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- Rice used Jacurri Brown and Gael Ochoa at quarterback in its opener. Scott Abell's triple-option offense includes shotgun and pistol looks, and rushed 70 times for 465 yards against FCS Houston Christian while the two QBs combined for four completions and 28 yards on 10 attempts. This supports a run-heavy scouting profile without guaranteeing the same production at Notre Dame. - Rice RB/slotback and returner Quinton Jackson was injured against Houston Christian, according to the preview. It identifies a potential loss to both the offense and return game but gives no diagnosis, formal availability designation or return timetable. His earlier rushing production should not be treated as confirmation he will play at Notre Dame. - Rice returns only three defensive starters and lost all four secondary starters from 2025, the preview reports. Last season's defense allowed 4.65 yards per rush and 8.3 yards per pass attempt; those are historical baselines for a changed unit, not 2026 results. The opener's 244 yards allowed against FCS Houston Christian is a different level of test from Notre Dame.

- Freeman described Rice's triple option as using substantially more shotgun than the Army and Navy versions Notre Dame has faced, while retaining the dive, quarterback and pitch responsibilities that make disciplined reads essential for the Irish defense.

- Rice's shotgun-option offense was the specific schematic reason Freeman gave for Notre Dame's more physical Tuesday preparation.

- Freeman described Rice's offense as a shotgun version of the triple option with a big, fast running quarterback and cited 465 rushing yards in its opener, requiring Notre Dame to prepare for different looks rather than reuse the Wisconsin defensive plan.