With Mike Locksley's firing at Maryland, it seems that, for the first time in the 2026 season, Brian Kelly has a real chance to return to coaching. If he does, Notre Dame has to pounce immediately on what would become the perfect opportunity.
More than a few analysts believe Kelly could become a top candidate for Maryland, mainly because he’d be one of the biggest names willing to take the job.
“Kelly can get back into the Power Four and won’t face championship-or-bust expectations,” USA Today’s Paul Myerberg recently wrote. “Kelly also has a connection with prominent Maryland booster in Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, whose company sponsored Notre Dame. While the idea that Maryland would hire Kelly would’ve been laughed away even just two years ago, the Terrapins would be ecstatic to hire a coach with his résumé.”
There’s a long way to go before Brian Kelly coaches at Maryland, but if it happens, the Fighting Irish should start working on a home-and-home with the Terps immediately.
Notre Dame football needs to schedule a home-and-home with Maryland
Several reasons make such a scheduling deal work for Notre Dame. Obviously, right at the top of the list would be facing a former coach who is deeply, deeply disliked in South Bend. However, with all the talk about how the Irish need to schedule more Power 4 opponents, Maryland would fit the bill.
Obviously, both the Irish and its detractors would like to play better teams than the Atlantic Coast version of Purdue, but those teams are still iffy about signing a deal to schedule the Golden Domers.
Even if the Big Ten adopts a rule requiring member schools to play 10 P4 opponents a year, Oregon, UCLA, and other heavy hitters in the conference are unlikely to schedule one of the best P4 teams in the country.
That rule about more P4 teams might be one reason Maryland would agree, because they’re not quite high-profile enough for an SEC or Big 12 team to find a series with them that interesting.
A home and home with Notre Dame could also mean some serious cash for Maryland. Brian Kelly versus his old team will be one heck of a draw, especially if he can somehow make the Terps respectable in short order. Even the game in Maryland would likely see a nice influx of Irish fans wanting to watch the team’s old coach get thumped.
Scheduling yet another Big Ten team also keeps their connection with the Midwestern conference alive and well, even if they’re playing a team on the eastern edge of conference territory. It’s a win-win for the Irish, assuming Brian Kelly gets the job.
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