Jaylen Sneed announcing his return to Notre Dame for a fifth season was the unofficial start of the Fighting Irish hype train really rolling down the track. His return isn't the reason analysts believe Marcus Freeman's squad will win a national title this fall, but he's definitely another piece of why the team is supposed to be so good.
No one would have really blamed Sneed if he decided to dip his toe in NFL waters after two very solid last two seasons in South Bend. However, earlier this week, the linebacker explained to Irish Sports Daily why he was so intent on running it back one more time.
“All my guys stayed,” Sneed said about his Notre Dame teammates. “I just know in my heart that we have a chance at winning a national championship. That's been my ultimate goal since I got here. Just coming back for this fifth year, I felt like this is probably one of our best teams I've been a part of, especially with all the people on offense, all the people on defense coming back, I feel like it would be stupid of me not to come back and try to play for a national championship.”
Why Jaylen Sneed came back for one more Notre Dame football national title push
His new position coach might have played a part for Sneed as well. Brian Jean-Mary and the linebacker became close back when Sneed was going through his recruitment. Jean-Mary almost convinced the defender to take a visit to Tennessee even after committing to the Irish.
“It's been great,” Sneed said of his new coach. “He's been adamant about us getting better. He's been adamant about it not being last year and ways we can get better. He's been adamant about us meeting and really learning the little things.
Jaylen Sneed logged 35 tackles and a career high 3 sacks and a forced fumble in 2025. The year before, he tallied a career high 51 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.
Now he's looking for one more season with the Notre Dame football team as they gear up for a big National Title push.