Notre Dame has accomplished a lot the last two seasons. In 2024, they ended their 30-year major bowl win drought, played for the national title and rattled off 13 straight wins to prior to losing to Ohio State in the national championship game. This past season, they set the modern day record in points per game (42.0), yards per play (7.3) and passer rating. The Irish also rattled off 10 straight victories to end the regular season winning every contest by double digits for the first time since 1966.
This team has been humming, but the one area that needs significant improvement is the place kicking operation. Flat out, the last two seasons it's been bad and for various reasons. Injuries to Mitch Jeter in 2024 held back this special teams unit. This past season, it was partially due to injuries, but it was also not up to standard for most of the year.
In 2025, they finished ranked No. 130 in the country in field goal kicking percentage and towards the latter half of the season, stopped attempting field goals all together. They also finished No. 128 in the country in extra points made which is shocking considering they set a program record in points per game.
This season, the outlook is much higher with former Purdue kicker Spencer Porath now with the program. Special teams coordinator Marty Biagi is confident Porath has the makeup to be an excellent kicker with the Irish. During his first fall camp practice, Porath missed two kicks early in the session, but that didn't shake his or Biagi's confidence in his overall abilities.
"At the end of the day, you're evaluating it off of makes or misses," Biagi explained. "The biggest difference is you're still obviously evaluating the misses and where those ball flights are going. Both of his misses were within two to three feet of the upright. It's the first day back and we're in helmets. There's no excuse but he was as ticked off as anything that he missed those two kicks.
"He's a true competitor and you can tell it bothers him," Biagi continued. "But he's also really good at reloading. So, from that standpoint, he's not okay with a miss. So it's a very good thing to see and I think he's just going to continue to stack days."
The 6-0, 200-pound kicker has showcased his abilities on several big stages including inside of Notre Dame Stadium. Last season against the Irish, Porath went three for three on extra points and three for three on field goals including one from 48 yards out. His leg power is something that isn't in question either.
"He's done a really good job," Biagi answered when asked if Porath could hit 55-plus yard field goals. "It can always vary with some of the elements, but he has shown that leg strength that he has the ability to do it."
The former Purdue kicker backed up that sentiment after the first day of practice, hammering home to point that he has the ability to hit those long range kicks.
"I'd say I'm definitely comfortable 55 and in," Porath shared. "Obviously, it depends on the wind. Wind and weather and all of that will play a factor but I feel like I can hit back to 60. But I definitely feel like when we get across that 40-yard line, I'm thinking field goals."
Porath has all the confidence in the world to be an outstanding kicker. Last season with the Boilermakers, the Brownsburg native went 24-24 on extra points and 15-17 on field goals. His 88.2-percent field goal percentage puts him on par with what Justin Yoon did at Notre Dame in 2015. If the Irish can get that kind of production from Porath, the kicking game should definitely turn around this season.
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