Blue and Gold Illustrated

14 NOV. 1, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TYLER HORKA T he superstars of any champion- ship contender from any sport show themselves and profoundly announce their presence at vari- ous points throughout the season. Take Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts and running back Jeremiyah Love, for in- stance, from the Fighting Irish's na- tional runner-up team in 2024. If there was a game being played, those guys were making plays in it. Simple as that. There was another key cog in the Irish's operation, though, who didn't get the spotlight every Saturday like Watts and Love did. Or, this year, Love, fellow running back Jadarian Price, sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore or redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr. So on and so forth. This is a figure who lurks in the shad- ows. He's not necessarily Batman, how- ever, because he's not the one physically throwing punches. But he is someone pulling some pretty important strings. It's Notre Dame special teams coordi- nator Marty Biagi. Biagi is as unassuming as college football coaches come in his stature, but he talks some loud talk. Walks a mean walk. And Notre Dame wouldn't be the same team it's come to be over the last two seasons without him. Tyler Buchner pulled off a couple successful special teams fakes during the 2024 season. Biagi entrusted him to do it again in a three-point game ver- sus North Carolina State in Week 7 of this season. Notre Dame quickly shifted from a punt formation to a direct snap look for Buchner, and he plowed for- ward for first down yardage when the Irish needed it most. They extended their lead to two scores for the first time all afternoon a few plays later. Fans call it Biagi Ball. Biagi calls it chaos. And chaos kills. That is, for the opposition. For Notre Dame, there isn't anything chaotic about what's occurring when the Irish pull a rabbit out of their hat. "We really try and treat it like any other play," Biagi said. "And that's how we even try and present it. To everybody else it's a trick play. But this is no differ- ent than any other play in that, here's the goal. Here's what we're trying to get done. Here's the plan of attack. And CHAOS KILLS Notre Dame's surge into the national spotlight is made complete by Marty Biagi's special teams brilliance Biagi is one of the Fighting Irish's unsung heroes of the last two seasons. Last year, Notre Dame ranked first nationally (tied) in blocked kicks (6), second in blocked punts (3), and fifth in kickoff return defense (15.61). PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER

• Cover