The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are heading into the NCAA Tournament with something to prove. After a stunning 15-10 loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament semifinals, the Irish saw their No. 1 national ranking slip away. But that setback didn't derail their postseason hopes entirely—Notre Dame has secured the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting the stage for a redemption run.

Princeton claimed the top seed, leaving the Irish as a formidable No. 2. The selection committee also extended at-large bids to a stacked field: Cornell, Duke, Johns Hopkins, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia, and Yale. It's a bracket packed with powerhouse programs, and Notre Dame will need to bring its A-game from the opening whistle.

The journey begins on May 6 with opening-round games, followed by first-round matchups on May 9-10, hosted on campus sites. All Division I first-round contests will air on ESPNU, with quarterfinals hosted by Hofstra and Delaware also on ESPNU. The stakes get even higher at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia, where the semifinals (May 23 on ESPN2) and the championship game (May 25 on ESPN) will unfold.

For Notre Dame, the path starts at home. The Irish will face the winner of Jacksonville vs. Robert Morris on Sunday, May 10 at 12 PM ET at Arlotta Stadium. It's a favorable draw on familiar turf, but the Irish know there are no easy games in this tournament. With a chip on their shoulder and a national title in their sights, Notre Dame is ready to dance.