Notre Dame Makes Final 4 for 2026’s Top Michigan Football Prospect

Notre Dame is a finalist among a few Midwest powerhouse football programs

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman greets his players during a Notre Dame football spring practice at Irish Athletic Center on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Final Four may be a few weeks away in college basketball as the NCAA Tournament gets started this week but Notre Dame football made a key final four of its own on Wednesday.

The Fighting Irish were named as one of the final four teams for top 2026 Michigan recruiting prospect Gregory Patrick. Along with Notre Dame, Patrick named Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State as his other finalists.

Hawyes Fawcett on On3 had announced the news Wednesday on social media.

NEWS: Four-Star IOL Gregory Patrick is down to 4️⃣ Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’5 270 IOL from Portage, MI is ranked as a Top 95 Recruit in the ‘26 Class (No. 1 Recruit in Michigan) per On3

Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/MzvpD5ATz7 pic.twitter.com/xdR6jYz1rB

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 19, 2025

Patrick plays offensive tackle at Portage Northern in Michigan and On3 ranks him as the top player from the Great Lake state in its class rankings. It would appear Patrick's future in college football will be on the interior of the offensive line.

Gregory Patrick to Visit Notre Dame This Week

Had a great home visit with @CoachJoeRudolph! I loved the time and great game of Euchre. @PNHuskieFB @CoachTwichPN @josephpatrick20 pic.twitter.com/ZvFzETqsjj

— Gregory Patrick (@gregpatrick75) January 31, 2025

Notre Dame is set to host Patrick on Friday as the coaching staff already paid him a visit this past January. Can Notre Dame pull the talented lineman out of his home state? Portage, Mich. to South Bend, Ind. is roughly an hour and 20 minute car ride so it's not like its some great distance.

Perhaps also going for Notre Dame in this pursuit is that the Irish have already pulled off two offensive lineman recruits from Michigan for 2026: Ben Nichols of Davison and Sullivan Garvin of Allegan.