Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore declared the Irish are on a revenge tour after last season's exclusion from the College Football Playoff. Moore specifically cited the season-opening 27-24 loss to Miami as a key factor, with the defensive back group shouldering blame for allowing quarterback Carson Beck to complete 20 of 30 passes.

Coach Marcus Freeman cautioned against fixating on the November rematch with Miami, warning that excessive focus could jeopardize the season opener against Wisconsin. Quarterback CJ Carr acknowledged it's "impossible" not to think about facing the Canes again, while players continue to use last season's disappointment as motivation.

The Irish defense returns nine of its top 10 tacklers this season, including Moore and safety Adon Shuler who had 53 tackles last year. Freeman emphasized the need for faster starts after Notre Dame failed to finish September undefeated in each of his first four seasons, with the team determined to correct past mistakes.