When the Notre Dame Fighting Irish step on the field facing the Ohio State Buckeyes for the College Football Championship Final in Atlanta, they will aim to end two droughts. Which droughts? You might ask. The first would be trying to win a sport’s title for the first time in 36 years! Yes, that’s right 36 years.

The second and another interesting drought they will try to end is defeating the Buckeyes for the first time since last done in 1936. While these feats are not easy to achieve the Fighting Irish will be more than motivated to do so. With that being said, there will be several Notre Dame players looking to improve their draft stock and impress NFL scouts in this game. So, let’s see what’s the eligibility status for some of Fighting Irish’s star players.

What is Fighting Irish’s QB Riley Leonard’s eligibility status?

Notre Dame’s “man in the arena” quarterback Riley Leonard is amidst a stellar college football season. Furthermore, Riley has been so busy with football that he might just have to wait a little bit longer to complete his bachelor’s degree. “It was tough for me,” said the Notre Dame quarterback ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State.

“When I transferred (from Duke) as an undergrad after my junior year, a lot of my credits didn’t transfer. I don’t even know where I’m at right now.” Leonard sounded unsure of where he’s at with his degree. “I’m just a little behind, still, which is crazy,” said Leonard, whose eligibility will expire after the College Football Playoffs are set and done.

Riley would want to end his college career with a national championship, but where will he end up after that? Well, according to Bleacher Report’s Dame Parson, the Notre Dame stud could be a third-round choice given he’ll be a high-level backup for several NFL franchises. Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, and even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be potential suitors for Riley as sets on his professional journey after the CFB playoff final.

What is Fighting Irish’s running back Jeremiyah Love’s eligibility status?

Although Jeremiyah Love has been battling with injuries this season, he has shown that his ceiling is really high. That’s because of the big plays he’s made this season, his 1,122 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns carry huge significance for the Irish! Love is a walking touchdown threat. Moreover, he’s got build, speed, and impressive awareness for the end zone, exactly what the NFL teams seek…

With that being said, Love and the teams interested in him will have to wait as he’s just a sophomore and has one more year before he becomes eligible for the NFL Draft. That’s because as of now, he doesn’t meet the three-year rule to become eligible. But if he can suit up for the final and put up a stellar performance, Love could be one of the top RBs of the 2026 NFL Draft class! If he chooses to declare. What do you think?

What is Notre Dame’s safety Xavier Watts’ eligibility status?

There’s no doubt that the Fighting Irish have one of the best defenses in College Football, and one of the most pivotal pieces for them has been their safety, Xavier Watts! The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner back in 2023, saw his draft stock reach the heights that Watts had never seen before. However, he still decided to use his pandemic eligibility to return for one last dance with his alma mater.

While initially viewed as a wide receiver for the Irish, it wasn’t until 2022 when he started getting more and more reps as a safety and stated, “The main reason I came back is to elevate my game to another level.” “Is still think I’m a little raw at safety. I had a really good season last year, but I feel like I can have an even better season.”

He has been great for his team, and he can let the NFL scouts know his ceiling as they zero in on the Notre Dame star in the college football final. Given that he will be on the radar of lots of NFL teams, the Las Vegas Raiders are among them. It will be interesting to see where Watts ends up in the 2025 NFL Draft.

What is Notre Dame’s cornerback Benjamin Morrison’s eligibility status?

Notre Dame has established its aggressive defensive identity thanks to head coach Marcus Freeman’s tactics. Their cornerback, Benjamin Morrison, has clearly embraced the culture and looked solid! He was considered a top 2025 NFL prospect and, in fact arguably the best on the Irish roster. However, that took a toll when his season was cut short due to an unfortunate hip injury.

This might have left the star cornerback in a dilemma when making a decision. That is to either declare for the 2025 NFL Draft despite his draft stock taking a hit or use his one year of college eligibility left to return for another season with the Fighting Irish. So should he stay for another year or declare for this year’s draft? Well, That’s the question everyone has on their minds, including Morrison himself. Well, that’s something only Morrison can decide. So, we’ll have to wait and watch for this one.