Notre Dame Seeks to Elevate Play After Bye Week, Targeting Key Areas for Growth

Photo byAP Photo/Michael Caterina

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — With the season at its midpoint, Notre Dame’s football team is recalibrating after a much-needed bye week. Head Coach Marcus Freeman, known for his meticulous post-bye adjustments, is looking to improve the team's 3-0 record in such situations. As the Irish prepare to face Stanford this Saturday, Freeman and his staff are honing in on critical areas to ensure a dominant second half of the season.

One pressing issue? Third-down conversions.

The Irish currently rank sixth-worst in the FBS, with only 19 third-down conversions, a stat Freeman aims to change. "As an entire program, what we can’t do is hurt Notre Dame. We have to eliminate some of the unforced errors," Freeman stressed during a press conference. He pointed to the importance of reducing penalties and protecting the football under all conditions, emphasizing, "There’s no excuse—the weather, anything. We have to make sure we hand the ball to the official, so without certainty we have the ball in our possession” (Freeman, Notre Dame Press Conference).

Freeman’s commitment to self-discipline extends to the defense. "We need to tackle better and be crisper in our run fits. Execution is key. Great teams don’t beat themselves, and we need to make sure we’re not doing that either," Freeman said, underscoring the importance of fundamentals as they prepare for the second half of the season.

Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock also took the bye week to self-scout the offense. Denbrock sees potential, particularly in the passing game, where quarterback Riley Leonard has shown marked improvement in recent outings. Leonard completed nearly 70% of his passes in the last two games, amassing over 315 yards, 3 touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Denbrock highlighted the team's recent gains, noting, "Our consistency in throwing the ball downfield and making plays passing the football is one area where we've made strides. I think you can feel it coming, and I’m excited for the opportunity for our guys to showcase that" (Denbrock, Notre Dame Press Conference).

The Irish aim to put these improvements on full display against Stanford. With a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium, fans can expect a sharper, more focused team ready to avoid the self-inflicted mistakes that have plagued them so far.

In a season where every game matters, Notre Dame is not just competing—they’re refining, resetting, and readying themselves for the next challenge. Can they maintain the momentum and deliver on these adjustments? Saturday’s showdown with Stanford will tell.