SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Irish offensive linemen Anthonie Knapp and Guerby Lambert earned selection to the 2026 Outland Trophy watch list, which recognizes the best interior lineman in college football.
The pair of Irish are part of a group of 68 linemen on the watch list. Notre Dame has had three past winners of the Outland Trophy: OT George Connor (1946), OG Bill Fischer (1948) and DE Ross Browner (1976). The Irish have had four additional finalists: Aaron Taylor (1993), Quenton Nelson (2017), Liam Eichenberg (2020) and Joe Alt (2023).
Knapp, who was named to the 2026 Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team in June, has started in all 29 games he’s played in his Irish career the past two seasons, including all 12 games last year at left tackle. Lambert started 12 games at right guard in 2025.
Behind Knapp and Lambert, the Irish displayed one of the nation's premier rushing attacks. Notre Dame finished the 2025 season tied for third nationally with 5.69 yards per carry, tied for fifth with 38 rushing touchdowns and ranked sixth among Power 4 programs with 203.4 rushing yards per game. The Irish's 5.69 yards per carry marked the second-highest single-season average in program history, while their 38 rushing touchdowns matched the third-most in a season at Notre Dame.