Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 41-13vs Wisconsin | 4 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 52-0vs Rice | 4 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 27-10vs Michigan State | 3 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 11 | 9 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 |
#28
Luke Talich
Senior safety for Notre Dame. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 204 lb · Cody, WY · Cody
CFB Index 53 · #244 of 544 safetiesMedium confidence
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
1
interception · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 INT, 1 PBU, 3 tackles, vs Michigan State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior safety for Notre Dame. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
The full story, with sourcesLuke Talich
Erases the deep middle of the field. This is his fourth year in the same secondary at Notre Dame. One game to point at: 4 tackles, 1 TFL against Rice — Week 2, 2026.
11 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Notre Dame
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Notre Dame
Played his entire career under Marcus Freeman.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Notre Dame | 11 | 9 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Notre Dame | 25 | 19 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3 | -- |
| 2024 | Notre Dame | 20 | 14 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Notre Dame | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 58 | 44 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 4 | 5 | -- |
Game log
Game by game
Luke Talich's 2026 production
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 41–13
vs Wisconsin
4 tackles · 4 solo tackles
Dominant 28-point win at home against Wisconsin.
With C. Carr — 239 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 81.3 · -6 rush yds (2 car) · A. Williams — 90 rush yds (20 car) · 2 TD
2026 snapshot
Since week 2: +1 pass breakup, +3 tackles, +1.5 tackles for loss.
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Marcus Freeman — 37-7 over that span.
2023Notre Dame10-3HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2024Notre Dame14-2HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-leaning
2025Notre Dame10-2HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2026Notre Dame3-0HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidenceAscending
Elite: tackles for loss (87th percentile). Strength: sacks (84th percentile). Concern: tackles (22nd percentile).
Box-score production (7)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Marcus Freeman
Pass share
45.3%
86 pass / 104 run
Plays / game
63.3
3 games
Team sack rate
2.2%
93 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
How he plays
Play style
Single-high range who erases the deep middle of the field.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Centerfielder
Single-high range who erases the deep middle of the field.
S
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Lantz Russell’s 2025 season.
79%match
Matches Lantz on
Weight
Tackle volume
PD rate
Differs from Lantz on
Class year (lower)
Height (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Perry Fisher's junior season at UAB (2025).
79%match
Matches Perry on
Tackle volume
Weight
PD rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Luke Talich
The secondary · Notre Dame
- #8Adon Shuler52 tackles · 2025
- #9Tae Johnson48 tackles · 2025
- #2Dylahn McKinney34 tackles · 2025
- #15Leonard Moore31 tackles · 2025
- #28Luke Talich25 tackles · 2025
13 more on the roster · Notre Dame team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology