Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541906
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM JANUARY 2026 3 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED POSTSEASON SCHEDULE BEGINS NOW! The next issue of Blue & Gold Illustrated will be mailed on Jan. 9* *SUBJECT TO CHANGE JANUARY 2026 ✦ VOL. 45, ISSUE 13 IN MEMORY OF Lou Somogyi, Editor 1985-2021 MANAGING EDITOR Steve Downey C ONTRIBUTING EDITORS Stu Coman, Matt Herb, Cathy Jones, Chris Riffer STAFF WRITERS Eric Hansen, Tyler Horka, Tyler James, Jack Soble RE CRUITING REPORTERS Mike Singer, Kyle Kelly C ONTRIBUTING WRITERS Todd D. Burlage, Jim Lefebvre PHO TOGRAPHY Michael Miller, Chad Weaver COVER PHOTO Michael Miller DESIGN Jeanette Blankenship, Chris Miller, Shelby Cragg ✦ ✦ ✦ PUBLISHER Mark Panus BUSINESS ANALYST Sarah Boone CIR CULATION Beverly Taylor AD VERTISING SALES Maria Taustine (502) 552-4390 CUS TOMER SERVICE Lauren Gordon, Shelby Cragg, Cathy Jones (800) 421-7751 ✦ ✦ ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED (USPS 667650) is published 18 times annually — weekly Sept.-Dec. and monthly Jan.-Aug. (no issues in February, June and July) — by Coman Publishing Co., a division of On3 Media, Inc., located at 922 Broad St., Suite D, Durham, NC 27705 (www.comanpub.com). A one-year (18 issues) subscription is $74.95. BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED (ISSN 0746-2557) is printed by The Papers in Milford, Ind. P ostmaster: Send address changes to Blue & Gold Illustrated, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. Periodical postage paid at Durham, NC 27702 and additional offices. For advertising or subscription information call 1-919-688-0218 or write B LU E & G O L D ILLUSTRATED, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. A MORPHING WORLD Behind the scenes with Notre Dame general manager Mike Martin ✦ PAGE 24 THE MORE THE MERRIER Notre Dame football made room for 27 recruits in its elite 2026 class ✦ PAGE 26 HEARTBREAK Notre Dame snubbed from College Football Playoff, declines Pop-Tarts Bowl invitation ✦ COVERAGE STARTS ON PAGE 16 PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER ✦ INSIDE THIS ISSUE Upon Further Review ✦ Todd D. Burlage ......... 4 Golden Gamut ✦ Tyler Horka .......................... 5 Fan Forum ........................................................ 6 Under The Dome .............................................. 8 CFB Snub/Bowl Opt-Out ................................. 16 What The CFP Committee Said ....................... 18 Why Notre Dame Walked Away ..................... 20 Notre Dame Reaction ..................................... 22 Rating the 2026 Recruits ................................ 28 National Signing Day Notebook ...................... 32 Football Commit Profile ................................. 34 Recruiting Roundup ........................................ 35 Blue & Gold Marketplace ............................... 36 Men's Basketball ............................................. 38 Women's Basketball ....................................... 39 ND Sports ....................................................... 40 Irish In The Pros .............................................. 41 Irish Echoes ✦ Jim Lefebvre ........................... 42 First And Last ✦ Tyler James .......................... 44 Off The Dome ✦ Jack Soble ........................... 45 The Deep Read ✦ Eric Hansen ....................... 46 MOVING? Don't miss an issue! Let us know your new address. Call 1-800-421-7751 or log into your account at BlueGoldOnline.com