Notre Dame's Biggest Issues to Fix During the Bye Week

Tyler Wojciak takes a deep dive into the biggest problems facing Notre Dame football as Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish enter their bye week following a heartbreaking loss to BYU. With a massive showdown against Miami looming, Tyler conducts his own version of Notre Dame's bye week self-scout, identifying the coaching decisions, personnel issues, and schematic adjustments that could determine the rest of the 2026 season. First, he examines the big-picture concerns, including slow starts, late-game execution, third-down struggles, red-zone efficiency, and the Middle 8. Then, he breaks down what Chris Ash and the defense need to change, from playing more aggressive man coverage and generating pressure to maximizing Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa's impact. Finally, Tyler turns to Mike Denbrock and the offense, explaining why Jonaz Walton needs more touches, why the wide receiver rotation must improve, how Notre Dame can create more explosive plays, and what CJ Carr must do to bounce back. With the College Football Playoff still within reach, the Irish have an opportunity to make the adjustments necessary to compete for a national championship.