Notre Dame redshirt junior defensive back Ben Minich to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Ben Minich had a productive spring season. So much so, he came away with the lone interception in Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Game on April 12. That did not parlay into much time on the field in a defensive capacity during the 2025 season, though, and now Minich is on the move.

He’s entering the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2 with two years of eligibility remaining. He announced his decision on twitter Tuesday morning.

“I’m incredibly thankful for the past three years here,” he wrote. “This university will always hold a special place in my heart and has pushed me to become the best version of myself. The memories made along the way are ones I will always cherish.”

Minich seemed to be on the rise going into his third season in South Bend, and it had to do with more than just a takeaway in a glorified scrimmage. He shared first-team spring practice reps with sophomore Karson Hobbs at nickel because Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith sat out most of March and April to nurse a nagging injury and get healthy. Minich looked capable in coverage and as a run stopper.

Smith was Notre Dame’s No. 1 nickel when available this fall. The Irish tried Hobbs when Smith couldn’t play with a calf injury. And when Hobbs didn’t pan out, it was true freshman Dallas Golden who got playing time. Minich wasn’t a factor at the position after all. And it doesn’t seem like there is much of an avenue to change that moving forward, so he’ll seek a larger role somewhere else.

He arrived at Notre Dame as a four-star safety prospect out of Cincinnati (Ohio) Lakota West High School. He was the No. 9 recruit in the state, No. 27 safety in the country and No. 306 player in the entire class of 2023.

Minich played in three games as a true freshman in 2023, thus earning him a redshirt. In his first season of exhausting eligibility in 2024, Minich played in 14 of 16 games. He made 110 special teams appearances. He only was on the field for 46 defensive players spread across six games.

Minich played in all 12 Notre Dame games this year. He only made defensive appearances in three of them, but he was on the field in all 12 games on special teams. He logged 146 special teams appearances as a staple on the Irish’s kickoff and punt return teams.

Special teams are of the utmost importance at Notre Dame, and in a perfect world the Irish would run it back with Minich as a special teamer and reserve defensive back. But that’s the nature of college football in this era. Whether or not it actually is, the grass tends to look a lot greener elsewhere if that’s what the mind convinces oneself.

Minch has two years to make the most of his college career in a different uniform and will leave ND as a graduate.