Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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14 AUGUST 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Lauren Beaudreau — Golf The graduate student from Lemont, Ill., ad- vanced to the NCAA Cham- pionships after winning the NCAA East Lansing Regional May 8 — the first individual regional title in program his- tory. She fired a 12-under- par 204 to capture the title by three strokes. Beaudreau capped off her terrific career in the NCAA Championships May 23 at Carlsbad, Calif. She finished her three rounds with an 8-over 224, which slotted her in 64th place. Kasey Choma — Lacrosse The graduate student midfielder from Manorville, N.Y., earned her fourth All-America honor during her Irish career after a first-team selection by the IWLCA. She finished third on the Irish in both goals (56) and points (78) this season. Choma started all 20 games in 2024 and scored at least 3 goals 12 times. The five-year starter finished her Notre Dame career with 308 points and 250 goals. Palmer Jackson — Golf The graduate student from Murrysville, Pa., capped his terrific season and career with an eighth- place finish May 27 at the NCAA Champi onshi p in Carlsbad, Calif. It marked the best individual finish for a men's golfer in Notre Dame history. Palmer carded a 77, 68, 72, 70 in the four- round event at the Omni La Costa North Course to finish 1-under, just two shots off the winner's score. Tommy Janton — Swimming The sophomore from Kennett Square, Pa., followed up his ACC cham- pionship swim in the 200 backstroke with an eight- place finish in the event at the NCAA Championships to earn first-team All-America honors. Janton also finished 11th nationally in the 100 backstroke, and helped the Irish to top-eight finishes in both the 200 and 400 free relays at the national meet. TOP TOP OF THE CLASS OF THE CLASS Irish student-athletes excelling on the field and in the classroom ✦ GIMME FIVE Notre Dame has sent 54 players to the College Foot- ball Hall of Fame in its storied history, more than any other school. It could add two more in 2025, including the defining face of modern Fighting Irish football. Safety Todd Lyght (played at Notre Dame from 1988-91) and linebacker Manti Te'o (2009-12) are two of the 77 players on the 2025 ballot, along with nine coaches. Te'o was the first defense-only player to finish in the top two of the Heisman Trophy voting since 1980, falling to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel by a relatively tight margin in 2012. He totaled 437 stops, 34 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 7 interceptions throughout his career, with every pick coming in that phenomenal senior season. Lyght — whose cousin, Shawn, starred as a fresh- man defenseman for the national championship- winning Notre Dame men's lacrosse team this past spring — picked off 11 passes with the Irish and helped them win the 1988 national title. Te'o would be unique as College Football Hall of Famers from Notre Dame go. The 33-year-old would be the first who played during the 21st century, and youngest former Irish star in the Hall of Fame by 18 years. His performance in 2012 helped revitalize a program that had won double-digit games only twice since 1993. Since his efforts brought the Irish to a national championship game, Notre Dame has reached that mark seven times. The second-youngest: Offensive tackle Aaron Taylor (1990-93), who was inducted in 2021. The most recent Irish inductee is linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, who entered the Hall in 2023. Lyght would join Stonebreaker, Chris Zorich (1987-90) and Raghib "Rocket" Ismail (1988-90) as Hall of Famers who played on Notre Dame's last national championship team. The College Football Hall of Fame's eligibility require- ments are unique. To be inducted, a player has to be a first-team All-American. — Jack Soble CHARTING THE IRISH LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN When EA Sports' college football franchise made its long-awaited return in July, Notre Dame was rated as its seventh-strongest team. EA Sports College Football 25 gave the Irish a 90 overall rating, which ranks No. 7 in the nation. Notre Dame slotted in behind Georgia (95 overall), Ohio State (93), Oregon (92), Alabama (92), Texas (92) and Clemson (90), respectively. Even though the Fighting Irish and Tigers have the same overall rating, the latter is ranked just ahead of the former. LSU (90), Penn State (88) and Utah (88) round out the top 10. Of the 12 teams on the Fighting Irish's 2024 schedule, only three were included in EA Sports College Football 25's top 25. Florida State just missed the top 10 at No. 12 (88 overall). Texas A&M was slotted two spots behind the Seminoles at No. 14 (88), while USC just cracked the top 20 at No. 19 (87). EA Sports College Football 25 rolled out details in late June, first announcing its toughest places to play. Notre Dame Stadium ranked No. 21, while road opponent Texas A&M's Kyle Field was No. 1. Then, the video game announced its offense and defense power rankings, with the Irish making the top 25 in both. Notre Dame's defense is the sixth-best in the game at 90 overall, behind only Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Alabama and Clemson, respectively. The Irish have the 17th-best offense, just ahead of the team it will face in Week 1, Texas A&M. Both schools' of- fenses are rated 85 overall. — Jack Soble EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL 25 TEAM POWER RANKINGS Rk. School Overall rating 1. Georgia 95 2. Ohio State 93 3. Oregon 93 4. Alabama 92 5. Texas 92 6. Clemson 90 7. Notre Dame 90 8. LSU 90 9. Penn State 88 10. Utah 88 Linebacker Manti Te'o (2009-12) finished his Notre Dame career with 437 total stops, 34 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 7 interceptions. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA THE LAST FIVE NOTRE DAME PLAYERS INDUCTED INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Player, Pos. Year Michael Stonebreaker, LB 2023 Aaron Taylor, OT 2021 Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, WR 2019 Bob Crable, LB 2017 Tom Gatewood, WR 2015