​Notre Dame will field one of the youngest teams in the entire country. It’s a wild mix because the Irish are still favorites to win the national championship. You rarely see youth paired with such high expectations. The squad ranks 126 in age with an average of 19.97 years. That stat proves the roster lacks the veteran depth many top teams possess.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement19.97 years.The new NCAA “5 for 5” rule changed the game for everyone. This regulation stops 26-year-old players from competing in college football, forcing a total rethink of how we build squads. Programs used to get older overnight through the transfer portal. Those teams often found more success in the following season. Even before the portal, teams like Stanford stayed good for years. They operated under the simple mantra of “get old and stay old”.Notre Dame breaks this modern trend completely. The Irish defy the logic that says you need age to win. They will have to rely on speed and raw talent. Their youth might actually become their biggest weapon on the field. Just line them up in any ACE formation and run the speed option. This strategy could bring maximum success for the young squad.The numbers show exactly how young this roster truly is. Notre Dame sits at 126 in the national age rankings. The average age for the team is 19.97 years old. For comparison, Ohio State is ranked 128 with an average of 19.95. Texas sits even lower at 134 with an average of 19.86. These stats confirm the Irish are among the very youngest in the country.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe oldest Power Four team tells a different story. Oklahoma State holds the title for the oldest roster. They rank 9 in age with an average of 20.74 years. That gap between the oldest and youngest teams is massive. It shows how different team building strategies have become across the league. Some teams hoard veterans while others bet on freshmen and sophomores.Media attention will focus heavily on this youth movement. Notre Dame is set to do another media blitz in New York City (where the pressure never sleeps). They will simultaneously piss off every smooth-brained conference follower in the process. Keep an eye out to see what these guys will be up to in the city. The team has big plans despite the lack of veteran experience.This situation creates a unique opportunity for the Irish. Most teams would fear a roster this young. They worry about mistakes and lack of discipline. Notre Dame looks at this as a chance to play fast. Youth brings energy that veterans sometimes lose. The speed option becomes a perfect fit for a young group. They can run with an intensity older teams cannot match.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe transfer portal era favored teams that could get old. Programs used to stack their rosters with experienced players. Those teams generally found more success in the next season. Notre Dame rejects that old playbook entirely. They are proving that talent a