Notre Dame bolsters its 2025 recruiting class with a key addition—landing a 4-star offensive lineman to strengthen the Fighting Irish front.

With conference realignment being such a prevalent topic in college football over the last few years, Notre Dame has been an interesting discussion. With their independence considered, many have wanted the Fighting Irish to join a conference to potentially establish some level of equality.

Tyler Merrill is a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports. He is the #61 player in the 2026 recruiting class, the #5 IOL and the #2 player in the state of Pennsylvania. Merrill currently attends Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

The Irish Illustrated team has its finger on the pulse of Notre Dame transfer portal news, recruiting, coaching staff moves and more after the Irish lost to Ohio State in the CFP National Championship

I t might be the offseason for college football, but there is constant news around the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. We have seen several players enter the transfer portal, as well a

Where is Notre Dame located? Here's what to know about the Fighting Irish ahead of Monday's College Football Playoff championship game vs. Ohio State:

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 20: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes 34-23 in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Ohio State football is only 30 minutes away from winning the College Football Playoff national championship over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes look amazing. OSU currently head into halftime with a 21-7 lead over Notre Dame and are set to receive the ball in the second half.

Notre Dame’s college football future hinges on a hinge. An elbow, specifically. That elbow connects quarterback CJ Carr’s upper arm to his lower arm.

Very quickly after the Irish’s loss to Ohio State concluded, Mark Schlabach presented his 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings and placed the Irish fourth. Now, Bill Connelly has presented his initial projections for the 2026 College Football Playoff, something he safely could do given the format will be unchanged from 2025.

A look at Notre Dame's freshly released 2025 football schedule with thoughts on the run of show for the Fighting Irish.