Notre Dame’s Special Teams Upgrade | Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football News

Notre Dame’s special teams are poised for a major upgrade in 2026, starting with the kicking game. They’ve brought in Spencer Porath from Purdue, who was flawless last season—15 of 17 field goals and all 24 extra points—with a perfect record inside 40 yards and two bombs over 50. To bolster punting and holding, they’ve tapped Jasper Scaife from Australia, a rising star in fall camp whose reliability could prevent costly mistakes like the botched snap that nearly cost them a playoff spot. But the real wildcard? The kickoff return unit. Without a standout performer to replicate past game-changing returns—including that Sugar Bowl touchdown against Georgia—the whole special teams package might fall short. For Notre Dame, it’s not just about kicking power—it’s about explosive returns too. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ab41ff528c2e6d78