fourth quarter, Noah Brunette hit a 34-yard field goal to stretch Notre Dame's lead to 27-7.

Notre Dame wouldn't be successful on another field goal attempt the rest of the season, which still had six games left to play.

Notre Dame was just 5 of 9 on field goal attempts all of last season, telling of how little confidence there was in the unit.

The kick is good! 🙌#GoIrish☘️ | @SpencerPorath pic.twitter.com/eLlIjz6jVu

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 25, 2026

Fast forward to 2026 and Spencer Porath is in blue and gold after starting his college career at Purdue.

While Purdue football hasn't had much to offer in recent years, Porath went 15-for-17 on field goal attempts last season and was successful on all 24 extra-point attempts.

Also worth noting is that Porath was perfect inside 40 yards last season, missing only two of eight attempts from beyond 40 yards, including going two-of-three from beyond 50.

Although Notre Dame isn't looking to settle for field goals, it's hard to not imagine this being an upgrade in 2026.

Notre Dame Football 2026: Irish Go Down Under for New Punter

After two years of James Rendell, Notre Dame had to go find another punter this off-season. It did so by going back to Australia and finding Jasper Scaife to handle its punting and holding duties.

Scaife drew rave reviews early in fall camp and Notre Dame hopes that translates to the field once the season kicks off.

Also worth noting is that Scaife is currently projected to be Notre Dame's holder on field goal and extra point attempts. As you may recall (as much as you don't want to), Notre Dame's College Football Playoff fate was arguably decided by a mishandled snap on the final extra point the Fighting Irish attempted against Texas A&M.

Nick Shepkowski's Quick Takeaway

It's going to be difficult to not be improved in the field goal game and the early returns on the punt game appear nice.

Much has been made about Notre Dame needing to replace both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price at running back on offense.

What about on special teams, though?

Price had three kickoff returns for touchdowns during his time at Notre Dame, two of which came at pivotal times against USC in 2023 and 2025.

To replace a player who only returned 22 kicks during his career, and brought three of those back to the house, Notre Dame will look for a replacement to step up in a big way.

You may recall that Price did not return kicks in 2024, but it was Jayden Harrison that provided a massive kickoff return for a touchdown against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Will Notre Dame have that person returning kicks that it has been blessed with the last three seasons?

The kicking game of Notre Dame could and should be improved in 2026, but if the return game doesn't continue to be a threat to make a huge play, it could end up being a wash in improvement for the Fighting Irish.